Features of cat behavior that have an unusual explanation

The cat is the most popular pet, loved by many due to its wayward, slightly proud, aristocratic character. But the behavior of these pets is determined not only by long upbringing, although it will play a significant role. This is influenced by genetics, the behavior of ancestors and their instincts, which remain in the genes and make themselves felt from time to time. The mood of cats, their attitude towards a person or another animal can be understood by facial expressions, postures, actions; all this is studied by the psychology of cats.

Cat character

If a person decides to get a cat, he must understand that he will bring more than just a fluffy ball of fur into his home. A cat is a character, devotion and boundless love for its owner. In principle, a cat is no less devoted to its owner than a dog, but the dog is simply a devoted friend who is ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of the owner. The cat, despite its love and devotion to its owner, loves itself very much. The cat will never let itself be offended, and for any fault of the owner it is ready to take revenge on him and show that she is dissatisfied. Cats, like people, are quite social, and by living next to a person, a cat acquires skills that simplify its future life.

Pet owners often say that their cat is very smart or, on the contrary, stupid. These statements are not about the animal's mental abilities; a smart cat means that the animal is interested in others and has the ability to learn. An incorrect approach to a cat or rough approaches to raising a pet can lead to negative results. For a cat to grow up smart and become a full-fledged member of the family, it needs to be treated appropriately; it is the owner who is responsible for the future character of the pet. In its behavior and habits, the cat will resemble its owner, and to successfully raise an animal, the training process must begin from an early age. It is necessary to make it clear to the pet from the very beginning that he is very loved in his new home, but at the same time he must behave very decently and obey his owners.

Under favorable conditions and the right approach, cats are easy to train, but there is one negative point - the more a cat is socialized in society, the fewer natural instincts it has. For example, domestic cats play well with artificial mice and gradually forget that there are live mice that cats must hunt. Domestic purebred cats are so accustomed to living in the house and playing with artificial toys that the hunting instinct in them has practically died out. A purebred cat almost always shows no interest in small rodents and birds; she does not understand that this is prey and can be eaten.

The most common mistake in the education process is punishment; cats most often do not understand why they are being punished, so if they are often punished for reasons unknown to them, then they become angry and even dangerous. The owner must always remember that his every glance and action towards the cat will return back to the owner according to the principle of a boomerang. It is necessary to show the animal what is wrong or what does not suit the owner; simply scolding or using physical force will not give positive results.

How experience affects a cat's behavior

Cats fight: the main reasons for the behavior and what can be done to wean them off

Cats have a good memory, especially for negative situations. And a negative experience can radically change an animal, even if the breed itself is kind and affectionate. If the animal had a negative experience in life, for example, it was thrown out, beaten by the previous owners, starved, treated poorly, then this will leave a serious mark on the cat’s soul. And subsequent owners, if they decide to take such an animal for themselves, will find it difficult to tame a pet that is disappointed in people.

Note! Due to a negative experience, the animal will bite, hiss, and scratch everyone who wants to approach it.

And, on the contrary, if an animal has been surrounded with love and affection since childhood, then even an aggressive breed can be as affectionate as possible not only towards its owners, but also to everyone who comes to their home, including friends. All this is because the pet has a rule in his head that people are not dangerous and love him, so there is nothing to be afraid of.

An abandoned cat will never forget what was done to him

Communication of a cat with its relatives

As noted above, cats do not need to live with their relatives; of course, warm feelings may arise between animals from time to time, but they pass very quickly. Cats need their relatives only during the mating season or during the period of raising offspring, when the mother cat needs help caring for the babies.

There is a certain hierarchy in the places where a cat lives - the cat considers the dining room and resting place to be the house of the first order. Having explored these places, the animal quickly gets used to them and considers these places to be its property. The cat protects these places from any encroachment by other animals. If a cat has a very developed instinct of ownership, then it will be ready to fight just to drive away a competitor. The space around the first-order house is not so important for cats; around their houses, every animal can meet its relatives, but more often than not they do not communicate and try to ignore other cats and male cats.

During festivities, cats mark their own territory with special urine, which has an unpleasant and pungent odor. Any cat that enters this territory evokes sympathy from the male and he is ready to enter into a relationship with her. The period of walking for males is the most difficult period both for the owners of the cat and for the male himself. The owner has to endure the unpleasant smell and screams of the cat. For a cat, the period of walking carries many dangers because... he is forced to engage in real battles with other rivals for the right to communicate with the cat.

During the period of domestication of cats, their original instincts fade away and new habits appear, taken from the people who surround the animal. If a new cat gets into the first-order house of its relative, then the owner of the house will try by all means to drive out the uninvited guest. In such a situation, the cat that lives in the house will behave very aggressively towards the guest and will try to show the cat that this is her home and there is no place for other cats. The guest most often tries to find some corner or hill where he can hide and quietly observe the events taking place.

If two cats are brought into a new room where neither of them has been before, they will begin to study the situation and will not pay attention to each other. Only when the entire territory has been explored, the cats may want to communicate, or maybe each of them will simply find their place and pretend that they are alone in this room. In the first stages of acquaintance, when both cats are on equal terms with each other, they go through a certain acquaintance ritual:

• curiosity - each is interested in studying its relative and they carefully examine each other;
• the sense of smell increases, each of them tries to catch all the odors emanating from a relative;
• cats are at a distant distance from each other, they try to get closer to each other, stretching their necks towards each other and warily sniffing their relatives;
• If the first acquaintance was successful, then the next stage will be sniffing the most important places - the sides, back of the head and the place under the tail.

