Cat Owners Explain How Cat Body Language Is Often Misinterpreted By ‘Dog People’
Apparently, people like to say that cats are evil. So much so that it made tumblr user Rabbit In Headlights post a rant, trying to put an end to this myth once and for all.
“I feel like the reason certain dog-lovers insist cats are evil is because they read their body language as if they were dogs,” Rabbit In Headlights started their post, adding what they called “a very basic guide to common ‘mean’ things cats do that actually aren’t mean at all.”
I’m sure that dog owners and cat owners can get along and respect each other’s pets. After all, they share an immense love for animals. Let’s hope this post helps them to put their differences aside.
Image credits: rabbitinheadlights
The notion that cats don’t like people — even their owners — has been around for a while. It resurfaced a couple of years ago with the publication of a British study suggesting that in unfamiliar situations, cats don’t see their owners as a source of safety in the way that a human child might see a parent. Media really tried milking it; misleading headlines on this topic included “Sorry, But Your Cat Really Doesn’t Need You Around“, “Your Cat Doesn’t Care About You“, and the classic “Your Cat Hates You.” The study, however, was saying something very different.
Some of these clickbaity articles left out that the study had absolutely nothing to do with affection. To quote LiveScience, “Ask any cat person, however, and they would swear that Mr. Whiskers does love them. They may be right, [lead researcher Daniel] Mills said. The new findings simply mean cats don’t see their human companions as parent-like figures. For instance, in the Strange Situation test, parents don’t form a secure attachment to their babies because they don’t see their children as a ‘safe base’ — but it would be wildly inaccurate to say that parents don’t love their kids. It may simply be that feline-human love is rooted in something other than dependence.”
Natalie Cady Bishop of Cat Behavior Solved said people might think that cats don’t “love” their owners for quite a few reasons. “As humans, we tend to anthropomorphize our pets. Love is purely a human emotion. Cats, however, show and receive affection on their terms,” Cady Bishop told Bored Panda. They can do this by, for example, rubbing on a human. “Cats have scent glands on their face and at the base of their tail. Scent marking melds their scent with the human’s. Some cats lick or suckle on their owners. They purr when they are happy, (but can also purr if they are nervous).”
“If your cat bites you sometimes or gives you the cold shoulder, don’t take it the wrong way,” Cady Bishop highlighted. “They are just being a cat!”
But if you feel that your cat is biting you an excessive amount or displaying other problem behaviors that you would like to modify, you can contact the expert through her website.
Another person expanded on this
Image credits: jimminovak
Dr. Marci Koski, a certified feline behavior and training consultant, told Bored Panda that cats are very different animals from dogs. “They have different instincts for survival, different physical adaptations, and different ways of expressing how they feel,” she explained. “Furthermore, a lot of people forget that dogs and cats have a very different historical relationship with humans, which has influenced the way we see both of these animals today.”
“Dogs evolved with humans over the last 30-40 thousand years as protection and hunting partners — a very cooperative arrangement! Cats, on the other hand, developed a relationship with humans in only the last 10,000 years or so, and it was largely hands-off — they took care of rodents, and people benefited from having their grain stores protected. So, the behaviors that cats and dogs demonstrate towards humans are very different by nature.”
Dr. Koski added that she prefers the term ‘cat guardian’ to ‘cat owner’ which in and of itself says a lot about said differences.
“I think that humans simply don’t understand cats as well as dogs,” Dr. Koski continued. “Dogs are not subtle about showing their affection towards their humans, so perhaps people expect the same thing from their cats. Cats, however, demonstrate their feelings with more refinement. Dogs come from a place of ‘what can I do for you to make you happy, because that will make me happy!’, whereas, I view cats as wanting more reciprocal relationships with humans, like ‘this relationship has to be a two-way street — I’ll do for you, but you also have to do for me.'”
