Since I love animals, whenever I happen to meet new people and get to know them for a bit, I ask them which one they would rather prefer; cats or dogs? It isn’t important to me, but it just is a kind of conversation starter. What I have observed with this ceremonious question of mine is, most people prefer dogs. They say that dogs seem more normal and friendly. When I ask, what is it about cats that make them feel they are not normal like dogs, I get answers which I find funny. I’m sure most of you guys must find that kind of behaviour abnormal and weird but it isn’t. It just is a way of life of a cat and even cats can be friendly and loving pets. So here is a heads up on normal feline protocol that people might find abnormal;
Rubbing faces;
Sometimes you notice cats rubbing their face on you. If you are new to cats, you might find it offensive as you may conclude that the cat is wiping its dirty mouth on your clothes or body. But that is not what it is! Cat’s have certain glands on their cheeks and the corner of their mouths which enables them to leave a scent on your body part, wherever they rub your cheek. It is a kind of territory marking act, to let other cats know that you are their human and no one else. It is a big compliment, coming from the cat!
You get a gift!
Cats are born with an innate predator instinct. If you let them go outside to hunt, they will get dead mouse, lizards and other stuff that they hunt and place them in front of you, trying to please you so. This is a normal behaviour. You can rather let them stay indoors and leave soft toys hidden all over the place so that they can let out the predator in them and get soft toys as gifts for you rather than little dead creatures which will be a lot of work for you, because cats are persistent on getting things for you to make you happy.
The toilet bowl!
Cats are known for their frequent grooming. They have to lick themselves clean all the time, but yet, they love drinking off the toilet. There is no established research to tell us why cats do that but probably they find it better than stagnant water. Install filter cleaners in your toilet or if it still grosses you out, then better keep the lid down. Problem solved!
Eating grass;
It is completely fine if your cat is chewing small amounts of plants occasionally but if it becomes regular and frequent then it may cause vomiting. If you have a garden at home, make sure they are not accessible to your cat because some plants like aloe and Easter Lillies are deadly for your cat’s health.
Chewing wool;
In some very rare cases cats feel the need to eat all the inedible stuff they find and wool seems to be a personal favourite. Some cats merely chew on them but some actually eat them. They might just go for a yarn or sometimes even chew holes out of your favourite sweater. You need to see a veterinarian because this is a compulsive type of behaviour found mostly only in indoor cats. Your vet may be able to advice certain behaviour modification alternatives that a cat would find more amusing to chew at rather than stuff that may choke it up.
Excessive day time sleeping;
Cats are crepuscular in nature. This means that their active time of the day is between dawn to dusk. They are predatory in nature and hence prefer the night time which is best to lurk in the shadows keeping themselves concealed and bouncing at a probable prey. Research has proven that preying and bouncing requires tremendous amounts of energy for which the cats need to sleep. Since all the activity is taking place at night, cats use up all day to sleep which is very normal. Since a cat’s senses are active to up to seventy percent of their sleep, they tend to wake up for their food at the smell… but then, post food time, they sneak off to sleep again.
Talkative;
Some cats can be very talkative and keep meowing all day. Certain Asian breeds, specially the Siamese, tend to vocalize a lot. Unless a cat is showing restless behaviour or seems to be in pain, this talkative nature is nothing unusual. However if your “usually” silent cat gets meowing and whining all of a sudden, you might need to rush to the vet immediately for these may be conditions of hyperthyroidism.
Kneading;
It is a very common behaviour in cats. Though your new clothes may suffer, the cat is only giving signs of being in a relaxed state. This habit is detected very early in a cat’s life
Licking fingers;
Your cat may lick your fingers a lot simply if it likes the taste of the sweat or something you have just touched. Licking is also a comforting behaviour. However, if your cat displays this behaviour very often, then you might have to go see the vet for an examination of your kitty.
Catnip makes high;
There are certain chemicals in catnips that make your cat go crazy and high. Because of a genetic basis, some cats show extreme attraction while some may not be effected by it at all. In some cats, this funny chemical creates hallucinations. Catnips are not toxic for cats, but in large quantities they disturb the system of your cat and may cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Never give catnips to pregnant kitties.
Sneezing;
Sneezing in common in cats too. This is caused by allergies, respiratory infections and sinus irritations. Sometimes cats inhale something that makes them sneeze. Most common cause is picking up viral infections from other cats. If the sneezing doesn’t go away in few days, take your cat for a medical check up.
So this was the list. Hopefully you know now if your cat is fine or not. In any case, if your cat shows extreme restlessness, looks unwell or throws up too much, immediately seek medical help without delay.