The further development of the relationship depends on the individual characteristics of each cat; most often, the more experienced and stronger cat begins to put pressure on the second and tries to subordinate him to his power. The second one in such a situation tries to escape from the meeting place as soon as possible.

It is a common belief that only cats from the same litter can live in the same territory for a long time and not conflict with each other. In all other cases, you need to understand that the more residents in one room, the more conflicts will arise between them. Even old cats who live together for a long time can conflict and fight. They have no concept of getting along with their relatives; relations will constantly move from the stage of reconciliation to the stage of war. Constant clarification of relationships between cats who live in the same room is explained by the fact that cats have a very independent character, it is very difficult for them to get along in the same territory with other cats and generally share their space with someone else. Already from birth, kittens are determined to have a leader in the litter; it is very easy to recognize him among babies - the leader always tries to take the most comfortable position near the mother or at the bowl. Such a kitten is not afraid to get into fights with its brothers and sisters, and is also the instigator of all conflicts in the litter. Such a character in the future will make a real fighter out of a kitten who will fight for his property and defend his space.

It is worth noting that there is no specific hierarchy between cats, and they do not choose their leaders, just one cat has the personal characteristics of a leader, and he displays them to the fullest.

Any attacks on the leader end in battle and intimidation of other cats. Most cats occupy the middle level, so to speak, they are not aggressive, they calmly treat their relatives and try not to get into fights without a reason. The middle link is the most common; cats that live in such formations get used to each other, they get food together, help each other wash themselves and clean their fur. The lowest layer is the cats who are afraid of the cats around them and cannot socialize. They do not approach the food bowl; at the sight of stronger felines, frightened cats run away and look for a safe place. If frightened cats live together for a while and understand that they are not in danger, they will be able to settle in normally and live next door to other cats.

It has been noticed that the younger the cat, the easier it is for him to get to know other cats, this is explained by the curiosity that is so inherent in young cats. Curious young individuals are ready to explore the world around them and get to know their relatives. Some cats become really close over time - they can share food, play and sleep together. It is not uncommon for an adult cat, most often neutered, to teach a young cat the principles of life. True, friendship most often does not last long; soon one of the friends begins to be jealous of the other cats and the friendship comes to an end. If you bring a young cat or male cat into a house where an adult cat already lives, the owners will most often be faced with several options for the development of events. The old cat begins to mark the territory and show with all his appearance that he is the master here, the old cat’s character deteriorates significantly, he begins to be jealous of the owners of the new pet and will take revenge on everyone. An old cat can intimidate a young cat and turn him into an angry and frightened creature who cannot live in the same room with another cat.

Cats have a very developed maternal instinct; they are ready to protect their children even if they can already fend for themselves. Each kitten is very important for its mother; the cat teaches all her children the tricks of cat life, does not allow fights between children and protects them from adult relatives. If two mother cats live in the same territory, then their maternal instinct extends to all kittens - their own and others. If one of the cats dies, the second takes in the orphaned kittens and tries to feed them all. When the kittens grow up a little, the cat begins to show aggression towards them, this is due to the fact that the cat’s milk disappears, and the kittens hurt their mother with their sharp teeth.

Territory and social aspects of behavior

Territory is an important part of a cat's life. If you analyze their behavior, you will notice that even homeless cats live in a clearly defined territory and fiercely defend it from other cats. In the house, the animal behaves in almost the same way, considering the entire apartment to be its personal property. Therefore, sometimes problems and conflicts arise if another cat or dog appears in the house, since this is regarded as an intrusion into the territory of the cat state.

You can recognize a cat’s “thoughts” by its pose

Note! Cats also perceive negatively the appearance on their territory of not only new animals, but also strangers, especially if they touch their personal and favorite things: toys, a house, a claw sharpener, etc.

Social aspects make cats more difficult to train and train than dogs. If you analyze the behavior of wild cats, then the question of why they behave this way disappears. After all, a wild lynx or a tiger is an independent animal that does not need a leader or owner; there are very rarely any exceptions to this rule.

A small pack for an animal can only be the closest family - a male and children. Without everyone else, cats can easily get their own food and exist (we are talking about wild animals). In the domesticated world, only children and owners are considered important to a cat. But the social relationship between a cat and a person is completely different from that between a dog and a person.

Cats love their owners, allow them to be on their territory and allow them to stroke themselves, as well as touch their own things. But they do not consider the owner to be a “leader”, since socially they do not have such a term; most likely, they consider themselves an equal, and in case of unpleasant behavior they will sharply rebuff the owner and show who is the owner of the territory.

Important! It is precisely because of this structure of worldview and instincts that cats are more difficult to train, since they do not consider humans superior to themselves.

Social aspects are also associated with the mating of cats and their reproductive function. Most often, pregnancy, mating, estrus or sterilization significantly affects behavior and character.

The psychology of cats and cats is also different; females, for example, are more aggressive due to pregnancy, as well as after childbirth, when they want to protect their babies.

Even stray cats have their own designated territory

Communication between cats and other animals

In the cat's worldview, all animals that come across a cat's life receive the status of either a pursuer or prey. Scientists have long proven that a cat considers almost all animals it meets as its relatives. Only after finding out by smell that the animal is weaker than her, she understands that this animal is prey or, conversely, the cat is prey. The older the cat, the easier it is for her to distinguish her prey from her pursuer. When a cat lives in a natural environment, it is easier and faster for her to understand who is friend or foe in the yard. Country cats almost never show interest in poultry. They can show their maternal instinct not only on kittens, but also on babies of other animals - piglets, kids, etc. A cat calmly reacts to large animals - cows, pigs, she understands perfectly well that she is not in any danger from them. Cats develop friendly relations with some neighbors in the yard, and in winter the cat can bask in utility rooms along with other animals.

