50 Pics From “What’s Wrong With Your Cat” Featuring Kitties Exhibiting The Most Hilarious And Bizarre Behavior (New Pics)
We all know cats are special creatures, that’s part of the reason we love them so much! I would like to see a puppy climb up into a tree or sleep in positions that could land them a gig as a professional contortionist. But if you’re a parent to a fluffy feline, you’ve likely caught them doing something before that begged you to ask the question, “What is wrong with my cat?” Well, you can rest easy, pandas, because every other cat owner has been in the same shoes.
We’ve taken a trip to the What’s Wrong With Your Cat subreddit, so below, you’ll find adorable, although slightly perplexing, examples of precious cats doing bizarre things. Keep reading to also find conversations we were lucky enough to have with the team at Helping Dogs & Cats UK Rescue and Laura Watson from International Cat Care, and remember that no matter what your little fur balls do, there’s nothing wrong with them!
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When You Try To Sneak Downstairs For A Warm Glass Of Milk But You Hit A Squeaky Floorboard And Awaken The Sentinels
To learn more about the behavior that cats exhibit that we as humans tend to perceive as strange, we reached out to Tracey Thomas, Assistant Manager, Cat and Adoptions Coordinator and Amy Chapman, Cat and Adoptions Coordinator, at Helping Dogs & Cats UK Rescue. When it comes to how often cats do things that might make us wonder what’s wrong with them, the experts shared that “it really depends on the cat and also the person viewing the cat.” They provided the example of Amy’s cat, Mildred, who will happily get in the bath with her owner.
“Cats, by their very nature, are unpredictable and similar to humans,” the adoption experts continued. “They all act differently and have their own personality and character. [We] tend to find that female cats are more unpredictable than male cats.”
I Am Bat Cat
And as far as things that might make your kitties act even more peculiar than usual, catnip is sometimes a factor. “Some cats absolutely love catnip and others don’t,” Tracey and Amy noted. “Some cats see themselves in the mirror and start to hiss or even run away, as they think it’s another cat.”
If you’d like to learn more about kitties from these experts, or adopt a cat of your own if you live in the Basingstoke area, be sure to visit Helping Dogs & Cats UK Rescue’s website right here or their Facebook page right here!
Frankie Never Gets The Joke
No, it looks like they told a naughty joke and he just now understood what it meant.
We were also lucky enough to get in touch with Laura Watson, Cat Welfare Assistant at International Cat Care, who was kind enough to answer some of our burning questions about kitties. Laura first noted that, although many behaviors cats exhibit may seem strange or amusing to us, they’re likely perfectly normal for their species. “The modern domestic cat that we know today is not that far removed from their wild ancestor, and when we understand their species-specific needs and behaviors, the behaviors that were once thought strange, suddenly make perfect sense,” she explained.
Laura shared that prior to embarking on her studies diving into the behaviors of cats, there were many behaviors she thought were quite strange, such as when they: “knead (rhythmic pushing of their paws in and out, at alternating times) a person or blanket, sometimes drooling whilst they do it; bring dead prey back inside the home, perceived as a gift for the caregiver from the cat; roll over and show their tummy, perceived as an invitation to touch their belly, but when you do they bite or scratch; open their mouth and draw back their upper lip ‘like a grimace’ after smelling something; sit or lay in very small spaces or high up on the tops of wardrobes, doors, or curtains; suddenly jump if they notice an object close behind them; watch a prey species out of a window and make chattering sounds to them; and suddenly have mad moments and zoom around.”
He Believes He Is Absolutely Invisible
Laura explained that most of these behaviors are perfectly normal when we understand more about the ethology of cats. “The wildcat ancestors of our domestic cat were solitary predators and did not live in structured groups, relying solely on themselves to survive,” she told Bored Panda. “Where social groups of cats do exist, they appear only to work well when the members of the group are familiar and when there is no competition over food or other resources. Cats can form strong social relationships with familiar individuals, and particularly between kittens in the same litter and between kittens and their mother.”
Does Arabella Bite? No. Worse - She Judges
Gulliver Is A Master Of Weird
“The social behavior of our domestic cats is more variable, and they have adapted to group living through the development of social structures, but they still do retain their roots as solitary hunters,” Laura went on to explain. “We now have an understanding that, despite having gone through the domestication process, cats currently live a number of diverse lifestyles, at one end of the spectrum living unowned and free-roaming; hunting for its food, without any human intervention is the feral cat, and at the other end of the spectrum as a companion in our homes is the pet cat and not all cats are equally tolerant or accepting of other cats or people.”
