Unusual Cat Behaviors That Have Always Baffled Owners – Until Now

When cats perform headbutts, they do so with the best of intentions rather than to instigate brawls. There’s even science behind their actions: the animals are transferring their smell onto you and leaving their feline fragrance on your forehead or whichever body part they’re rubbing against! And interestingly, there’s actually a name for this rather odd phenomenon. It’s called bunting.

On the other hand, cats can be needy creatures, and this tactic could simply be a handy way of getting your full and undivided attention. Another possibility is that they’re trying to telepathically communicate with us, but we’re just too slow to have cottoned on just yet...

Cats have bursts of activity when they suddenly dart around, just like humans do when they head to the gym and clamber onto the treadmill. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason to this spontaneous outpouring of energy, other than, well, they’re just a little weird.

But as domesticated pets have no need to hunt, their restlessness needs an outlet somehow — even if that results in them wildly barrelling about the house. Energetically chasing a toy mouse helps cats let off some steam — and lets any real rodents in the area off the hook.

Cats can strike suggestive poses, but it’s best to not analyze this too much. No offense, but they probably don’t like you in that way. They’re not practicing yoga, either, and they’re not showing off. Nope, they’re trying to tell you something else entirely.

The real reason for them performing the splits is more complicated. Using body language, kitties are deliberately exposing their vulnerability and therefore communicating their subservience. Oh, and there’s a simpler explanation, too. Apparently, the animals find the legs-akimbo position pretty comfy.

No sooner do you think you’ve really bonded with your cat than they go and cross a line by shoving their puckered butt right in your face. But before you jump to conclusions, this isn’t your pet not respecting your boundaries. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

You see, rather than giving you the bum’s rush, your cat actually wants to deepen their relationship with you. If they were a human rather than an animal, they may shake your hand. Instead, they introduce themselves by, well, their butt.

When a cat spots their prey, they start to vibrate. This isn’t because they’re on silent mode and are suppressing a miaow. Nor is it down to a sudden drop in body temperature or because they’re petrified of the impending conflict. In fact, they start to shudder because they’re balancing themselves on all paws and preparing to attack.

Aside from the telltale shake, another key indicator that cats are poised to strike is flicking their tails. This practice applies to both playing and preying. Depending on where you are in the pecking order, this can be either terrifying or terrific fun.

Kneading is nice — for a while, at least. It’s all fun and games until your cat begins to claw at you or your sofa (or your curtains or clothes). But this trait has its origins in some of the animal’s earliest moments. When a newborn kitten is nursing, they use their paws to knead at their mom’s belly. This helps release more milk.

So as adults, perhaps your cat is revisiting one of their very first memories. If you don’t fancy being cathandled like dough, though, just wear thick layers to avoid scratches. Alternatively, trim those talons. The cat’s, not yours.

Whether they’ve picked a convenient moment or not, your cat loves to be the center of your universe and have you all to themselves. This can take the form of lowering themselves onto that snug pile of clean laundry or lounging directly on your computer. Both have the added bonus of giving off some extra warmth and coziness.

And this behavior shows how clever cats are. Having figured out the items that seem particularly interesting to you, such as a book or newspaper, the dastardly creatures then go and target them. Just be thankful they haven’t peed on your personal belongings. Yet.

Cats are grazers, which means they often aren’t hungry. The message here is to not waste that side of salmon on your fluffy companion, as he or she will probably reject your gourmet gift. And your cat will normally revisit their meal during the day or night, so don’t clear it away, either.

Most of the time, household cats play with their prey. No, they don’t generally set out to kill a mouse in order to devour it for dinner. Cats are cruel, then, but they are also very cute. It really is a matter of perspective!

Cats are predators, which means they have some pretty sharp teeth. So when they turn those fangs on you, it has to mean something bad is going on, right? Like maybe they are really unhappy with the new dry food you've been dishing out?

Well, while an aggressive bite is obviously a negative sign, gentle nibbles are a demonstration of love. Yep, your cat is just telling you that he appreciates your presence. After all, he's choosing to bite you playfully instead of forcefully.