Little kittens, due to their curiosity and ignorance, can even mistake hamsters and parrots for their relatives. A kitten can play with a hamster, but if the baby’s instincts awaken, the little friend may be in serious trouble. But this does not always happen; there are cats that can live peacefully with a white rat, even if it moves around the apartment without obstacles.

The complex and contradictory relationship between a cat and a dog deserves special attention. In most cases, living in the same house with a cat and a dog is peaceful and without quarrels. But there are other cases when quarrels and showdowns begin between neighbors. Enmity between two animals occurs due to the manifestation of the instincts of each of them. Dog owners influence this relationship; some owners set dogs against street cats. If dog owners do not set their pets against street cats, then a completely friendly relationship can develop between a dog and a cat. There are times when a cat meets its four-legged friend in the park or simply sits at the entrance and waits for the dog to be taken for a walk. A running cat makes the dog want to rush after and catch up with the fleeing object. Even if a dog catches up with a cat, it almost never harms it. Cats are quicker to navigate dangerous situations and can do something that will greatly surprise or even frighten the dog. Having overtaken a cat, the dog most often simply barks at it, but does not dare to attack.

If you take a puppy and a kitten into your home at the same time, then they will grow up to be true and devoted friends who will rarely argue and will mostly exist peacefully with each other.

An old dog can also easily get along with a young cat - in this case, the dog’s maternal instinct awakens, and the kitten perfectly replaces the puppy. Dogs can generally replace a kitten’s mother and take full care of the baby. The kitten perceives the dog as its mother and does not feel any danger from it, realizing that the baby can do whatever he wants, he begins to indulge in every possible way and anger the dog. The kitten often takes tasty food from the dog’s bowl, scratches the dog’s nose, bites the dog’s tail painfully, etc. The dog in such a situation is patient and humbly waits until the baby grows up and stops being a bully. If the kitten is confident in his big friend, he can calmly fall asleep on the dog's stomach, knowing that he is completely safe and under strict protection. In principle, with a strong desire, even adult dogs and cats can be made friends, it will just take more time and effort.

Over time, the cat stops paying attention to the dog’s barking and clumsy movements, and the dog eventually stops hunting the cat. Cats are often more liked by their owners than dogs. Cats are allowed to sleep in the owner's bed, their food always tastes better - this and much more hurts the dogs, because in the relationship between pets there is always a competitive moment, and when the cat receives more attention from the owner, the dog begins to play pranks and attract the owner. During such periods, apathy on the part of the dog, bad mood and even refusal to eat are possible. Cats love to tease dogs; it happens that a cat starts playing with a dog, winds it up, cheers it up, and then just quietly leaves the angry dog. At such a time, the dog is ready to do anything just to play with the cat.

Character and behavioral characteristics of various breeds

Snowshoe (cat breed): features and appearance

It cannot be said that breed strongly determines cats, but it plays a certain role. Most often, those cats that are closer in kinship to their wild relatives are considered more aggressive, since hunting instincts have not yet been completely eliminated in them. These include the savannah, manula, jungle cat, Maine coon, as well as the “Scottish” and “British” fold, famous for their pride.

Important! They are considered the closest relatives of wild cats, so they have preserved their hunting instincts and aggression to the greatest extent possible.

But even such breeds, with proper upbringing, can be made more calm and affectionate. In any case, the owner's attitude and previous experience play a more serious role in the manifestations of the animal's character than whether the animal belongs to any breed, or whether the owner is faced with the task of raising a mongrel cat. After all, there are often cases when a person managed to tame a lion, so it is unlikely that a loving owner will not be able to cope with raising a Savannah or Pallas's cat with great desire and patience.

Savannah is similar in appearance and character to a leopard

Communication between a person and a cat

Affectionate and sociable cats do not fall on us from heaven and do not become so on their own. It is we, the owners, who turn them into the most tender and devoted friends. How does this happen? Through idleness. It's hard to believe, but it is true. However, not all owners know how to devote their time to doing nothing. Anyone who is busy with all sorts of things from early morning until late evening and does not want to let his cat near him even at night simply does not give her the opportunity to show friendliness.

PETT ME!

If your cat does not come to you on her own, think about it: perhaps it seems to her that none of the people around her are ready to communicate with her. After all, the longer you sit at the computer keyboard, the less time you have to sit with your tailed pet in front of the TV screen. If you are constantly busy and this is repeated day after day, the animal will certainly feel deprived of the love of its owners. Try to pay at least a little attention to your cat, because quite often each family member thinks about the tailed beauty.

CAT'S PLACE IS ON HANDS

Don't move away from your cat, pet her often and pick her up. Take the example of children who, without thinking twice, run up to a kitten, grab it and pick it up, even if it is sleeping or busy playing. Then the child drags the animal, unceremoniously torn from the arms of Morpheus or an exciting game, to the other end of the room and at the same time rather awkwardly squeezes it in his hands. However, in reality, all this is not as terrible as it looks from the outside.

Kittens have been accustomed to this kind of treatment since childhood. Their own mother treats them much the same way. She picks up her offspring, tightly squeezing the kitten's scruff with her teeth, pulls them into the nest, and then carefully licks each one. We pet them instead, although newborn kittens are unlikely to yet understand these subtleties of handling.

