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Why Do Cats Do What Cats Do?

29 12:02:39

Why Do Cats Do What Cats Do?






     Anyone who has ever had a cat has questions about their behavior. I have quite a few that has influenced my behavior around him.

Why do cats have more energy at night? Waking up my cat Spike, especially in the evening when he's been asleep in his box in the garage, is not a very wise thing to do if you're planning on going to bed yourself. After having slept most of the day, he's full of pep and wants to play. I just want to go to sleep!

Each night I tip-toe past the door leading into the garage so I won't disturb him. If he hears voices or footsteps he'll start meowing, wanting something to eat. After I give him a handful of Meow Mix, he eats a few bites and then tries to slip past me into the house. Because he's faster than me, most of the time he's successful. Immediately upon entering the foyer he'll start lying on his back and then rolling over, something I think is weird but it seems to make him happy.

Why do cats roll on their backs? My neighbor who has a lot of cats say that when one on his back he's being friendly. Friendly is good when it's much earlier in the evening, not when it's time for me to go to bed. I've learned not to pet him too much. If I do, he thinks I'm going to let him stay in the house. No way!

If I relent and let him go to his bed in the corner of my office, he'll sleep awhile and just when I'm about to doze off, he'll come to my bedroom and start meowing for me to let him back out. That's why I have to sneak past the garage door when it's my bed time!

Why do cats rub up against things? No matter how many times a day he's been allowed in the house, Spike has to rub himself against every door jamb and piece of furniture he passes. Cats supposedly do this to mark their territory so that other cats will know who rules their kingdom. I find it hard to believe that they have to mark the same place four or five times a day, especially if there are no other cats around. I think my cat does that just to annoy me!

Why do cats bring dead mice to the house? Spike, being and indoor/outdoor cat occasional brings us a gift of a dead mouse or bird. Cat experts say this is because he has this inherent urge to hunt his own food. Instinctively he is using the same stealth and patience they would use in the wild to hunt for food.

Why do cats dash to a spot as if they suddenly remember something? From time to time I've noticed Spike walking across our front yard at a leisurely pace, when all of a sudden he will jump and start running around the house like he's been stung by a bee. After that short burst of speed he stops and continues his unhurried stroll.

My thoughts have been that he was just batty and that there was very little I could do for him. Again, my cat loving neighbor has an explanation. Cats are simply pretending that they're in the jungle somewhere running down food, such as an antelope or a springbok. Seriously, some cat psychologist must have figured that one out. I still think Spike is nuts!

The most serious question of all is why do cats drink out of the toilet. After asking that question of several "experts", I have yet to get a definitive answer. It seems that everyone have a different view of cat behavior.

Some say that cats just want to be close to where we have been, thus making toilet drinking a thing of love. Others say that cats like cold water that's fresher and cleaner than what is in their water dish. This makes more sense to me than a cat having a romantic interlude with my toilet seat.

Let's face it! No one really knows why a cat does anything. Spike let's us believe that we're in charge of his life, but when I command that he rolls over or fetch a stick, he simply stares at me and then lies down on the floor and start grooming himself. I guess I had better think of new tricks for him!