And pretty soon more and more people started relating to them
Image credits: squeakykins
Image credits: blome3kissesbitch
Image credits: blome3kissesbitch
I recently lost my beloved cat of 16 years and this hits hard. And is accurate. EDIT: I just wanted to thank you all for the kinds words. And as some mentioned, yes, I adopted a new kitty. I have the means and everything just felt so empty without a furry beast around. Luna is slowly adjusting and will be spoiled and loved every day.
Years ago a pregnant stray turned up on my doorstep. I took her in so the kittens would grow up among people instead of becoming feral. Because she was a scruffy long-hair I named her Ragamuffin. I found good forever homes for all five of the kittens, and had Rags fixed. She was my companion for 17 years. RIP, Rags.
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Cats aren't "aloof" as we tend to think... they will miss you and cry when you leave. Mine does, and it breaks my heart when I know he'll be alone for long.
I'll never forget the look that one of our cats (more my parents' cats, now) gave me when I returned from my academic year in a different country - it was utter shock! That cat loved me and I'd always cuddled her intensely; being gone for nearly a year must have been quite a betrayal, especially since I was clearly still alive! She just stared at me and then ran away. It took her awhile to warm up to me again and I'm afraid it's never been the same (especially as I've long since moved out).
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Never owned a cat. Still don't own any. I'm just here for the cute cat photos. EDIT: A delightful read. I knew most of these, but the explanation was really helpful. By the way, is there any tips for approaching stray cats? I try my best not to get aggressively excited, and do the “slowly blink to tell them you love them” thingy, but I wanna make sure I'm not doing anything that may be scaring these little babies!
As an addition to the other comment: Cats do scratch occasionally, so petting always comes with a small risk. However, scratching really doesn't mean that they dislike you, it's either "stop doing what you did just now!" or "hey, are we playing?!". If a cat scratches you and can't think of anything you did wrong when petting, you might be able to play! A stick or a long stalk of grass works really well. But remember that cat's don't hunt like dogs - dogs chase their prey, cats ambush it: they approach quietly, trying to hide, and watch carefully for a moment when the prey doesn't move, so they can attack. So, when playing, move the stick like a mouse, let it hide under or behind things (cats LOVE this!), and have it sit still occasionally - that's the cat's signal to attack. Cats absolutely do have excess energy sometimes, where they'll be happily running in circles in purchase of a stick - but mostly, they hunt from ambush and need a moment when the prey SITS STILL.
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I am allergic to cats, but when I saw an opportunity to rescue two of them, I didn't hesitate. I take my maximum doses of Reactine (cetirizine) and another antihistamine. My doctor thinks that I should re-home the cats, but I said: "That is not an option. I love them and they are family."
When I got my farm kittens my allergies went crazy. I took antihistamines for about 4 months then stopped. No problems afterwards.
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What a wonderfull read. One thing though. We have two siamese plus something rescues. They are oh so talkative, and miaow to each other not just their hooman. That is typical for Siamese cats. They are not broken. Please remeber they are very intelligent and need more attention, they will repay you with soooo much love. Typing one handed 'caus one is curled up against me right now.
Our tabby stayed for a week in a cattery while we were out of town, and the staff told us he had spent most of every day with two Siamese cats also staying there....he came home, and was just so chatty (this cat hardly ever meowed normally), but after a few days he stopped chatting, as we didn't seem to understand him
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Dunno if this is right, but I've always felt that cats following me to the bathroom, with.out.fail. for shower or toilet is intended as a gesture of reciprocal courtesy: they've figured out that it's their understanding of hooman's most vulnerable room and seem intent to make sure we make it out of there ok. There's an element of in-group, affection/solidarity, but also a self-interest to protect the can-opener/kibbles bag manager.
I think so to. Also care are very into smells and the bathroom is where your smell is the most smelly, especially when on the toilet. I have one cat who without fail always wants to sit on my lap when I'm on the toilet.
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i love the mystery and unique characteristics of my cats. i have 5 cats and a puppy. one of my cat is super clingy. he is the only kitty that sits on my belly/lap. one of them is hyperactive. the other one is so timid and kinda snob but still rub her head when i pet her. one of them is very dominant. and one is very vocal, he meows all the time.
