Cat behavior
Cat behavior includes body language, elimination habits, aggression, play, communication, hunting, grooming, urine marking, and face rubbing.
In a family with many cats, the interactions can change depending on which individuals are present and how restricted the territory and resources are.
One or more individuals may become aggressive: fighting may occur with the attack, resulting in scratches and deep bite wounds.
This behavior may share features with the "genuine" human smile that involves the corners of the eyes narrowing.
This one is simple--cats make themselves "smaller" when nervous or afraid, but arch their backs when they wish to appear more intimidating when they sense danger and feel defensive.
Male cats on poor diets are susceptible to crystal formation in the urine, which can block the urethra and create a medical emergency.
Cats do not only use their tongue for grooming to control ectoparasites; scratching may also aid in dislodging fleas from the head and neck.
[14] Kittens "knead" the breast while suckling, using the forelimbs one at a time in an alternating pattern to push against the mammary glands to stimulate lactation in the mother.
The common association between the two behaviors may corroborate the evidence in favor of the origin of kneading as a remnant instinct.
However, if panting is excessive or the cat appears in distress, it may be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as a nasal blockage, heartworm disease, head trauma, or drug poisoning.
[17] In many cases, feline panting, especially if accompanied by other symptoms, such as coughing or shallow breathing (dyspnea), is considered to be abnormal, and should be treated as a medical emergency.
[18] The righting reflex is the attempt of cats to land on their feet at the completion of a jump or a fall.
[19] Adult cats are able to make use of pinch-induced behavioural inhibition to induce a "freeze reflex" in their young, which enables them to be transported by the neck without resisting.
Many cats find and chew small quantities of long grass, but this is not for its nutritional value per se.
Changes in typical eating patterns can be an early signal for possible physical or psychological health problems.
[26] Some cats ask for food dozens of times a day, including at night, with rubbing, pacing, meowing, or sometimes loud purring.
[27] Domestic cats seem to be comparatively flexible with regard to the times of day and night they are active or asleep.
[33] Male cats are present in both types of colonies and serve the purpose of reproduction and defending territory.
[33] Although free living cats are found in colonies, stable social order, like that of the lion, does not exist.
[33] Even though mothers spend most time with their kittens, male cats play an important role by breaking up fights among litter mates.
Studies have been done with adult cats performing a task, such as pressing a lever after a visual cue.
Some research has shown that cats rarely pick fights, but when they do, it's usually for protecting food and/or litters, and defending territory.
[38] The first sign of an imminent tomcat duel is when both cats draw themselves up high on their legs, all hair along the middle of their backs stands straight up, and they mew and howl loudly as they approach each other.
[42] Other factors that can enhance socialization are having many people handle the kitten frequently, the presence of the mother, and feeding.
[44] Some species of cats cannot be socialized toward humans because of factors such as genetic influence and in some cases specific learning experiences.
Understanding an indoor cat's personality can go a long way toward satisfying their instincts and avoid potentially inconvenient behavior (such as sudden hissing, dashing around the house, or climbing the curtains).
Environmental enrichment items include:[47] Attack/Hunting Behavior Although they are natural predators, pet cats tend to only hunt what is most available to them, around where they live.
When they have difficult access to their prey, such as in small pools of water or holes, they use their paws to "fish" out their food and reach into such areas effectively.
Post Hunting Behavior When their prey is finally dead, they bite them for quite some time, up and down the length of the body.
They start at the anterior end of the animal, near its head, enabling them to eat their smaller prey in as fast as one minute.