WITHOUT EXCESSIVE DELICACY

Parents usually scold their children for such behavior. They think that such rough treatment could result in psychological trauma for the animal. But as a result, such owners only achieve that the cat, seeing their dissatisfaction, tries to avoid communicating with the child. Therefore, you should not deprive children of joy and forbid them to tinker with the cat. If we are not talking about truly cruel treatment and the cat does not try to escape from the child’s hands, it means that she is happy with the attention from him. If the cat wants to leave, the child is unlikely to be able to hold it by force. Thus, parents should intervene only in exceptional cases.

Relationships with dogs

The relationship between these two animals is not always negative. Such situations are due to the fact that they simply have different understandings of the world, methods of understanding it and relationships with other animals. Cats by nature are similar to introverts, unlike dogs, who, on the contrary, are happy about any contact.

Note! Cats are accustomed to a clearly limited range of relationships, in which humans occupy a central place.

Plus, the methods of understanding the world and other animals, as well as the psychology of cats, are completely different from those of dogs. The cat tries to carefully approach something unknown; he needs time to make friends with someone and get used to him. Even with the owner, the situation improves after a while, since these animals are always on the alert and do not trust anyone one hundred percent.

But the dog is the opposite. If she has not had a negative experience, then she is glad to have any new friend and tries to get as close as possible to the new object. For example, play, touch with your paw, lick. But it is clear that the cat is clearly not happy with his neatness and distrust when someone incomprehensible and unfamiliar decides to lick or touch him.

Important! It is worth remembering that sometimes aggression comes from dogs. This occurs more often in hunting and fighting breeds, since due to their instincts they mistake a small animal for prey or a rival.

It cannot be said that a cat and a dog cannot become friends, since animals often refute this myth and actually become true friends. But this process happens more easily when they are accustomed to each other from early childhood and try to give each an equal amount of attention, so that not a single pet feels superfluous and abandoned. If it doesn’t work out, then a cat psychologist will help.

A dog and a cat can be friends without hunting each other

Cat and man

A cat is an independent animal; cats never live in packs, and prefer a solitary existence rather than communicate with their relatives. But in nature, cats are forced to communicate with other animals, and living in houses, cats develop certain relationships not only with other animals, but also with humans. It depends on the person what kind of relationship will develop between him and his pet. Cats are capable of developing vigorous activity or spending their time in constant rest and sleep.

Scientists have conducted many experiments on the relationship between cats and humans and have come to some interesting conclusions. Firstly, a cat may behave atypically if it has done something wrong and is afraid of punishment. Secondly, a cat can beg its owner for a long time and persistently for a treat or some kind of tasty treat. Thirdly, over time, a cat acquires the same habits as its owner and can even behave in the same way as a person. Fourthly, a cat can set its own rules that a person must follow, for example, it will not eat food if it was thrown on the floor and not in a bowl.

Cats have excellent memory and excellent time orientation. The cat can go out into the hallway at the same time every day to meet its owner from work. It turns out that a cat can remember a certain chain of events and reproduce these actions in its memory. The entire environment in the house is also very important for a cat; if it has just been brought into the house, it will sniff every detail of the interior for a long time and carefully, and only after that it will begin to look for a place to rest and spend further time.

Most of all, cats like high furniture, where they can climb and hide, and from there they can see a large area of ​​the room and it is convenient for the cat to monitor its space. Once a cat chooses a place to sleep, it is almost impossible to retrain it to another place. For example, if a pet decides that it is comfortable for him to sleep on a chair, then it will be very difficult for the owner to wean him from this place. As soon as a kitten is brought into the house, you need to decide what he can do and what he cannot do, if the owner is not satisfied with what the kitten is doing, you must immediately explain to him that this is not necessary, otherwise it will become a habit and then wean the matured pet it will be much more difficult. If you allow your cat to sleep in the bed from the very beginning, then it will be impossible to wean it off. All the habits that a kitten has had since childhood cannot be eradicated from an adult pet.

A cat is an intelligent animal, and naturally cats very quickly understand what can and cannot be done. If you pamper your pet a lot from childhood and allow him everything, then the kitten will grow up and decide that everything is allowed to him, naturally this will not end well. If a kitten is allowed to behave as he wants during childhood, then the owner will later reap the benefits of such upbringing. For example, if a cat gets used to sleeping with its owner, then when it is not allowed into the bedroom, it will bite and scratch its beloved owner and may even go to the toilet in the wrong place.

A cat must know the boundaries of what is permitted from the very moment it appears in the house; each upbringing is selected in accordance with the character of the cat. It is almost impossible to give any specific recommendations here. The only condition is that you cannot raise cats using force, you cannot force the animal, otherwise such upbringing will not bear any fruit. Education should be strict, but fair, the cat should feel that she is loved anyway.

Psychological portrait of a cat

Each cat has its own distinctive features associated not only with its breed, but also with its character and temperament. Of course, each cat walks on its own, but is always close to a person. Notices his mood and well-being. The presence of the owner will never leave her indifferent. Even a dozing cat never loses sight of you.

Probably, a cat’s devotion is not as noticeable as a dog’s, and she shows her emotions quite differently from other animals, so a person must be able to understand and appreciate her psychological qualities in order to get real pleasure from communicating with her.