Willoughby (1 year old) will meow from BEHIND THE BEDFRAME for my mom to reach down and pet her. Every night. Its just her little routine :)
Yep. Cats are cats. Dogs are dogs. I love both, own both at the same time, and neither are primates, so... Love them as are, for what they are, but learn what it is!
My cats are very curious and friendly. They will come up to strangers in my house looking for petting and attention. BUT they don't want to be pet like dogs!! They don't want hard scratches on their butts or rough patting. They want gentle strokes and head/neck scratches. And please don't rub their fur the opposite direction. They really hate that.
All of this! Also, a flicking tail is typically not a happy cat--it's one of its first signs of frustration/annoyance, not tail wagging. If it's flicking its tail, a cat is trying to tell you "I'm not in the mood right now". Cats do wag their tails, but the body language accomoanying it and how they wag their tails is distinctly different from an annoyed kitty.
My cats don't meow at me because I'm pretty fluent in their body language. In the summer we took care of my aunts dog for a month... when that dog first saw me he barked his head off and wagged his tail really hard. In cat that seemed more along the line of "I am so angry I want to kill you". I refused to approach the pouch for fear of some bad bites. A friend visited and she explained that he was just really excited and wanted petting. I can't get over how different it is from cats and how completely I misunderstood the poor pooch.
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A friend of mine told me that in her first class in vet school, the first question on the first test was a fill in the blank that read, “A cat is not _____”. The correct answer? “A small dog”.
I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Best way my kitty show me he loves me is when I get to wrapped up in work he jumps on my desk and knock all my stuff on the floor and lays in front of me and purrs!
I have recently adopted a little cat and made the same experience....my student's tests have suffered a bit. The dog and I were a little shocked by kitty throwing everything on the floor, but I think it really is their way of saying "don't give your attention to that stuff, give it to me"
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My cat loves to have her fur rubbed backward while she is eating. I learned this when she was yowling and refusing food, so I rubbed her the wrong way because it annoyed me, and she started to purr and eat. Sometimes she won't eat at all unless I stand there and rub her fur.
Years ago I read a children's book titled "All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome". I have Asperger's Syndrome, and have always felt like someTHING in human form; like an alien (my childhood role model was Doctor Who) or, at worst, like a runaway figment of someone else's imagination. This hit home hard.
thanks for defending us. ive had too many fights with dog people yeling about how cats are savage and evil. i will show them this now
I can respect a preference for dogs or a joke about cats being evil (some cat lovers crack similar jokes about cats). I withdraw respect from dog lovers who seriously bark about cats being horrible animals.
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This is so good. I like cats, but unfortunately am allergic so I don't have one, but it is good to read this so I know more about the behaviors when I visit my friends with cats. Her cat Harry will often sit next to me and pet me.
It’s Harry’s way of making goo-goo eyes at you!
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I am a below the knee amputee. My cat stares in fascination whenever I am putting on my prothesis. I wonder what is going on in her mind..
You cat is likely curious why you’re attaching something onto your leg, maybe it doesn’t understand why you put that on, or the can just finds your prosthesis really interesting.
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I have ADORED cats since I was born, being a cat person, I have a lot of experience with cats and know what they mean, but I absolutely HATE dogs, even though I have a dog, I never want a dog in my life unless it's a Shiba Inu breed, you know, what Doge is.
I’m the same way, I love animals, but most big dogs are where I gain caution until proven otherwise. I am the owner of a husky, and if I Hadn’t raised her, I’d be terrified of her
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My late kitty (Peanut) used to sleep over the top of my head on my pillow + "groom" me before we went to sleep. If I interrupted her (which I learned NOT to do!) she'd start over from the beginning.
OMG. Our new kitten used to do that ALL the time. Normally she would wait until after I fell asleep to yank my hair out of it's hair tie and lick it in weird directions. After a few months she realised we don't clean ourselves like that and stopped.
