Ten Cat Facts Regarding Social Behavior

Here's a collection of cat facts about one of the most important elements of cat behavior to understand, social behavior and interaction. I've tried to include facts that I think are helpful.

Cats are well known and loved for their independence and self-absorbed nature. When they do pay us some attention, we usually feel quite special. A cat that rolls over on its back and asks for a belly scratch should be rewarded with affection.

If you often wonder what your cat is thinking, you're not alone. Cats are mysterious creatures and we're often not sure why they behave the way they do.

As pet owners, one of our tasks is to learn how to better care for our cats. Below is a list of interesting cat facts that may help bring you and your little cat buddy closer together.

1. I need time to be alone. The ancestor of the domestic cats we have today lived alone. They were not pack animals like dogs. Although cats do sometimes form colonies, they usually time share their territory with other cats when they are forced to live close together.

2. Kitten's get their friendly traits from their father's genes (mostly), and their mother's teachings.

3. A kitten's socialization process is most important when she is between two and seven weeks old.

4. When a cat experiences a trauma, it can go through a second socialization process during recovery. This can result in the cat becoming friendlier than before the trauma. Unfortunately, it can go the other way and make the cat more aloof as well.

5. Domestic cats descended from solitary creatures. Being solitary and hunting alone by nature, they have a limited set of communication skills, especially body language.

6. Cats leave distinctive scent marks which, if you had the right nose, would tell you a story. This is how they make up for a limited set of body language skills. That and the fact that they are sneaky and quick!

7. Your cats will leave their scent in strategic places all over their territory. They'll also leave their scent on you and other animals in the house. This creates a communal scent, and provides your cats with comfort knowing that these animals are part of the same social group.

8. When you scratch your cat's back, she raises up her back end so as to better scent your hand. Commonly, cats will also often keep their tails bent but stiff during the scenting process.

9. A vertical tail is a sign of happiness, and also used as a greeting. Your cat would probably like it better if you had a tail too, but I guess you'll do as is.

10. When the front paws are curled up and tucked in, and the back legs are outstretched to the side, your cat is relaxed and secure.

Hopefully, at least some of these cat facts surprise you. If you read between the lines, most will allow you to better understand cats. Now, go communicate with your kitty!