• Cats experience severe stress from separation from their owner, sometimes this leads to their death.
• For cats there is no understanding of a leader, as, for example, for a dog.
• The cat has strong emotional ties with the owner and will never test his strength as a leader. Maybe for the same reason, physical punishment for her is not a signal for obedience or a prohibition.
• A cat, no matter where it lives, must have its own small territory, a corner where it can hide from others and relax. It is very important to organize such a space for your pet. Having their own, sole territory is one of the psychological characteristics of cats.

To develop a healthy psyche, kittens should not be taken from their mother before eight weeks of age. You need to take him in your arms for a short time, gently caress him, and lightly stroke him. This will give the future cat a feeling of security, confidence and at the same time a positive attitude towards the space around her.

The cat does not serve the owner, is not able to carry out his orders unquestioningly, but, nevertheless, it is vital for her to be near a person; at the genetic level, she needs communication with him, the care and affection of a person. This is a psychological need. She is more of a companion and partner in a person's life than an assistant and servant.

By understanding these simple features of cat psychology, you will be able to build the correct behavior of your pet.

Why do people love cats

A soft, cozy creature that loves to curl up at the owner’s feet into a fluffy ball and emit a pleasant purr - a symbol of a warm, bright home, happiness, comfort and love. This is the main reason why people prefer to have mustachioed striped animals as pets. For many people, these animals are associated with peace and tranquility.

The way a person treats cats can tell a lot about his character. Psychologists have developed their own characteristics of people who cannot imagine their life without a furry purr:

1. Women : They are often compared to cats, and for good reason. The fair sex, who loves cats, is just as graceful, well-groomed and full of mysterious secrets. She craves love, knows how and wants to give it back. But at the same time, she is independent and not always logical in her actions. Often women who do not have a family or children get cats to give them affection. At the same time, they know that in return they will receive boundless and selfless love. But there are pitfalls here. A cat, accustomed to receiving attention and affection, may have an extremely negative attitude towards the appearance of a man in the house.
2. Children : a child who loves cats, gentle and affectionate. Most children are afraid of dogs, but are drawn to cats, and this happens at the level of instinct. This is explained by the fact that in a calm and cozy cat, babies see a reflection of their mother. In families with small children, psychologists recommend having cats. Such proximity makes kids flexible and calm, loving and responsible in the future. Contact with a cat helps alleviate stress for a baby who is weaning from breastfeeding.
3. Men : if a representative of the stronger sex has a cat as a pet or has a weakness for cats, this indicates his soft and flexible character, his willingness to always seek compromises to make everyone comfortable and comfortable. Such men are less susceptible to stress, aggressive behavior and outbursts of irritability.

What kind of people are they who don’t like cats? There are also those who cannot stand purring. But in most cases, the reason lies in the subconscious, the presence of psychological problems:

1. A woman who does not like cats does not perceive, does not realize, and even denies her feminine nature.
2. Most men are misogynists. Men with non-traditional sexual orientation are not particularly fond of cats, but this is not a mandatory rule, but rather an observation.

Cats don't have to be liked by everyone; some people simply prefer other animals, finding them cuter. But if a person hates cats, there is an explanation for this in the form of a number of psychological reasons.

Cat hunt

Kittens perceive hunting as a game, and only as they grow up, when the animal’s predator and hunter instincts awaken, does the game take on real meaning. From about 6 weeks, kittens begin to understand that hunting is more than just a game. First, the kids watch their mother hunt, and then they themselves become involved in this activity. At first, during a hunt, a kitten may be afraid of prey, but having matured a little, it will understand that it is stronger and smarter than its prey, then the fear will go away, and only instincts will remain. Cat hunting is a very interesting and exciting spectacle.

A predator can sit in a secluded place for a long time and not show any signs of life, and then suddenly appear near the prey and grab it at the first opportunity. The cat always rests on the ground with its hind paws, and grabs the prey with its front paws. In the very first throw, the cat bites through the cervical vertebrae of the prey; for most small rodents this bite will be fatal. After this, the cat begins to play with the prey, and it does not matter whether the prey is alive or not. Having played enough with the prey, the cat eats it. Often, a cat kills prey even if it is not hungry - thus, it simply satisfies its hunting instincts.

Why does a cat bring mice - the cat's hunting instincts

According to the cat, people know absolutely nothing about catching mice. And that is why her calling is to help us in this difficult matter. Cats are not greedy creatures. If a cat is full, it will definitely share its prey with others. Thus, individuals less successful in hunting are often treated to fellow animals who have achieved success in this. Sometimes, when cats live as one large family (for example, on farms where they all raise offspring together), they can observe an effective division of labor. If an independent cat with a clear passion for hunting suddenly stands out among other mothers, she is allowed to realize herself in this field. She can focus entirely on catching mice, thereby taking on the role of nurse, while the other cats take care of her offspring.

Bringing another half-strangled mouse into the flock, the hunter conducts a master class - showing her brothers how to catch and kill it more efficiently.

This is why cats bring trophies to their owners. This is how they demonstrate to us their professionalism, for which they expect a well-deserved reward, or at least worthy praise. And if suddenly the mouse shows dexterity and runs away, you should not stand still! You should immediately give chase. Well, at least that's what your cat thinks.

And in order not to offend her best feelings, don’t even try to squeal in horror: “Ugh! What kind of abomination is this?!” Show self-control. Accept this valuable gift and pretend that you are going to enjoy it. But don't get carried away. It is enough to take the mouse somewhere, pretending that you want to retire for a meal.

The main thing is not to throw away the trophy in front of the cat.

Cat and mouse

And today, some people still believe that a cat can be fed with anything and that such food will be quite acceptable for it. There are also those who think that a cat doesn’t need to be fed at all, because it can catch mice, which means it can find food for itself. However, not all so simple.

Such owners forget that a cat that has to do without human help has no reason to love people, not to mention the fact that a cat left unattended can quickly acquire fleas, intestinal parasites, chronic diseases and acute infections. This cat's life is unlikely to be long unless someone reports it to animal control. Such an attitude of owners towards their pets is considered as cruelty to animals and is criminally punishable.

Although cats are indeed much more independent than dogs, they do not always show their independence, but tench, in those cases when it justifies itself. For example, when it comes to hunting mice. However, you are very mistaken if you think that cats catch mice solely for food. There are many tailed gourmets who put the newly caught mouse aside and rush to the bowl filled with food. Their gaze seems to say: “Will you look after my mouse? I urgently need something to eat..."

When hungry, cats always happily return home to their bowl. It is difficult to say why the food seems to them tastier than mouse meat. Only one thing can be said with certainty: mice are not at all interested in pleasing your cat, while cat food manufacturers are trying to add as many flavoring additives as possible to make their products tastier and thereby increase sales. .

EDIBLE - INEDIBLE

Domestic cats kept in apartments generally do not have to deal with live mice, let alone eat them. Having seen a mouse, such a cat will not even touch it. After all, kittens learn what is edible and what is not in the first weeks of life. In the case of hunting mice, they follow the example of their mother. However, the offspring of a domestic cat are deprived of this experience and do not even realize that mice can be eaten.

IS A MOUSE A TROPHY OR A TREAT?

Mice are perceived completely differently by the offspring of a yard cat, who, at the first opportunity, brings them live mice and teaches them how to catch, kill and eat their prey. Kittens who have not learned this from their mother, when they grow up, can learn to catch mice themselves, but they never eat them, and in most cases they proudly bring them home as a trophy. The likelihood of a cat being poisoned by a mouse is extremely low. Much more often, cats die due to poisoned baits thrown at them by cruel neighbors. But if you feed your cat well, she is unlikely to touch a treat from a stranger.

Be that as it may, mouse meat contains everything that is necessary for a cat’s complete nutrition: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, ballast and other nutrients, some of which are absent in regular home food. Therefore, professional breeders prefer to feed their cats special food.

5) Cats get rid of all foreign odors

Many people consider cats to be very clean animals; they constantly lick their fur and comb out parasites. You may notice that your pet begins to lick itself more vigorously after you pet it. Maybe you have oil on your hands that your cat definitely wants to lick off? Or is she allergic to your touch and starts licking herself to feel better? In reality, the point is different: the cat licks off the smell you left behind.

Cats have special glands that are stimulated when they lick their fur. She licks her fur to smell herself and wants to get rid of all foreign odors.

It's like your mother running to the shower every time you hug her.

You may also have noticed that your cat begins to urinate anywhere after you invite guests home, especially in those places where there is a foreign smell. This is practically the same thing, since your pet just wants to cover up the traces of the stranger’s presence, because there is already an owner here.

How a cat chooses a place for itself

It is worth noting that cats love to sleep; in total, cats spend about 2/3 of the time of their entire lives in a state of sleep and dozing. A cat's sleep and its duration depend on the age, season, health and sexual needs of the animal. Kittens and older cats sleep more than adults. In a dream, an animal can actively move; scientists have not yet established why this happens, so all that remains is to make guesses and assumptions.

The cat chooses a place to sleep very carefully, because it spends so much time in this state. Access to the sleeping area should be free, and at the same time, the place should be located so that no one disturbs the pet's sleep. A cat can change places to sleep if something doesn’t suit it in its current place. The difficulty is that the sleeping place must have a good view of the room, the cat must be confident in its safety. Often conflicts arise between the cat and the owner when the owner shows the pet the chosen place to sleep, but the cat does not want to sleep in this place and chooses another place that does not suit the owner.

There are certain principles that guide an animal when choosing a sleeping place:

• their favorite place is the owner’s lap; cats generally love to bask in their arms when they are stroked and scratched. If the cat owner does not mind the cat sleeping in the owner's bed, then this will be the best place to sleep. However, most experts do not recommend allowing pets to sleep in their owner's bed. No matter how much the owner of the animal takes care of the cleanliness and health of the cat, the bed is not a place for animals;
• not very brave and courageous individuals choose places on a hill, so that in case of danger they will have some advantage;
• cats are thermophilic, so they love to sleep near heaters, radiators and stoves. In the winter season, you need to carefully monitor your pet, make heating devices as safe as possible, or put them out of reach of your pet;
• Dark corners and inconspicuous places also appeal to cats. The main thing for a cat is a feeling of safety; if the cat knows that nothing threatens it, then it will have no need for hiding places;
• cats love various boxes and containers with a recess. Pets often sleep in crates or laundry baskets.

In order for your cat to lead an active lifestyle and be able to sleep peacefully, several recommendations should be followed. The cat must choose a place to sleep on its own; the more a person interferes with this choice, the more difficult it will be for the cat to get used to this place. In the place chosen by the cat, if it completely suits the owner, you need to lay a cover or rug. The rug needs to be cleaned periodically because... it quickly gets dirty with wool and litter from the tray. You can help in choosing a place to sleep by purchasing a special sleeping place.

Nowadays, a huge variety of houses and beds for sleeping are sold on the shelves of pet stores. You can buy a booth with an opening roof or just a mattress with sides; most often cats like such places and they sleep in them with pleasure. For a cat to sleep peacefully and soundly, one place is not enough. The pet should walk in the fresh air and receive adequate nutrition; if the cat receives everything it needs for normal functioning, then it will sleep soundly and be in a good mood.