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I have a weird cat who actually likes firm petting especially around the face. He is insanely friendly and wants to be as close as physically possible. He also gives love bites to the face. A stranger might see this as agressive, but it's really just the behavior of a cat that is so happy to be close to his person that he just can't contain himself. His name is Pretzel and he's the sweetest cat I've ever met. 😊
I love your kitty’s name. You are very blessed with such an affectionate friend.
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Also a quick tip, for those of you who are getting 2 cats/have 2 cats, if they have been getting along just fine for months or even years, don't get super freaked out if they start fighting. When my boys will start hissing and growling at each other I pull them away from each other for a few seconds then a bring them together and pet them both to show that they both are loved. Besides, they're almost always fighting about their favorite cushion and who's gonna nap on it that day.
I have been trying to convince my parents my entire time on this Earth to get a cat. Not a dog, a cat.
i have found out over the years thier is a difference between cat people, dog people and over all animal people. Cat people are friendly and will talk to you down the aisle while getting cat supplies, they have sympathy for dog lovers knowing that thier canine friend usually will not live as long as thier cat and overall can be empathetic even if they don't particularly care for a certain animal. animal lovers are virtually the same. However Dog Lovers are pretty damn mean. I have met a few and don't like thier company. they say that cats are prissy, mean, not loyal, dumb and will even say hateful things while commenting. even going so far as to say thier dog could tear into that cat. I don't appreciate it at all.
These two people need to get together and make a book. Imagine the title: "A guide to cats for Dog Lovers" .
"Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain
My cat Sayori is a kooky gal. She l o v e s to run around and chase her tail.
How much pressure is acceptable in petting a cat varies quite a bit. One of mine likes a very light touch, one tries to nail my palm to the couch with his hard little skull grinding into it, and the outside cat seems to like to be squooshed pretty hard and will stand there for as long as I'll squeeze her. Cats are weird. I love 'em.
I love this post. So accurate! I recognize a lot 💜 Wish my dogloving husband would act accordingly towards our cats; he still treats them as dogs and my cats don’t feel comfortable around him. He’s not predictable enough in their eyes, always away or mostly too active. Doesn’t help that our cats are scared in nature (angsty mom should never have been allowed to have kittens in the first place) and he’s not home a lot. He’s a great animal lover but utterly fails the cat language, he calls my behavior ‘spoiling them’ just because I don’t act like they’re dogs 🤷🏻♀️
It's so good to read this, I come across so many disparaging comments made about cats where there's no equivalent for dogs. For example if a cat is sitting on fence watching and a dog is going potty barking at it, the cat is the one in the wrong? It's commonly said that the cat is deliberately winding the dog up and the poor old dog can't help it. What I can see is a cat watching a dog going potty out of interest - 'what's going on here?'. The cat doesn't in anyway feel responsible for the dog's behaviour, because it isn't.
I am a dog person but am contemplating getting a cat to try it out when I'm old enough. These were very useful tips!
Wow this post helped. I knew most, but not all stuff bout cats. Dogs and cats are a totally different species and therefore cannot be treated the same way. I am a cat person and plan to get some cats when I grow up more. Cats are AWESOME and CUTE!!
Thanks so much for this article. I learned a lot of things about my cats I didn’t know before.
My cat steals my chair or the warm spot in the middle of the bed when I get up for a moment, even if I say "Seat back" . I suspect this is behavior from when cats roamed in packs and one had to show dominance to be the alpha kitty. Guess I know where I fit in.
Cats don't roam in packs and never did. They are solitary animals. Your cat steals the warm spot because she can.
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parents/companions/friends/etc NOT owners. Let's not with the slavery nonsense(:
Boom.cats are terrible but I still feel bad for you Jayne . I know how very hard it is to lose a pet.
Cats are glorious—don’t be afraid! And some of them have a lovely smell in their neck when they’ve been sleeping. I used to huff my cat on a regular basis.
