Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cat Behavior

Cat Behavior

An orange and white kitten on a pink blanket

Can cats have Down syndrome? Here’s the truth

Down syndrome cats may have similar chromosome differences and even similar characteristics to people with Down syndrome, but there's more than meets the eye.
A white cat with black spots sits beneath a Christmas tree surrounded by lit-up fairy lights

Your Christmas tree can be dangerous to your pet — here’s what to know

Two gray tabby kittens playing with wand toy

How much exercise does my cat need? Why you need to know the answer

Cat climbing out of a Litter Robot litter box

Why is your cat pooping on the floor? What to know about this disturbing behavior

Orange cat in a white fleece bed

How to get a cat to sleep all night so they stop waking you up

Person holding a black and white cat for a nail trim

Do’s and don’ts: How to trim cat nails safely and successfully

Cat sits in the bathroom looking out

Why do cats hate closed doors? What science says

Tiger cat lying on a rug

How to help your new cat settle in

Angry calico cat hissing

How to tell if your cat is angry at you and what to do

Cat scratching a couch

Why do cats scratch furniture? A new study says your behavior might be encouraging theirs

Orange Maine Coon cat climbing a tree branch

8 reasons to adopt a Maine Coon as your next family pet (and 2 reasons not to)

A white tabby cat with green eyes stands looking out a window

Can cats and pet birds coexist? 7 tips for keeping pets safe and happy

Tiger cat rubbing against a person's legs

Why do cats rub themselves against you? It’s not because they love you

Why do cats rub against you? The real reason has nothing to do with affection and everything to do with claiming you as their territory.
A gray tabby cat hunting in grass

Why do cats kill small animals? A chemical analysis of their whiskers has the answer

An analysis of cat whiskers gives insight into why they kill small animals.
Gray cat sitting behind a white cat and grooming it

Why do cats groom each other? Weird cat behavior explained

Ever wonder why cats are always grooming each other? Here's what you need to know about this funny feline behavior.
Cat curled up in a bathroom sink

5 totally normal reasons why your cat follows you to the bathroom

Does your cat love to follow you into the bathroom? Here's why.
Cat stretching out and rubbing its chin against a corner

This is why your cat headbutts you

Does your cat like to headbutt? Here's where that behavior comes from and why you should be flattered that he knocks you with his noggin.
Orange and white cat looking up and chirping

Wondering why cats chirp? Fascinating reasons why your cat chirps at birds (and you)

Why do cats? As with many cat behaviors, we're still trying to understand precisely why cats chirp. Learn the fascinating reasons behind this curious behavior.
An angry cat getting bathed

How to bathe a cat without getting scratched

Do you have to bathe your cat? Sometimes, yes. Here's what to know about bath frequency and how to bathe a cat (without getting hurt).
Cat sneezing with flowers

Cat-choo! Why your cat may be constantly sneezing

Kitty sneezes are cute, but could be a concern. Here are some of the reasons they could be sneezing constantly.
Gray and white cat scratching couch

What it means when your cat is constantly scratching and how to stop it

Even though scratching is an instinctual behavior, it can get out of hand. Luckily, there's a lot you can do to keep scratching under control.
Kitten sitting on the edge of an office desk

Why cats can’t resist knocking things over and driving you crazy

If your cat enjoys being destructive, you're probably looking for some answers. Luckily, we know why cats knock things over.
Cat sleeping on a wooden board outdoors

Is your cat drooling a lot? Here’s what to do about it

Drooling may be inconvenient and a bit gross, but in some instances, it can also alert you that something is wrong with your cat.
Cat in shadows at night

Are cats really nocturnal? You might be surprised

Are cats nocturnal? We'll walk you through their sleeping habits so you can help get your kitty to rest through the night.
Gray cat biting a person's hand

Is it a big deal if your cat bites you? When you should be freaking out

Here's when to worry if you get a cat bite from your feline friend.
Brown shorthair cat in a yard eating a patch of grass

Why do cats eat grass? The mystery is solved

This is why cats eat grass and whether you should be concerned if it's bad for them.
A green-eyed tabby cat gets a bath in a tub.

