By Gloria J. Towle, Special to the County
Most parents of cats agree that they adore their feline friends because of the weird things cats do. The unpredictability of funny cat behavior livens up any household, but what you see as silly and entertaining is just them following their instincts. They tolerate and incorporate people into their daily routine, winning them over with one hilarious act after another. Christine O’Brien of Hillspet.com shares some unique cat traits that make you head-over-heels in love.
Kneading: One of the most common and distinctive catlike displays of affection is kneading. As soon as you climb into bed or curl up in your favorite chair, your feline appears out of nowhere. She will massage you or perhaps the blankets for a self-therapy that creates the perfect snuggle spot. Nursing kittens knead to stimulate their mother’s milk flow, but it’s a trait she carries into adulthood “to show contentment, to calm her when she’s feeling anxious or to mark a person or object with her scent from the sweat glands in her paws.” In your world, this can be one of the most charming things she’ll do. In the cat world, kneading equals love.
Agility: Of course, you can enjoy many cat videos that go viral on the Internet: It amazes me the sense of balance and effortlessly leaps and bounds that kitties can achieve, and at pretty scary heights. It’s important to recognize that you shouldn’t entice her to perform that could result in an injury because contrary to popular belief, “cats don’t always land on their feet”.
Hiding in small spaces: 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 usually three times too small for your cat)? Cats are notorious for seeking out small hiding places, and although this behavior 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 her hiding somewhere so be sure you know where she is the next time you close your closet door.
The Zoomies: Our male tiger kitty Willie used to do this on a regular basis. We would always say the Zombies were chasing him! 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 20 years – you’ve seen this happen. Your kitty will just be 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 30 feet away. It freaks you out a bit to see your kitty sitting in a corner staring at something invisible, but rest assured she’s probably got her eye on something important.
Spying: If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night to find your cat staring at you, they simply want to keep an eye on you. 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 and wonderful things cats do to bring love, fun, and comfort into our world!
Please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society at 210 Cross St. in Presque Isle or check us out on Facebook. Be responsible, spay & neuter your pets!