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i always thought slow blinking and squinting was like "get away from me i need to sleep" but now i know my cat is just smiling :)
I have 5 cats. More and more I am very reluctant to leave them. When I do, I always hire someone to come in and feed them. My cats are very elusive when a stranger comes in. I have some care givers tell me that they never saw any of my cats when they came to care for them. Sometimes they eat and sometimes they don't. The longer I am away, the less the eat. Now if I go, my max time away is 3 days. I think with care givers, they would be good for a week or so, but I just don't want to leave them for that long. I am sure they would be fine, but not sure I would be fine.
I’m an experienced catsitter and have never had a cat remain aloof if I’m there for more than three days.
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When im home alone i learn a lot more about my cat so its nice to be able to read this i grew up with dogs so- yeah
My cat knew when I'd come home; he'd perch on the window sill facing the street where I'd turn and would 'meow' as soon as he sees me.
I read somewhere (my memory is but a memory of itself, so I don’t remember where) that cats know you’re on your way home about 20 minutes before you arrive, so they’re waiting for you well before they hear your footsteps on the porch or your key turning the lock!
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Seriously though, what animal lover, be it dogs, horses or whatever, actually says "cats are evil" seriously. I can see jokingly saying something like that, but I don't think anyone who loves any species of animal would claim another species of animal is "evil." I just do not believe that would happen.
A little over a year ago I took the big step and adopted a cat. At first it was a bit of an adjustment, being more used to dogs, and only ever having lived with a cat when house sitting for my aunt an uncle (and only for a few days at a time). So all of this was stuff I had to learn with my baby. It's so comforting and makes me so happy when he smooshes his face again mine. He also has an interesting behaviour, that isn't mentioned here. He doesn't mind being picked up for a bit of a cuddle, he seems to like the opportunity to look around from the higher vantage point (particularly in the kitchen, because he's not allowed on the counters, and is very good about that), he often doesn't like it for long though, but rather than struggle or try to jump out of my arms he gives me a little sort of half bite on the hand or wrist to say time to let me down. Never an actual bite though, just puts his teeth on me.
You two seem to understand what each other needs! ♥️
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My childhood cat used to butt my head all the time, I never knew that meant he was being affectionate and really liked me. He was quite wild, but he did like to sleep on my bed and didn't really let anyone comb his fur except me :)
We lost our Ragdoll 2 years ago at the age of 9 from kidney failure. The headbutting part was a sucker punch to the gut as he did this at the last visit to the vet when we were trying to explore more therapy to extend his life. He actually fell over trying to connect with my leg and that’s when we realised his quality of life wasn’t there anymore. Absolutely destroyed my husband and I to lose him - he was the best cat ever.
you can pet a sleeping cat on the belly and they love it(from my experience)
My older cat was raised with big dogs, and I sometimes think it changed his personality a bit. The younger one is more cat like, but she taught the older one to be more gentle. He used to bite hard sometimes. It's very interesting.
Cats have super sharp teeth and claws, anyone who thinks a couple of tiny scratches from playing is the cat "attacking" them is delusional. Ferrets are the same, can draw blood while innocently playing so get a bad name, but if they really did mean to bite you, they'd be putting dents in your bones
I just don't like cats cus 1. there's a lot of strays near my house and their annoying my doggos 2. I don't have a lot of experience with cats and 3. they just don't like me. Literally. They just glare at me from a distance and it annoys tf out of me so I just do my own thing. Unless there's a dog, then I love on the doggo.
I've been living with two cats for over a year and yes, they have temper tantrums if you rub their belly, even gently for too long, they can still be gentle in their correction--if you react properly. I was--it's more playing with his fur, barely touching the skin under, he was purring, kneading, then he latched on to my wrist, claws and his mouth. It HURT. I tried pulling, just a small tug and he held on. I stayed like that for a second, tense, then I sighed, put my palm on the table, and he let go. Just instantly. He didn't even leave a bruise. Dogs are....they can be nastier.
Thoughts on the silent meow folks? Sometimes she actually meows or makes other noises. The most enigmatic are the silent ones. My other cat does not silent meow. Both are moggies.
also i have a problem with one of my cats and im trying to figure out what it is, her name is chica and she is a indoor/outdoor cat, she wont pee outside and saves it till she get back in the house where she will per INFRONT of the litter box, she has done this everyday, and the litterbox is cleaned regularly, so i cant figure out whats wrong.
