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Pet Bucket Blog

Filtered by tag ('cat behaviour')

Why cats like to bring home “gifts”

 by lucy on 12 Oct 2016 |
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Every cat owner has come home to find a dead mouse, bird or other hunting prize strewn across the stoop, often with Kitty waiting proudly beside his bounty. While this type of gift giving is one of our feline friends’ more off-putting habits, it is simply your cat’s way of showing he is a worthwhile hunter and offering affection to his human family.   Cats are natural-born predators, as evidenced by data showing they kill billions of birds and small mammals every year in the United States alone. Their sharp claws and teeth make them well adapted to this carnivorous lifestyle, but unlike their big cat relatives, our domesticated pets do not need to hunt to survive. As lions drag prey back to their dens for a meal, then, our feline friends also bring their bounty home— but are more likely to share it with us, their beloved owners.   Experts have found that spayed female cats are the most likely culprits behind these “gifts,” offering further explanation for Kitty’s behavior: In the wild, mother cats teach their kittens how to hunt and eat their food by bringing dead or injured prey back to the den. Domesticated cats still have this instinct, but fixed females have no young to teach. By leaving dead critters on the back porch or in your bedroom doorway, then, your cat is simply fulfilling her natural role as caretaker and teacher. She is welcoming you as a member of her family and working to take care of you— especially given your lack of hunting skills.   Though dead mice may be less than appealing, it’s important to remember why your cat brings home these treasures. By offering prey, he is working to prove he is a worthwhile hunter and showing he cares about you as his family. It is important not to chastise your cat for gift giving, then, but instead, give him praise with words or a pet. Be sure to remain calm and keep your disgust to yourself, too, as cats can read body language. If Kitty isn’t keen to let you dispose of his gift, try distracting him with a toy or treat instead of hurting his feelings. If there are other people around, ask them to help distract your pet while you dispose of his hunting prize.   Because hunting is hardwired into cats’ brains, there is no way to prevent your pet from bringing home gifts. Indoor cats have less opportunity to track down prey, but will still find mice or small bugs to offer you. When all else fails, housecats will even offer their toys to their owners. Just remember that sharing is caring when it comes to your cat’s hunting prizes.

Why does my cat back it up… right in my face?

 by lucy on 21 Sep 2016 |
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Nothing says “Hello!” like backing up butt-first into someone’s face— at least if you’re a cat. While this gesture may seem uncouth to his human counterparts, your pet’s presenting of his posterior is the ultimate sign of affection in cat-speak. Not only does it give you access to his scent glands — cats’ way of sharing information about themselves — but the butt-to-face greeting also puts your pet in a very vulnerable position, meaning it is reserved for only his closest companions.   Cats can say a lot with their tails, and a tail held high is a sign that your pet is relaxed and comfortable. Tail sniffing, then, is considered a normal greeting between two familiar felines. A tail-up welcome puts your cat in a very vulnerable position, however, so this salutation is reserved only for his closest friends. When two unfamiliar cats meet for the first time, they are more likely to sniff or rub each other’s faces or necks, which contain scent-producing glands. These scents help clue cats into their social settings and can calm feelings of aggression or fear when approaching a friendly feline. Once cats feel more comfortable with each other, they will perform a similar greeting along each other’s flanks, another scent-laden region. This can communicate information about a cat’s own scent, which cats he’s been rubbing up against, and which humans have been petting him. Only once felines have achieved best-friend status do they let their peers sniff beneath their raised tail— the center of your cat’s signature scent. This is the feline equivalent of a warm handshake or hug, and greeting you bottom-first shows trust between you and your pet. A bum to the face may also be your cat’s way of asking for affection, further reaffirming your bond.   While your cat does not expect a sniff in return, some people prefer not to be greeted by their cat’s nether regions. To head off a posterior-first welcome, try meeting your cat with a scratch under the chin instead. You can also pat your cat from his head to his shoulders, emulating the exchange of information between cats when they brush up against each other. All of these actions swap scents while showering your cat with affection—the primary goals of his butt-to-face greeting. With some practice, your pet should start meeting you head-on, but in the meantime, you can rest easy knowing your feline friend doesn’t expect you to return his rear-first greeting with the regular sniff he’d expect from another cat— a simple scratch or pat on the back will do.

Why does my cat lick me?

 by yunus on 24 Aug 2016 |
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Dogs lavish us with kisses, but cats are often more subtle in their displays of affection. While a sandpapery tongue isn’t always the sign of love we’d imagined, grooming us is our cat’s way of showing a strong trust and bond.   Cats spend a great deal of time grooming. This is part of the social bonding between a mother and her kittens as well as between cats that aren’t related, but share a strong connection. Not only does social grooming help felines clean hard-to-reach places, such as the top of their heads, but it also allows cats to exchange scents— a key part of bonding and communication in the feline world. Mother cats mark their kittens in this way, and it is not unusual for your cat to “claim” you with a bath. When he licks you, then, Kitty is not only lavishing you with affection, but is also marking you with his scent. This may sound territorial, and it is, but this practice is just another way your cat shows you belong to his inner circle of friends.   While licking is most often a source of bonding between owners and their cats, compulsive bathing can be a sign that something’s wrong. Grooming is a soothing and comforting behavior for cats, so overly anxious felines may start bathing to relieve stress. Anything from introducing a new pet to the household to taking your cat to the vet can trigger anxiety, so if this seems to be the cause behind Kitty’s compulsive bathing, try to remedy the stressful situation and give him some extra attention. If, however, your cat suddenly starts grooming vigorously for seemingly no reason, he could be in pain. Everything from fleabites to skin infections can trigger this behavior, so keep an eye out for health problems and seek your veterinarian’s advice. Experts agree that cats that were weaned too early tend to rely on the comforting action of bathing and are more likely to lick, too.   While cats’ baths are usually a sign that your pet has accepted you into his closest circle of friends, you may not always want a sandpapery tongue greeting. To avoid your cat’s kisses, learn the signs that he is about to start bathing you and distract him with a toy or treat instead. Playing with your cat often helps you bond with him, too. Remember, if your cat is licking you, it is a sign that he feels safe and secure and is truly welcoming you as a member of his family.
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