Why do cats hate water? The reason may surprise you

Most cats hate water — but the reasons why might surprise you. When preparing to bathe your cat, you'll need to get him used to water first.
A woman lies in bed petting her cat

Why do cats like being pet? (and where you should pet them)

Cats remain a mystery but most of them pretty clearly enjoy attention from their humans. Here are four reasons cats love to be pet.
A light-colored cat tail against a dark, carapeted floor

Decoding cat tail language: Why cats shake their tails

Cat tail language can clue you into your feline's physical and emotional well-being. What does a shaking cat tail mean, and should you be concerned?
A woman and cat lying on a bed

Why do cats like earwax? This curious habit explained

Why do cats like earwax? Good question. We foraged for reasons cats lick earwax and how to curb the curious habit.
Gray and white cat eating catnip out of a plastic bottle

Do cats really get ‘high’ on catnip or are they just being goofy?

Is catnip safe and can your pet get addicted to this plant? Here's the truth about why cats are attracted to catnip.
A long-haired cat rolls around on a brown carpet

8 reasons why your cat won’t stop rolling around

There are many cute and funny reasons why cats roll around, but there are also some reasons you would never consider. Take a look!
Tabby cat arching their back

Why cats arch their backs (it’s not always aggression)

It's normal to think that a cat's arched back means something negative, but in actuality, it has many different meanings.
A cat stares into the camera

Can cats see in the dark? We separate fact from fiction

Can cats see in the dark? You might think, of course, but the answer's a little more complicated and has to do with how their eyes work.
Cat sitting inside of a cardboard box

Why do cats like boxes so much? It’s not just because they’re weird

Cats always seem to love boxes more than what's in them. Here's why.
A close-up of a peach and gray calico cat with amber eyes.

8 essential things you should be doing now to promote cat health

What should you be doing to promote cat health and prevent cat illnesses? We walk you through the most important things.
A white cat walks on a series of logs outside

Why do cats scream when mating? Here’s what to know

A mating encounter between cats can leave you feeling very different about feline parenthood. But it's all a normal part of the circle of life.
A brown and white cat licking a person's hand

Why does your cat lick you? The reasons are actually sweet

Cats love to lick us even when the sensation isn't pleasant for our skin, but why? Here are the reasons your cat is licking you.
A gray striped cat

Why you shouldn’t punish your cat for pooping outside the litter box

Wondering how to punish a cat for pooping outside the litter box? Your best bet is not to. Here's why and what to do instead.
A white cat rubs their face on the corner of a wall

Why do cats rub their face on things? You might be surprised

Cats seem to love rubbing their faces on walls, objects, and even people! There are a few theories about why they do this.
An orange and white cat meows in front of gray background

Why do cats chatter? Decoding your pet’s noises

Cat chattering is a sound that's sure to turn heads. It's such a unique noise, but not many people know the difference between feline chirping and chattering.
Close-up of a cat lying on a couch, kneading the cushion

Why do cats knead, and is this behavior normal?

This is why cats knead with their paws and what the behavior means.
A long-haired cat in a woven laundry basket

This is why cats pee on clothes (and how you can save your wardrobe in the future)

Why does my cat my on my clothes? Good question, and finding the answer is important. When cats urinate outside the litter box, something is usually off.
A cat snuggling on a person's chest

Why do cats’ eyes dilate? What your pet’s extra big peepers mean

We all have eyes that dilate with diminished light but sometimes cats get particularly huge orbs for different reasons.
Senior cat sleeping on a cat tree perch

These useful tips can help you support your senior cat’s health

Older cats require different care and special attention. This is how to best support your senior cat as she ages to keep her healthy.
A tabby cat with yellow eyes stalks low to the ground

Cats chirping at birds is totally normal (and here’s why you should encourage it)

There are several reasons why cats chatter at birds and small animals, and they're all completely natural. Here's what's behind this hunting behavior.
A close-up of gray striped cat hissing

Why do cats fight? They’re not just being jerks

Why do cats fight? While it's tempting to chalk up cat fights to "cats being cats," there's a reason behind this behavior.
Small cat sleeping on her back

Why do cats twitch in their sleep? The real reasons behind this curious behavior

Cats are well known for twitching in their sleep. Here's what this peculiar behavior means, why it's important, and when to be concerned.
Orange cat near water

Why do cats roll in dirt? 10 reasons for their dust bath

Why do cats roll in dirt? Here's the dirty truth about what your kitty is trying to tell you with this (kind of gross) habit.
A white cat sleeps with a paw in front of their face

Why do cats cover their face when they sleep? This adorable behavior, explained

If sleeping with their paws covering their face is all your feline friend is doing, all you need to do is keep an eye on them. You'll be able to help your cat.