Take Chica to the vet. One of our cats does this when he has a UTI
Load More Replies... I can relate to this, cause i have 4 cats, one of witch people think is really mean, like when the cat is fast asleep and they scare him, he will prepare to fight the person, cause you just pet him while he was sleeping.
I'm a dog person, and this is genuinely useful and interesting for me. It would be great if everyone understood cat behaviour and dog behaviour; many lives would be saved - both kids lives, and the lives of dogs or cats who have to be put down after attacking a child when the animal had been giving clear "don't touch me" signals.
If you pet with a bit of force, I think that calms them down. There were dogs barking last night that I think was scaring him, and this seems to work
im a lifelong dog person and i didnt know what cats were really like, as im allergic and havent been around one ever and this made me understand cats
I have cats that live outside, and we had kittens and they are cautious of us, how do I get them to like me? They kinda have gotten used to me through
Feed them, spend time calmly sitting where they can see you, and give it time.
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Wait was there a part about a cat meowing slowly, sounding worried or scared i don't know about you but for my cats it means the are looking for me I don't know why I decided to post this but its here :)
I am as you would say “a dog person” but i like cats a lot and have never thought they were evil, I never thought they were supposed to act like dogs. I do understand where you are coming from though, people think they act the same, and it does annoy me. I did already know some of the things that were said in this list, but thanks for the new information
I'm a cat person, and I need a guide like this about dogs 😅 Like, if a dog barks at you and chases you, apparently that means it wants to either play with you or attack you, how tf am I supposed to know which?
I just learned something today from this article and the comments. My cat, Molly, turned out to be my husband's cat and follows him everywhere and is very vocal with him. Sometimes she will meow at him and wants him to follow her to her food and wants him to stay with her while she eats. Now we know it's because it's her most vulnerable time and she wants him to watch her back.. I never knew this and the mystery is solved. Also she's very demanding of him at bed time, she will put her head under his hand and butt it insistently until he pets her. Such a calm and affectionate girl she is.
I have 5 cats,each is an individual,but I agree with rabbitinheadlights. Some prefer to stay out,hunting,others love to be pampered,and at this present moment my youngest cat,1yo,is happily watching me,whilst demanding head bumps now and then.My oldest one,13 years old,is happy to spend most of her time hunting,and sadly catching mice etc,it is simply her instinct,when she had her kittens she hunted for them,as well as eating cat food.They are also seen as being stand offish,I usually see that when they are wary of people coming into their home. Overall cats aren't dogs,and there are no ties between them,so yes they will be different. 103053780_...607a79.jpg 
I owned a cat when I was a kid. My sister broke it's leg with a brick. Does she count as someone who had an impact on it's life or was she just someone living in the house? See people just don't get sisters. If your sister throws a house brick at you she's just expressing her love. I don't get sister haters xD
I've been a cat person since i was kids since my grandma was a cat person as well, i till learn something new about them apparently.
Beautiful. I knew a lot of this, but the turning the back to you, I didn't know this. I figured I was just getting the cold shoulder.
When a cat lies on his back, he sometimes wants you to pet his head and neck. This is true especially for the grey cats.
I think it’s safe to assume that dogs and cats are different. Not sure who doesn’t get this or why.
thank you. this means a lot to me and I love the fact that someones finally exposed why cats aren't dogs
There was a columnist for the _San Francisco Chronicle_ who often wrote columns about his cats, and in one of them he discussed cats names...to wit, cats have three types of names: (1) the name we give them, (2) the names we call them, and (3) their secret personal name for themselves which we may or may never know.
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So my baby boys are my moms now? =3= Huh. How the tables have turned.
Great post! I remember that, when I came home from work from the weekend, my cat was expecting me ... basically, he watched the door like 2 hours before, and started purring immediately when I entered - and tried to sleep on my bag on sunday evening (not on other days, although the bag stood there all the time). He knew me very well I think. Cat's body language is really great, and not too hard to learn. They even adapt to humans who aren't that fluent in it ... but they'll never forgive if you lie to them. Never! And rightly so!
