Cat Behavior Advice & Guides- Page 9 of 19

Cat Behavior

From resolving problems like urinating outside of the litter box to avoiding scratches during playtime, knowledge about feline behavior is a cat care essential.

Browse our cat behavior articles for expert-written, expert-reviewed guides that will help you troubleshoot and understand your cat’s habits, motivations, and moods.

Popular Topics

Aggression

Peeing Outside the Box

Cat Language

Sleep

Vocalizations

Stress

Catnip

Kneading

Purring

Biting

Aggression

Aggression is a threatening behavior in cats, often a response to stress, pain, conflict between cats, fear of humans, territorial fights, or redirected aggression. In younger cats, play aggression is a common issue and requires teaching the kitten how to play appropriately and safely. Treating the aggression may require reducing stress, using synthetic pheromones, a medical exam by your vet, and consulting a feline behaviorist.

Learn More: 10 Causes of Aggression in Cats and How To Help

Peeing Outside the Box

Cats who do not use the litterbox may have a health or behavioral issue. They may stop using their box if it is too dirty, small, in a noisy place, or if there is a new litter substrate. Conflict between cats and underlying medical problems are also possible causes. Your vet can examine your cat and check a urine sample for signs of infection or inflammation if that is suspected.

Learn More: 6 Common Reasons Why Cats Pee Outside the Litter Box

Cat Language

Cats communicate through vocalizing, body language, and scent marking. Vocalizing involves familiar sounds such as purring, meowing, hissing, and growling. Body language focuses on ear, eye, and tail position along with body posture. Urine spraying and scratching are both examples of scent marking and can pose a problem when done in the home.

Learn More: What Your Cat’s Tail Can Tell You

Sleep

Cats sleep for 12-18 hours a day, sometimes even longer, and they’re polyphasic in their sleeping pattern; this means instead of one long sleep, they sleep multiple times per day. Cats are also crepuscular, which means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk, so they will usually sleep at other times of the day.

Learn More: 10 Tips To Train Your Cat To Sleep All Night

Vocalizations

Cats use vocalizations to communicate with us and other cats. Vocalizations may be happy sounds such as purring, chirping, and gentle meowing. If cats are scared or feeling threatened they may vocalize with hissing, growling, and howling. It’s important to interpret your cat’s vocalizations so that you know if they want to be approached or if they want to be left alone.

Learn More: 7 Common Cat Vocalizations and What They Mean

Stress

Stress is a common cause of behavioral and medical problems in cats. Many things may cause stress in cats including a change in routine, a house move, a new baby in the home, or conflict between cats. Stressed cats may hide away and act differently. Synthetic pheromone diffusers and addressing the cause of stress may help your cat feel more at ease.

Learn More: Stress in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Catnip

Catnip is a herb, part of the mint family, that is used as a treat. Most cats love to rub, roll, and zone out around catnip. They may vocalize and act excited around a catnip plant. These effects are temporary and usually wear off within thirty minutes.

Learn More: What Is Catnip? Why Cats Like It

Kneading

Cats knead by rhythmically moving their front paws up and down, also known as “making biscuits.” They do this when they’re content and happy and will often do this on their owners. Kneading is usually a sign of contentment. Cats also sometimes do this to stretch, soothe themselves, and deposit pheromones from their paws.

Learn More: Why Do Cats Knead Their Owners?

Purring

Cats make a purring noise for several reasons, and the most well-known is when they are happy. While this is usually a sign of contentment, cats can also purr when they’re in distress or trying to communicate.

Learn More: Why Do Cats Purr?

Biting

Cats may bite in self-defense if they feel scared or threatened or as a form of inappropriate play. Biting can become a serious behavioral problem, and it’s best to seek professional help from your vet or a feline behaviorist early on if you notice frequent biting.

Learn More: Cat Love Bites: 5 Reasons Why They Do It & How To Respond

Recent Articles

Cat Behavior

Why Are Some Cats So Obsessed With Olives?

Have you ever noticed your cat go crazy when there are olives on the table? It might sound strange, but you’re not alone. Cats are particularly attracted to the taste and smell of olives and...

Dr. Holly Anne Hills BVMEDSCI MRCVS

Cat Behavior

Why Are Cats So Obsessed With Feet?

Cat lovers will vouch for the fact that life with a feline family member is full of fun, silliness, and snuggles. Yes, your cat might scratch the furniture and you might occasionally find something unpleasant...

Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVETMED MRCVS

White cute cat feeling afraid of a vacuum cleaner, highlighting the common fear some cats have of household appliances.

Cat Behavior

Why Are Cats Scared of Vacuums? Here’s What We Know

Cats will often scatter when their human gets the vacuum out, but why are cats scared of vacuums? No cat owner wants to cause their feline family members fear, and if your cat finds your...

Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVETMED MRCVS

Cat Behavior

When Do Cats Stop Growing? 6 Cat Life Stages Explained

One of the remarkable differences between cats and cat owners is that that our feline friends age at such a different rate from us. While animal tissues look remarkably similar to their human equivalents under...

Dr. Pete Wedderburn, DVM

seal point Birman cat, 4 month old kitten

Cat Behavior

When Do Kittens Start Eating Food? A Vet Explains

If you are a soon-to-be kitten owner, fostering orphaned kittens or breeding your cat for the first time, you will undoubtedly have lots of questions, especially regarding the kittens' diet and when kittens start eating....

Dr. Emma Rogers-Smith BSc(Hons) BA VetMB MRCVS

Cat Behavior

When Do Kittens Open Their Eyes?

Newborn kittens have eyes and ears that are closed. They can’t regulate their own body temperature, and they are completely dependent on their mother for survival. As the weeks go on, kittens go through several...

Dr. Tammy Powell, DVM

Cat Behavior

When Does A Cat Reach Full Size?

Cats come in all sizes. Big cats, little cats, stocky cats, thin cats and everything in between. A lot of how big a cat will get depends on what breed they are, the nutrition they...

Cats.com Editorial Team

Behavioral Problems in Cats

What To Do If Your Cat Chews On Everything

Cats can chew on things for a variety of reasons and sometimes it can be considered normal behavior. If, however, your cat is chewing on things they shouldn’t, this could be dangerous for not only...

Dr. Gemma Cliffin BSC BVSC MRCVS

Cat Behavior

What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing?

The pungent smell of cat pee is the last thing anyone wants lingering around their home. Fortunately, cats are usually easy to train to use a litter box, and most are fastidious in their toilet...

Dr. Louise Barnes MRCVS

Behavioral Problems in Cats

What Does It Mean When A Cat Is Screaming?

Cats can make all sorts of different sounds, but screaming is one we thankfully don’t hear too often. This can make it even more scary when it does happen! Sometimes, cats scream due to pain...

Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS