Most cat parents would agree that they adore their feline friends because of the weird things cats do. The unpredictability of cat behaviour livens up any household, but what you see as entertaining is cats following their instincts. Cats tolerate and incorporate people into their daily routine, winning them over with one hilarious act after another.
Here are five unique, sometimes mystifying cat traits that make you head-over-heels in love:
1. Kneading
One of the most common and distinctive cat like displays of affection is kneading. As soon as you climb into bed or curl up in your favourite chair, they show up out of nowhere to massage you and/or the blankets for a self-therapy that creates the perfect snuggle spot. Nursing kittens knead to stimulate their mother's milk flow, and Vetstreet points out that this trait is carried into adulthood "to show contentment, calm themselves when feeling anxious or to mark a person or object with their scent from the sweat glands in paws." In your world, this can be one of the most charming things they'll do. In the cat world, kneading equals love.
2. Agility
There's a reason cat videos go viral on the internet: cats effortlessly leap and bound to great heights, and their sense of balance is unbelievable. There are even professional cat agility competitions to celebrate their willingness to jump through hoops (literally) or crawl through tunnels. It's important that you don’t entice your cat to perform tricks that could result in an injury because cats don't always land on their feet, contrary to popular belief. Nonetheless, you've got to admire their stealthy moves. Watching them chase a toy up and down the stairs, or pounce on a piece of cat food, gives you a front-row seat to your own acrobatic show!
3. Hiding in Small Spaces
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Is there anything cuter than seeing a set of adorable beady eyes sticking out of a paper bag or curled up in a tiny cardboard box (that's three times too small for your cat)? Cats are notorious for seeking out small hiding places, and although this behaviour is super adorable, it also makes cats feel safer. They seek comfort, security, and warmth in spots that seem so odd to you: a shoe box or even the bathroom sink. This trait also ties in with their ability to sleep anywhere, at any time, which is why you shouldn't be surprised to find your feline friend curled up in a laundry basket or in an empty bookshelf. Just be careful, you might not always see them hiding somewhere so be sure you know where they are when you close a cupboard door.
4. Running from One End of the House to the Other
This is quite possibly the weirdest of the weird things cats do, and they do it a lot. If you've lived with a cat for any length of time–from one day to twenty years–you've seen this happen. They’re just sitting there, quiet and unassuming, when suddenly they dart across the room at top speed to chase...well, nothing. Or what you think is nothing. Cats are incredibly tuned into their environment; they see and hear things people can't, like that dust bunny floating through the air thirty feet away. It may freak you out a bit to see your kitty sitting in a corner staring at something invisible, but rest assured they’re probably got an eye on something important.
5. Spying
Spying is a unique and sometimes unnerving behaviour at which cats excel. If you've ever woken up in the middle of the night to find your cat staring at you, or think you're alone in the room and realise your kitty is standing behind you, you know it's true. They want to keep an eye on you. Cats are valuable members of the Neighborhood Watch group. They'll stare out the window for hours, keeping tabs on the comings and goings of others. They've even been known to peek through blinds or open curtains to get a better look.
These are just a few of the weird things cats do to bring love, fun, and comfort into your world!
Image sources: Flickr, Wikimedia Commons, Flickr
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