My cat lived 21 1/2 years. She was at least 1/4 Siamese. They are very talkative and can live up to 28 y/o. My cat had both of these Siamese traits. I still miss her.
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Us dog owners still have one great thing going for us. I don’t have a box of poop in my house and no fecal matter on my beds! My dog poops in the woods outside
But dog owners in the city have to pick up their dogs warm, soft poop from the pavements. While cats on the countryside poop outside just like dogs do.
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People that keep pests/food as pets and misinterpret pets as canine pests who knew...
I recently lost my beloved cat of 16 years and this hits hard. And is accurate. EDIT: I just wanted to thank you all for the kinds words. And as some mentioned, yes, I adopted a new kitty. I have the means and everything just felt so empty without a furry beast around. Luna is slowly adjusting and will be spoiled and loved every day.
Years ago a pregnant stray turned up on my doorstep. I took her in so the kittens would grow up among people instead of becoming feral. Because she was a scruffy long-hair I named her Ragamuffin. I found good forever homes for all five of the kittens, and had Rags fixed. She was my companion for 17 years. RIP, Rags.
Load More Replies... Cats aren't "aloof" as we tend to think... they will miss you and cry when you leave. Mine does, and it breaks my heart when I know he'll be alone for long.
I'll never forget the look that one of our cats (more my parents' cats, now) gave me when I returned from my academic year in a different country - it was utter shock! That cat loved me and I'd always cuddled her intensely; being gone for nearly a year must have been quite a betrayal, especially since I was clearly still alive! She just stared at me and then ran away. It took her awhile to warm up to me again and I'm afraid it's never been the same (especially as I've long since moved out).
Load More Replies... Never owned a cat. Still don't own any. I'm just here for the cute cat photos. EDIT: A delightful read. I knew most of these, but the explanation was really helpful. By the way, is there any tips for approaching stray cats? I try my best not to get aggressively excited, and do the “slowly blink to tell them you love them” thingy, but I wanna make sure I'm not doing anything that may be scaring these little babies!
As an addition to the other comment: Cats do scratch occasionally, so petting always comes with a small risk. However, scratching really doesn't mean that they dislike you, it's either "stop doing what you did just now!" or "hey, are we playing?!". If a cat scratches you and can't think of anything you did wrong when petting, you might be able to play! A stick or a long stalk of grass works really well. But remember that cat's don't hunt like dogs - dogs chase their prey, cats ambush it: they approach quietly, trying to hide, and watch carefully for a moment when the prey doesn't move, so they can attack. So, when playing, move the stick like a mouse, let it hide under or behind things (cats LOVE this!), and have it sit still occasionally - that's the cat's signal to attack. Cats absolutely do have excess energy sometimes, where they'll be happily running in circles in purchase of a stick - but mostly, they hunt from ambush and need a moment when the prey SITS STILL.
Load More Replies... I am allergic to cats, but when I saw an opportunity to rescue two of them, I didn't hesitate. I take my maximum doses of Reactine (cetirizine) and another antihistamine. My doctor thinks that I should re-home the cats, but I said: "That is not an option. I love them and they are family."
When I got my farm kittens my allergies went crazy. I took antihistamines for about 4 months then stopped. No problems afterwards.
Load More Replies... What a wonderfull read. One thing though. We have two siamese plus something rescues. They are oh so talkative, and miaow to each other not just their hooman. That is typical for Siamese cats. They are not broken. Please remeber they are very intelligent and need more attention, they will repay you with soooo much love. Typing one handed 'caus one is curled up against me right now.