Types and causes of aggression in cats

Turkish Van (cat breed): description and features

Cats can show anger for the following reasons:

• aggression associated with previous experiences. Everything is clear here: the cat was treated incorrectly, which is why he formed attitudes in his head that all people are evil and dangerous;
• aggression associated with jealousy. Most often, this happens if the owner begins to pay more attention to another animal than to him, or pays attention, for example, to a child. Cats are used to being kings in the house, owners of the territory, and humans are also considered part of their “domain,” so aggression due to jealousy is a common occurrence;
• aggression for self-defense. If there are 2 pets in the house, for example, two cats or a cat and a dog, then sometimes unpleasant situations arise, for example, due to food, toys, territory, etc. And one of them may show deliberate aggression, so the poor the animal has no choice but to defend itself using all available methods.

Note! Often, aggression can be associated with disorders in the body, for example, rabies, surgery or after vaccination.

The most common manifestations of aggression are cat bites, scratches and hissing. In addition, the cat can behave aggressively with the things of the person or animal against whom it bears a grudge. For example, shitting in the owner’s slippers, scratching the sofa, or tearing the toy of the animal against which he is aggressive and must defend himself.

Aggression in cats manifests itself in different ways.

6) The cat brings dead prey into the house to teach you how to hunt

Cats love to kill. Many owners who let their cats go for a walk are surprised to find that their pets bring their prey into the house and show it off to their owner. Do you think that the cat wants to share what it caught with you?

Many cat owners will say that cats are instinctive hunters, and even when they've had their fill of canned tuna, they won't mind hunting a flying sparrow just for fun if the opportunity arises. After a successful hunt, the proud animal presents the prey to the dominant leader of the group (usually the owner) as a gift.

Although this is quite logical, this assumption is a little wrong, and this is only half the story.

In fact, a gift in the form of a dead bird or mouse is not a gift for the owner at all, it is more like a training exercise. Cats teach their kittens and other dependent family members how to hunt and catch prey by following gradual steps. When your cat drops prey at your feet, this is lesson number one in his training program. The cat notices that you have almost no hunting skills and are unable to catch your own food, so she tries to train you, as she does with her kittens.

Physiological characteristics of a cat

Cats are flexible and graceful creatures, their body can take a variety of positions, they can run quickly, jump, wriggle, and curl up into a ball. All this is achieved thanks to the special structure of the cat’s body. Firstly, cats have a small and mobile collarbone, and, accordingly, a narrow chest, which allows them to jump high and far, as well as run fast. Secondly, their spine is flexible and plastic, which is determined by both the number of vertebrae a cat has and the intervertebral discs that connect them. A cat's backbone is made up of thirty vertebrae, between which are thick, elastic vertebral discs that are incredibly flexible.

Some pet owners are interested in why cats have a rough tongue and why they need it like that. The cause of roughness is keratinized growths covering the entire surface of the tongue. They are also called capillary papillae.

Cats' tongues are very mobile and dexterous, thanks to which these animals easily lap up liquids and lick fur.

Devices in the form of papillae allow you to feel the taste of food, move food in the mouth towards the larynx, comb the fur as if with a brush, removing foreign objects from it and untangling lumps.

Cat vision

The features of cat vision deserve special attention. Experts have thoroughly studied the vision of cats, and this is what is known today. These predators have a wide field of vision, their viewing angle is 200 degrees, and their lateral vision is well developed. Cats practically cannot see up close (at a distance of less than 50 cm). For example, if an object is very close, the cat will touch it using its whiskers, rather than sight.

For a long time, there has been debate about what colors cats distinguish and whether they have color vision. It is known that cats clearly see the color gray and its many shades. This is understandable, because cats hunt mice, which are gray in color. They can also, albeit blurrily, distinguish between green-yellow and blue shades of the color spectrum. It is believed that red color is inaccessible to cats and is transmitted as gray. We can say that cats perceive the world around them primarily in shades of gray.

It is a mistaken belief that a cat can see in complete darkness. The ability to night vision occurs in the presence of any faint glimpse of light (moon, street lights, stars, car headlights). Deep in a cat's eye is a layer of reflective cells that, like a mirror, reflect light back to the retina. That is, the cat’s eye collects and multiplies every ray of light that hits it, while reflecting the extra one. This explains why a cat's eyes glow in the dark, and thanks to which it is perfectly oriented in a dark space.

An interesting fact is that blind cats behave practically no different from cats with normal vision. In this case, blindness is compensated by an increased sense of touch and smell.

However, blind cats may look different, such as Matilda the cat with large eyes who suffers from a genetic eye disease (lens luxation). She became famous on Instagram as Matilda, an alien cat with incredibly large eyes due to her unusual eye shape. Moreover, before the cat Matilda was no different from the others, but the disease progressed, and the eyes took on an unusual shape.

Early determination of the sex of a kitten so that the cat Vaska does not turn out to be the cat Vasilisa

When a cat gives birth to a kitten, the owner wonders how to identify the baby as a male cat in order to immediately call it by the correct name.

There are several ways to independently determine the sex of a kitten:

• color of the animal: if the color is tricolor (tortoiseshell), then it is a cat, if the color is red, then, as a rule, it is a cat;
• examination of the kitten’s genitals: in boys, the genitals resemble a point and are located from the anus at a distance of more than 1 cm, in girls they look like a vertical strip located almost near the anus (less than 1 cm);
• examination of appearance: the cat’s muzzle, nose, paws, body and tail are wider than those of a female cat.

What should the owner do?

In all of these cases, the owner must calm the animal down by showing care and affection.

Severe condition and, accordingly, behavior in cats that have undergone surgery (sterilization), accompanied by anesthesia. Much depends on the cat’s resistance to stress, mental and individual characteristics. Not all animals lie flat in the same way; there are also hyperactivists. For the latter, such strange behavior will play a negative role in the recovery process.

It is better to equip such a quiet place, as well as administer sedatives. There are animals that, after this manipulation, become aggressive. Their hissing, growling or screaming indicate severe pain, so an immediate examination by a veterinarian is necessary, and painkillers are possible. And another type of non-standard behavior of a cat after surgery is an exorbitant appetite associated with the cessation of the action of sex hormones.

How to tell if a cat loves you

Cats have a unique language with which they “talk” to people. Every owner must learn to understand the mood of their pet so that their connection is strong and mutual. To express sympathy and love, cats have a whole arsenal of facial expressions and gestures:

1. Purring.
2. Licking.
3. The desire to spend all the time together.
4. Falling asleep on your knees and in the same bed.
5. Showing belly and tail.
6. “Butting”, rubbing against arms and legs.
7. Sharpening claws on furniture.
8. “Massage” with claws and trampling on the body.
9. Surprises and gifts.

10 signs a cat loves you

Conversation with a cat: sounds and facial expressions

Although cats prefer to communicate with gestures, the most talkative of them purr constantly. The cat's tongue contains more than 16 signals of various ranges, including ultrasound, inaccessible to the human ear. Mothers often communicate with their kittens using such inaudible sounds. An ordinary “meow” may differ in timbre and tonality. Having learned to speak like a cat, a person will be able to convey the necessary information to the pet with similar sounds. For example, quietly hissing at a cat when it does something forbidden, you can let it know that it should not be done. The psychology of cats is designed in such a way that not all of them are too talkative. Some animals make only a few quiet sounds throughout their lives. Others, on the contrary, constantly scream, purr, growl, hiss and grumble. Here's what some cat words can tell you about your furry friend's mood:

• Hissing is a warning signal.
• Snorting – surprise, desire to distract the enemy, confusion.
• Low range rumbling – readiness for defense.
• Grunting is a threat and a warning.
• Clattering of teeth, smacking and bleating is a desire to catch prey or disappointment if this was not possible.
• Purring - the cat is happy with life.
• A cooing short “meow” is the joy of meeting, greeting.
• Vibrating with a hoarse “meow” - a friendly attitude, gratitude.

Each drawn-out “mi-auu”, “meaa-u” in most cases expresses a request, a call for help, a complaint or a cry. The degree to which a cat is talkative depends not only on its individual character, but also on its breed. The psychology of Thai cats, as well as their Siamese and Oriental counterparts, is different in that they are very talkative and sociable. British and European shorthair cats, on the contrary, are silent.

The facial expressions of all cats are very expressive due to the high degree of mobility of the muscles of the face and head. A cat's eyes are a mirror that reflects the pet's mood and state of mind. Half-closed eyelids and slow blinking mean calm, tranquility, and relaxation. Wide eyes - interest, concern. Fear is shown by dilated pupils. A narrowed gaze expresses warning and challenge. Sharply constricted pupils indicate extreme concentration. If the cat looks away, then it is ready to obey. A direct look into the eyes of the owner and ears stretched forward express interest, a request, a desire to communicate or eat. Ears drooping to the sides indicate aggression, while ears pulled back and drooping indicate that the cat is scared. If the tips of your ears twitch nervously, this is a sign of insecurity.

Features of cat behavior: today the cat is affectionate, and tomorrow – aggressive

Sometimes the behavior of a cat is incomprehensible to the owner: today she follows around and demands affection, and tomorrow she bites the owner when trying to pet her, or even leaves the house altogether. To understand why a cat behaves in one way or another, you need to know the reasons that can cause such behavior. For example, if a cat, in the process of stroking, only slightly bites its owner with its teeth, then in this way it can show its great uncontrollable love for him.

To understand why the cat follows me around, you need to consider the possible reasons for this behavior:

1. the simplest reason is that the owner does not pay enough attention to her, and the cat asks for the portion of tenderness she needs;
2. excessive care of the owner leads to the fact that the pet simply does not know how to play independently;
3. the cat feels insecure during the owner’s absence, perhaps other family members or pets cause anxiety.

The answer to the question why a cat bites when you pet it may be one of the following reasons:

• the cat has already received the portion of affection she needs, and this monotonous process of stroking her is simply tired;
• this way the pet can show its independence, showing that it can be petted when it wants;
• the cat remembers that the last time she was petted before unpleasant procedures and may show aggression towards the owner when he wants to pet her again;
• even with gentle stroking, your pet may experience unpleasant or painful sensations;
• Hostile cat behavior may indicate resentment towards its owner.

To understand why cats leave home, you should know that:

1. a cat that is not adapted to life outside the house and accidentally ends up on the street can get lost there;
2. natural instincts and the mating season can be the reason for a cat leaving the owner’s house;
3. a pregnant cat is capable of leaving the house in search of a secluded place and then returning with kittens;
4. if a pet is poorly fed or abused, there is a chance that it will leave this home;
5. if the animal is old and feels death is approaching, it goes away to die in a quiet place away from home.