Understanding Your Cat

Cats have been around since the beginning of recorded history. In some early cultures they were idolized and in some they were feared. In medieval times they believed cats were godlike due to the way their eyes glowed at night.

Cats will communicate with their owners in many different ways. They purr when they are happy and content. They meow loudly when they are hungry. When a cat is not happy or on the defense they will give a low pitched growl or a hiss.

Cats can communicate other ways besides audibly. They use body language, posture and ear and tail movements to communicate their feelings or emotions. When a cat feels challenged they will flick their tail starting at the tip and whip it around so it becomes more pronounced. The front of their body is flat to the ground and their hind end is higher. They mean business if they are in this stance and their ears are plastered back.

Unusual Cat Facts
Cats have thirty-two muscles in each ear which allows them to rotate their ears in many directions.

The reason a cat usually lands on their feet is because they have a tiny chamber in their ear that keeps their head level in relationship to the ground when they fall or jump.

Cats use their whiskers as feelers. Besides having about twelve whiskers on each side of their face they also have whiskers or “feelers” above their eyes and on the back of their legs which comes in very handy in the dark.

When a cat rubs its head on any object whether it be your leg or a piece of furniture this is not a sign of affection. They are actually marking their territory. They have glands in their cheeks which leave their smell on people and objects to tell other cats that this is theirs.

A cat uses their claws for climbing and marking their territory.

A cat’s nose pad is unique to them just like a fingerprint is to a human.

The reason a cat has such good nocturnal vision is because of crystal like mirrors that are located in the back of their eyes.

You have probably noticed that cats love to sun themselves. Sunning themselves makes them a happy cat. The sun is also a good source of Vitamin D which they need. Usually a stretched out cat is a warm one and one that is curled in a ball is usually cold or chilly.

You can learn a lot about your kitten or cat by just watching them. They use all parts of their bodies to communicate with you. If your cat’s pupils are wide that means they are excited or scared. Cats do not like to be stared at and consider this to be a challenge. If you watch two cats together they will usually try to avoid staring at each other and will turn their bodies away if they are not trying to be aggressive.

Most cats are very independent and don’t like to take orders or play on command. That is one of the things that set them apart from other pets; they like to do things on their own terms. Training them to not to run out an open door or to stay off counters can be tricky, if not impossible! However, there are some tricks that have been successful. Fill a can with some pennies and shake it when they jump somewhere they don’t belong, or use a spray bottle filled with water. Cats do not like surprises, especially loud noises or water in their face and this will help deter them from going where they are not supposed to.

Cats and kittens love to have fun and play, especially with their owners. You can make many toys for your cat with items you have around the house. They like to play with wads of paper or an aluminum foil ball. Any type of string with something on the end for them to chase is also a favorite. Cats like to play with light weight, colorful, and noisy toys, especially ones with bells in them.

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 15 years. You might want to consider getting pet insurance on your cat or kitten for there may be unforeseen medical expenses in the years to come. Just like health insurance on the rest of your family, buying cat insurance for your feline friend will give you peace of mind that you could cover the cost of veterinary treatment should the worst happen.