Princess - 19 Years Young!
Auditioning To Play The Body On Csi
Laura also noted that, as cats are essentially solitary hunters, it’s vital for them to establish their own territories to avoid conflict with other cats. “If a cat incurs an injury during conflict with another cat, they could be unable to hunt, which could be life threatening for them, being unable to eat to survive,” the expert explained. “Cats will mark their territories using scent derived from their facial glands, urine, feces, and anal glands. This territorial marking, together with an extremely sensitive sense of smell, helps cats to communicate effectively and to minimize direct contact between themselves.”
My Cat Staring At Nothing
I Think He’s Feeling A Bit Chilly
“A cat’s territory consists of a core area, or den, where it feels secure enough to sleep, eat, play, and potentially enjoy social interaction,” Laura told Bored Panda. “This forms the hub of the territory, which is the area beyond the core area that the cat actively defends against invasion from others. Beyond this lies the home or hunting range that constitutes the extent of the area over which the cat will roam. These insights into the cat as a species help us understand why they behave in the way they do.”
This Is My Cat In Her Casserole Dish. I Don’t Know Why She Loves It, But It Is Where She Sleeps The Most Right Now
She's Actually Normal, It's Everybody Else Who's Upside Down
Laura also explained that, although it can be painful at times, it’s perfectly normal for your cat to knead you with their claws, so it should never be punished. “When kittens are first born, they are totally dependent on their mother for their nutrition. When they suck at their mothers’ teats, they tread with alternate front paws at her abdomen to stimulate the flow of milk. Some cats will dribble uncontrollably as they anticipate the milk-feed that kneading usually predicts, which is a normal, natural, neurological response.”
Most cats will grow out of this habit, but Laura noted that some will “retain it into adulthood, particularly when in the presence of someone with whom they feel safe or when they get on a particularly fluffy cushion or blanket because they associate the behavior of treading their paws with the comfort and safety they felt when they were nursing with their mother.”
Francis Says Good Morning!
A Zombie Cat Consuming Its Victim's Brains
Laura also provided explanations for some of the most common peculiar behaviors cat owners see in their pets. As far as why they bring home dead prey, the expert noted that when domesticated kitties have access to the outdoors, their natural predator instincts may kick in. “When a cat brings their prey back home, it indicates they feel it is a secure and safe place (core territory) to leave food to eat now or keep for later,” Laura says.
And if your cat rolls over to show you their tummy then scratches you when you try to tickle them, apparently, you might be perceiving their actions incorrectly. “When a cat greets its human companion, it makes a display of trust by exposing its belly,” the expert noted. “A similar friendly ‘social roll’ is often seen when one cat solicits play from another. When a cat does it to us it may be illustrating one of two things; either it is a sign of trust and any physical contact at this time could look threatening or it is a request for a rough and tumble – either way, injury will ensue, so the temptation to touch should probably be avoided!”
He Likes To Sit Like This And Bite His Toes For Fun
My Silly Cat Was Sleeping Like This
Have you ever seen your kitty grin or grimace when they sniff something strange? “This usually happens when it’s sniffing the urine of a cat that’s in season or where a tom has sprayed and is referred to as the Flehmen response,” Laura explained. “It gives cats a great deal of information about that scent as it enables it to draw in the air over a special organ called Jacobson’s organ found in the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth. Here the cat can concentrate the scent and smell/taste it, giving it a lot of information.”
And when it comes to why cats try to squeeze into small spaces or hide on the tops of doors and curtains, the expert says, “Cats must rely on themselves to survive [as solitary hunters]. Hiding in small spaces conceals them and helps them feel safe from potential dangers and perching high up allows them to survey their environment and any potential dangers on the horizon.”
Beans Stands Very Often For Long Periods
My Cat Didn't Like My Shampoo
'Why didn't you use the tuna juice I left you to clean your fur with? The oils are good for you!"
Laura also explained why cats often struggle to see up close. “Like all predators, they have forward-facing eyes and binocular vision. You may have noticed though, that a cat may struggle to find a toy or treat right under its nose or jump when startled by something behind them. A cat’s eyes can form a clear image of an object approximately 25cm away, but they are unable to focus on objects closer than this (with an optimal range of 2-6 meters away from them). This, along with a wider field of vision than the human eye and other unique adaptations, helps cats to spot prey in their surrounding environment, such as a harvest mouse in a field of corn.”
They’re…fine
I’m Melting! I’m Meltinggggg!
Have you ever heard your cats making a chattering sound? Laura says this commonly occurs when a cat is watching prey that it can’t access, such as a bird, but it can also occur towards other prey species and even toys. The exact reasoning behind this is not known, but some hypotheses are: “an outward sign of frustration that the cat can see the prey but cannot access it; anticipation of capturing prey – although it can happen when the cat is indoors too and cannot physically access the prey; or the cat uses the sound to mimic the vocalizations of its prey to be less conspicuous and draw the prey into striking range.”
Why I Have Fur On My Clothes
How He Slept On My Expensive Silk Pillow Case Today
Charlie Watching Dateline
Ever wonder why your cat seems to go mad at random moments? “Cats would naturally spend a great deal of time during the day, stalking and chasing prey or avoiding danger in their adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle of hunting and exploring,” Laura explains, noting that the average house cat doesn’t often have the opportunity to do anything dangerous and use up their energy. “Suddenly, often without warning, this energy will burst out and your cat will act out a little fantasy role-playing, alternating between the hunter and the hunted, dashing around the house with a flicking tail and widely dilated pupils.”
“This often occurs at times of the day and night when cats are naturally more active, for example at dusk, and it can be triggered by a loud noise, a visit to the litter tray or something quite inconsequential,” the cat expert continued. “They may stare into the top corner of the room before launching themselves across the carpet, but don’t worry, they’re just using up that excess energy.”
If I Fell Asleep Like This I Would Be Having Neck Pain For Weeks
This Cat Actually Loves Belly Rubs
Even though all cats are unique, Laura says there is one plant that has a quite surprising effect on around 80% them: catnip or Nepeta cataria. “An encounter with either the plant itself or with a catnip-stuffed toy can make cats excited, and they may sniff and roll around on the ground or over the catnip,” she explained. “The active chemical in the plant is called nepetalactone and has been likened to LSD. However, its effect is short-lived and harmless.”
“Catnip can be a helpful tool to initiate play with cats, however, kittens under the age of three months old are not receptive to catnip, so it is worthwhile reintroducing it after this age to see if they are receptive to its effects,” Laura noted.
Just Taking A Nap
My Cat’s Favourite Sleeping Arrangement: Belly Side Up And On The Bean Bag
Finally, Laura left us with some wise words. “Next time you witness a cat doing something you think is strange, I ask you to think of the cat and their species-specific behaviors, and consider: is it strange? Or perfectly normal for the species?”
If you’d like to learn more about cats from Laura and the rest of the International Cat Care team, be sure to visit their website right here!
And if you’re looking for even more hilarious and bizarre pics of cats after finishing this adorable list, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring the What’s Wrong With Your Cat subreddit right here!
This Is Six, He Likes To Attack People And Be A General Nuisance
I Call Him “Mr. Big”
He Thinks "Don't Snore In My Ear" Means "Plz Snore In My Ear"
Cat Loves To Be Outside Looking In. I Open The Door, She Refuses. I Bring Her In, She Whines To Go Out. Guess Janet Just Likes The Voyeuristic Perspective
We Think He May Need Braces
After years of tests, it is complete! The vampire cat hybrid! Cats already drink blood, we just think vampires look cool.
I thaid I wanna be dwacoola you dumbass. You put ve teef on ve wong way up,
Mother I Crave Violence!
I Guess Laying Beside Your Sister In The Sun Was Just Not An Option
This Is How Izzy Sits
Ouch
Miss Congeniality
Ground Control To Major Tom…
Seymour Blue Likes To Be Touching Me At All Times When I’m Laying Down. This Is How He Chose To Do So
One Cubic Cat Please
Insisting On Being A Tortoise (With The Real One Sleeping Inside
Cat Politely Refuse To Be Petted
Lucipurr Is Such A Weird Lil Dude. He Also Has More Than One Tooth
When You Remember That Embarrassing Moment From Years Ago
What Do You Think Happened...?
What
I Left The Pantry Open For One Minute
Ok, Let It Be Tweet-Tweet
Come Up With The Name For The Photo
Maggie Trying To Be Subtle
When He Sees Someone Freeloadin' On His Lawn
How Is He Comfortable?
