Why Is My Cat Doing That: Strange Feline Behaviour Explained

Are cats crazy? You think you're getting on great, and then your innocent feline surprises you with a little nip. You walk into a room, and your little kitty swipes at your ankles from beneath a table. Your cat rubs their head against you, and you think they might just love you, but then you see them rubbing their head against your shoes; do they love your shoes, too?

The common house-cat (although I'm sure our feline friends would protest the word "common") can be a mystery, both for those of us who love them and those who tell us they are "not a cat person". They make gestures we don't understand. But we should try to understand them, because our cat is attempting to communicate with us.

Here, we examine ten strange-looking cat behaviours, and discover their hidden meanings to answer the question "Why is my cat doing that?"

Cats aren't crazy. They just want us to understand them.

Head-Butting

Head-butting, more correctly known as "bunting", has two functions. Your cat will rub things in your house (furniture, household objects, even your clothes) in order to release their scent (or pheromones). By covering everything in your home with their own pheromones, your cat creates a comforting familiar environment. It's one way of marking their territory.

Head-butting their human is also a way of stamping ownership, and mixing their smell with that of their human (letting other cats know "this one's taken"), but it serves another purpose. It is an affectionate act, accepting you as a friend, asking for your attention, or forgiving you for abandonment if you've been away.

My Cat is head-butting me: Return affection by tickling your cat behind the ears.

Twitching tail

Your cat's tail twitches when it sees something he or she would like to hunt. It's a sign of aggression. If you see your cat's tail twitching, you should leave her alone.

Cats' tails also twitch when they feel anxious, angry or irritated. You should never touch a cat whose tail is twitching.

My Cat's tail is twitching: Your cat is feeling aggressive or threatened. Leave them alone.

Giving a Tiny Meow

If your cat looks up at you and gives a tiny meow, it means they want some attention.

My Cat gave a tiny meow: Let your cat onto your knee and make a fuss of them.

"Pooping" Outside the Litter-Tray

More correctly known as "middening", scent marking with faeces outside the litter-tray is a problem that is rare in indoor cats, but causes a lot of stress to both the animal and to their guardians. I must first state: cats are clean animals, and they would never choose to midden. Middening always has a cause. Causes are emotional: household stress, causing your friend to feel insecure; territory stresses caused by other cats.

Your pet may defecate outside the litter-tray for physical reasons (meaning that they are not technically middening): medical issues, and intestinal parasites could both cause this faecal problem.

My cat is defecating outside the litter tray: Don't lose your temper. Take your cat for a check-up at the vet. If the vet says your cat is physically healthy, ensure your cat feels secure at home.

READ Does Your Kitty Have Power Over Your Mind?

Kneading with paws

Kittens knead with their paws to release milk from their mothers; by kneading us, adult cats are replicating the warmth of the bond they felt as kittens with their human guardians. Cats treat their "human"  in the same way that they treat cats that they love and respect (although it's an exaggeration to say that they see us as stupid cats - though they do think we're rather clumsy).

My Cat is kneading me: Your cat loves you. Enjoy it.

More Feline Behaviours Explained

Biting you while you pet them

If your cat has ever nipped you when you've been contentedly stroking them, you're not the only one. Cats vary in their tolerance of human affection, but most cats will let you know they've had enough in the same way, with a little nip. It's just the cat's way of letting you know they've had enough for now.

Physical contact can become painful for cats, building up a static electricity. Think about it. If something becomes painful for us, we can let people know. The cat only has her teeth.

So let your cat initiate contact, stroke for a short while, then stop. If the cat nudges your hand to continue, you know she's not had enough yet. If your cat doesn't like being stroked at all, don't force affection her that she's uncomfortable with, try tickling her behind the ears.

My Cat nipped me: Leave her alone. Wait for her to come back to you.

Lying on her back with an exposed tummy

When your cat lies on his back with an exposed tummy, it means she completely trusts you, and that she feels relaxed in her home.

Scratching your furniture

What is it with cats? No sooner do you buy a nice, new armchair, your cat is scratching it to ribbons. They're not just doing it for the fun of destroying your furniture while you look on in horror. Cats scratch your furniture for two good reasons, the first of which is territory-marking (again). All the clawed furniture in your home serves as warnings to other cats. But there's a health reason, too: scratching keeps claws sharp, short and ready for the hunt.

My Cat is scratching my furniture: Accept that it's normal behaviour. And buy a scratching post.

Attacking your ankles

Why does your cat launch a stealth attack on your ankles as soon as you walk in the room? Does your cat really hate you and want you dead? No. Your cat just wants to play. Cats play by pouncing on each other. You'll notice that your kitty hardly draws their claws. She's not trying to hurt you. That said, getting home from work, only to be half-mauled by a cat can give you a shock. Avert it by buying some chase toys for your cat, and spend some time playing with your kitty.

Showing you their bum

Why is it that, when your cat climbs up on your knee, their first response is to stick their furry butt in your face. Are they showing your their haemorrhoids? No! They're showing you their love.

According to our furry friends, their behind is their best feature (someone has to have a word with cats). Cats communicate by scent and the butt is where their scent is strongest. She's also showing you that they trust you. Think about it. You have to trust someone to put your bum in their face!

READ How Serious Can A Cat Bite Be?

My Cat is putting their butt in my face: Remind yourself that it's an honour. Or, if that doesn't work, gently reposition them until you've got a prettier view.

Now we've looked at the truth behind some feline behaviours, we can see that cats aren't strange animals. They just act on instinct, and hope we'll understand them. The truth about cats is that they're just a playful and affectionate animal; all they want is a corner of the earth to call their own.