Burying poop is in your cat’s genes. Yes, really! For their ancestors, it was a good way to throw predators quite literally off the scent. Also, it ensured they weren’t ostracized from the cat community, as that way they weren’t leaving any offensive smells around.

In certain situations, though, cats don’t bury their feces. And this could be for any number of reasons: they may be mad at you, or envious. They may even want to assert their dominance. To make matters worse, if cats observe their owners flushing their own feces, the animals could interpret this as confirmation of their feline superiority.

When kittens sleep, they’re actually being quite productive rather than switching off. You see, as they doze, their bodies release large amounts of developmental hormones. These help them to grow into big, strong cats.

When cats reach adulthood, though, maybe they just turn bone idle. Laziness is obviously one of the main stereotypes regarding cats. And according to Dr. Joanne Righetti, who specializes in pet behaviors, cats can in fact spend 75 percent of their entire existence in the land of nod. But let’s think about it. Adult cats are most active while their owners are asleep. So, who’s really the lazybones here?

Cats can be pretty aloof, so there's nothing unusual about your pet lounging alone and surveying the entire room. But if your pal looks at you and starts slowly blinking, he's giving you an important message.

Slow blinking is a sign of comfort and love. It's a signal that cats use to tell each other everything is OK, so, if you see it, your buddy is feeling pretty good. There are some other ways they communicate, too...

We're all familiar with purring, which is another classic signal that your cat is feeling content. Still, there's something deeper going on when they start revving their engines — a message that you might not be aware of .

Cats don't purr to communicate with other cats; they only do it for humans. That means your pet is specifically telling you how happy they are. You should also be on the lookout for these other sounds.

Beyond purrs and meows, your cat might occasionally make a high-pitched gurgling sound. It can sound pretty alarming if you aren't expecting it, but don't be afraid; it's just another way of trying to tell you something.

Cats gurgle when they're feeling upbeat and social, so the sound is a positive sign. Your pet is just trying to chill out and have a friendly chat. Another way of communicating can get a bit violent, however.

After biting, the obvious place to go is licking. If the former is a playful mark of endearment, what is your kitty trying to say with her scratchy tongue rather than her teeth?

Have you ever seen apes grooming their relatives? Well that's what's happening when your cat tries to clean up your hand or hair! She's identified you as part of the family and wants to help take care of you.

You probably know not to touch your cat's tail, but did you know he's using it to communicate? A bushy tail, for example, is a sign of distress, while a waving tail has another meaning altogether.

Cats really don't wag their tail, but they do flick it back and forth to show happiness. If your furry friend is feeling especially affectionate, they'll even curl their tail around you like a hug.

Cats might not be interested in going for walks and playing fetch, but they have been known to follow their owners around. But do they do it for the same reason as dogs?

No matter the species, physical proximity is a show of affection. If your independent cat is always near you, especially when there's food available in another room, he really loves you.

Cats have 300 million neurons in their brains, while dogs have just 160 million. In fact, a cat’s brain is considered to be extremely similar to a human’s brain, so expect a feline uprising any day now.

Since whiskers detect distances and movements by the air’s vibration, they’re actually crucial to a cat’s survival in the outdoors. So don’t be too scared if your cat runs off — they have survival tools built right into their bodies!

Cats naturally have the scent of catnip bound to their nasal passages, so when they get a whiff of the herb, it stimulates the sensory receptors in their brains — and makes them act a little lovey-dovey.

Females are more likely to use their right paws while males usually prefer their left. No word yet on if the whole “right brain, left brain” thing exists with cats! And there must be a few ambidextrous cats out there, right?

Well, maybe not in the way you’re thinking. Siamese cats have a gene modifier that technically makes them albino, but when they’re introduced to high temperatures, portions of their fur turns gray or even black. 

If you want your cat to stop leaping onto the kitchen table, try spraying them with lemon water. Cats are picky eaters and are especially sensitive to bitter and citrus-y flavors, so they’ll quickly learn to avoid the lemony spray.