Mmmmmmmmmmmm
He Likes To Sit Under The Coat And Today Poked His Head Through The Buttons. A Regal Prince
Why Does He Love Chewing Cardbord So Damn Much
My cat does that, too. At his vet check ups, the vet is always amazed at how perfectly clean his teeth are for an 8 year old cat. I told her about his chewing, and she said as long as he's not eating the corrugate, it's helping clean his teeth and quite a healthy. habit.
The Cat That Comes To Visit Us In The Office Makes Interesting Grimaces
How Is This Comfortable?
Wfh, Look Over To See This Weirdo
This Cannot Be Sanitary
Growing A Cat Loaf Don't Water It Too Often
I Don't Even Know With Him Sometimes
Insists On Sleeping In The Box
Jinx Enjoys The Laundry Bin
She Won't Let Me Brush Her Face, But She Will Let Me Hold The Brush So She Can Do It Herself
She must do everything herself, she must show her dominance and power over her slave, meaning she must be able to clean herself
My Brainless Beasts Have Been Paused Mid-Wrestle For The Last 15 Min. At This Point, Magpie Is A Gloried Chin Rest
Oscar Was Just Chilling With His Leg Behind His Head
Beautiful And Graceful - Tuna’s Preferred Cleaning Position
My BF’s Cat Was Sleeping Like This ??????
She's Fine, Don't Worry
Not What I Expected When I Went To Take A Shower
Nap So Good You Forget Where And Who You Are
This Is Normal, Right?
He Sat There For 30 Minutes. I Have No Idea
How Can I Fix This??
Adjust the gravitational polarity in your home. It's next to the fuse box.
Why Is She Like That?
Meet My Cat Squeak, She Has Fiv And Very Expressive Eyes (Oc)
Love this pic. And it's proof that FIV+ cats can live a long life with excellent care.
I Think He’s Mad At Me
So Sent Me This While I Was Sitting In The Next Room
"She is beauty, she is grace... She can touch her butt with her face."
Error 404
What Happened To My Cat? Wrong Answers Only
Very Thirsty
Luggage Was 95% Zipped, But Barely Enough For Him To Pull It And Make Room
Cheese Likes To Sleep With One Leg Out
That is a very hairy cheese, I would not recommend eating it, but instead snuggling it
We Were Concerned Seemo Wouldn't Move Into The New House Well...boy Were We Wrong
Target Acquired
Anyone Missing Their Sleep Paralysis Demon? It’s Scaling My Doorframe Every Night
Wearing a Groucho mustache. I’d be conflicted; should I scream or laugh? Or both?
The Bacon-Greaser After She Has Rearranged Her Favorite Rug
It’s just like rearranging the cat litter after you scoop, replace, or top it up. They have to get right in the box and get the contours juuuust riiiight.
This Is Her Absolute Favourite Position To Sit In And I Have No Idea Why
I Saw Your Leg Kitties And I Raise You My Climber
I had one of my giant males launch at my leg like this when he was startled and I had huge bruises and puncture wounds. Quite painful
He Seems Comfortable
Luna Had Many Talents, But Sitting Is Not One Of Them
He Only Had 5 Minutes Til His Feeder Was Supposed To Go Off 🫡
I Bought Her Some Cat Grass
I think they forgot to tell her she’s supposed to eat it, not sleep in it
He Just Loves Feet
When you’re lying on the couch and your cat’s sleeping at your feet, which have gotten a bit chilled, just slide your feet under them a cat is an excellent foot warmer.
My Cat Fuego's First Vet Visit
I Swear She Likes It
I have a cat, and will just hold the brush and she will get like that.
Ex-Stray Cat Hasn’t Quite Gotten The Hang Of Snuggling Yet, But He’s Trying Very Hard
Loki Strikes Again - Angrily Peeping At Us Through The Letterbox (Clinging On By His Claws) Because He Could Hear Us Speaking To My Sister And Brother Inlaw Outside Without Him 😂
She Wants To Look Outside Without Going Outside
Fred Ate The Final Meat-Stick. And No, Alas, There Are No More Meat Sticks. As You Can See, He Is Close To Starvation
He Likes To Play Tug Of War
I've not seen a cat play tug of war before. Cats all have unique personalities and behaviors. They are special ❤️
My Crazy Cat Used To Race For The Closest Heater Vent And Flop Down On It Like This Whenever She Heard It Turn On. She Was Devastated When We Left This House And The New One Had A Wall Heater
Caught Mid Sneeze
I Accidentally Activated Demon Mode. How Do I Turn It Off?
He Always Been Different
My Niece’s Cat In An Unusual Pose
Pancake Legs
Smile!
He's Got A Case Of The Mondays
Twisted Burnt Turkey
After A Long Night Zooming On Cat Nip. 🤦♀️😳🐈❤️
Always Being Awkward In My Lap
Really, Larry? How about you are the one with the awkward lap!? Huh, Larry, have you considered that!?
We’re Still Not Sure What’s Wrong With Milo
I can't believe the humans cannot see those Martians crawling all over the ceiling.
Perfect Timing
My Cat Is A Seal
Should I Let Him In?
So You Gonna Put Your Leg Back Or...?
Theo’s Banana Turned Him To The Dark Side
She’s Not Been Run Over
What’s Wrong With This Tiny Cat, You Ask? Albert Is Obsessed With Butter And Knows Where It Lives In The Fridge!
She Likes To Sit On My Chest While I Sleep, So This Is Often My Breathtaking View Upon Waking
Why Is He Like This
Ughhh
Goose Says, Hello 👋
Hello, Goose. You are an exceptionally cute cat, with a nose deserving of a tiny boop.
Scully Thinks She Is A Penguin
Why Does He Use The Litter Box Like This?
That box is dirty! Cat doesn't like it. Would you wanna sit on an unflushed, stinky toilet?
Hey, You Got Phone On Your Games?
What’s with the red swollen nose? Did someone get too close to one of the spicy flying toys? It can’t just be the perspective in the picture.
Apollo Hates Sleeping Next To Me On The Couch Or Bed, But Is More Than Happy To Sleep Under The Blanket Draped On The Floor If I’m Using It
Wwwyc Indeed... I Keep Looking At This "Air Pocket" Thingys Behind His Ears And Can't Tell What Their For. Do All Cats Have Them?
I Think She’s Malfunctioning?¿ Ms Stevie 🤍
8 Teeth Extractions Got Herbert Like
Coming down off the good drugs they gave him to d9 the extraction(s)?
Strange Spot For A Nap But Alright
He Sat Like This For Over An Hour
First, Lick The Banana To Death; Then, Time To Pass Out
Not. One. Single. Braincell
He’s Not Yawning In This Photo, But Screaming At The Top Of His Lungs
My Boy Doesn't Understand Frosted Glass
Correct Half Is In, Great Success
Well, at least it’s the correct half. You know. Could be worse.
Open The Door!
Don't Think She Ever Learned How To Retract Her Claws. Always Gets Stuck On Everything. Lol
Last Thing You See If You Forgot To Fill The Food Bowl
She's Gone To Sleep With Her Leg Over Her Head
This Is The Least Flattering Photo I’ve Taken In All My Years Of Rescue
My Cat Looks Insane
Don't Sink There
He Be Doin A Sniff (He Said U Smelly)
Do U Hab Games On Ur Phone
In May 2007, when my long haired, gray kitty, Bella was 9 months old, she was hit by a car. I rushed her to the vet who said take her to the animal hospital. She was bleeding from her nose, mouth, and rear end. She had surgery at the hospital then was transferred to the humane society and kept in one of those clear boxes with constant oxygen. Five days after she was hit by the car, I was able to take her home. That was 16 years ago. We are both very happy to still be together.
Fun fact: did you know trust a cat’s spine is very similar to a snake’s? Many vertebrates for increased flexibility.
mu cat would’ve been great for this post, she’ll just sit on the corner of my bed and stare at the EMPTY corner
My cat will play fight with my kitten and then pin him to the floor and lick him and my kitten will squirm and act like he’s dying and my cat gets up and my kitten is laying on his back with his arms up like he’s dead 💀
In May 2007, when my long haired, gray kitty, Bella was 9 months old, she was hit by a car. I rushed her to the vet who said take her to the animal hospital. She was bleeding from her nose, mouth, and rear end. She had surgery at the hospital then was transferred to the humane society and kept in one of those clear boxes with constant oxygen. Five days after she was hit by the car, I was able to take her home. That was 16 years ago. We are both very happy to still be together.
Fun fact: did you know trust a cat’s spine is very similar to a snake’s? Many vertebrates for increased flexibility.
mu cat would’ve been great for this post, she’ll just sit on the corner of my bed and stare at the EMPTY corner
My cat will play fight with my kitten and then pin him to the floor and lick him and my kitten will squirm and act like he’s dying and my cat gets up and my kitten is laying on his back with his arms up like he’s dead 💀