Our tabby stayed for a week in a cattery while we were out of town, and the staff told us he had spent most of every day with two Siamese cats also staying there....he came home, and was just so chatty (this cat hardly ever meowed normally), but after a few days he stopped chatting, as we didn't seem to understand him
Load More Replies... Dunno if this is right, but I've always felt that cats following me to the bathroom, with.out.fail. for shower or toilet is intended as a gesture of reciprocal courtesy: they've figured out that it's their understanding of hooman's most vulnerable room and seem intent to make sure we make it out of there ok. There's an element of in-group, affection/solidarity, but also a self-interest to protect the can-opener/kibbles bag manager.
I think so to. Also care are very into smells and the bathroom is where your smell is the most smelly, especially when on the toilet. I have one cat who without fail always wants to sit on my lap when I'm on the toilet.
Load More Replies... i love the mystery and unique characteristics of my cats. i have 5 cats and a puppy. one of my cat is super clingy. he is the only kitty that sits on my belly/lap. one of them is hyperactive. the other one is so timid and kinda snob but still rub her head when i pet her. one of them is very dominant. and one is very vocal, he meows all the time.
Willoughby (1 year old) will meow from BEHIND THE BEDFRAME for my mom to reach down and pet her. Every night. Its just her little routine :)
Yep. Cats are cats. Dogs are dogs. I love both, own both at the same time, and neither are primates, so... Love them as are, for what they are, but learn what it is!
My cats are very curious and friendly. They will come up to strangers in my house looking for petting and attention. BUT they don't want to be pet like dogs!! They don't want hard scratches on their butts or rough patting. They want gentle strokes and head/neck scratches. And please don't rub their fur the opposite direction. They really hate that.
All of this! Also, a flicking tail is typically not a happy cat--it's one of its first signs of frustration/annoyance, not tail wagging. If it's flicking its tail, a cat is trying to tell you "I'm not in the mood right now". Cats do wag their tails, but the body language accomoanying it and how they wag their tails is distinctly different from an annoyed kitty.
My cats don't meow at me because I'm pretty fluent in their body language. In the summer we took care of my aunts dog for a month... when that dog first saw me he barked his head off and wagged his tail really hard. In cat that seemed more along the line of "I am so angry I want to kill you". I refused to approach the pouch for fear of some bad bites. A friend visited and she explained that he was just really excited and wanted petting. I can't get over how different it is from cats and how completely I misunderstood the poor pooch.
Load More Replies... A friend of mine told me that in her first class in vet school, the first question on the first test was a fill in the blank that read, “A cat is not _____”. The correct answer? “A small dog”.
I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. Best way my kitty show me he loves me is when I get to wrapped up in work he jumps on my desk and knock all my stuff on the floor and lays in front of me and purrs!
I have recently adopted a little cat and made the same experience....my student's tests have suffered a bit. The dog and I were a little shocked by kitty throwing everything on the floor, but I think it really is their way of saying "don't give your attention to that stuff, give it to me"
Load More Replies... My cat loves to have her fur rubbed backward while she is eating. I learned this when she was yowling and refusing food, so I rubbed her the wrong way because it annoyed me, and she started to purr and eat. Sometimes she won't eat at all unless I stand there and rub her fur.
Years ago I read a children's book titled "All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome". I have Asperger's Syndrome, and have always felt like someTHING in human form; like an alien (my childhood role model was Doctor Who) or, at worst, like a runaway figment of someone else's imagination. This hit home hard.
thanks for defending us. ive had too many fights with dog people yeling about how cats are savage and evil. i will show them this now
I can respect a preference for dogs or a joke about cats being evil (some cat lovers crack similar jokes about cats). I withdraw respect from dog lovers who seriously bark about cats being horrible animals.
Load More Replies... This is so good. I like cats, but unfortunately am allergic so I don't have one, but it is good to read this so I know more about the behaviors when I visit my friends with cats. Her cat Harry will often sit next to me and pet me.
It’s Harry’s way of making goo-goo eyes at you!
Load More Replies... I am a below the knee amputee. My cat stares in fascination whenever I am putting on my prothesis. I wonder what is going on in her mind..
You cat is likely curious why you’re attaching something onto your leg, maybe it doesn’t understand why you put that on, or the can just finds your prosthesis really interesting.
Load More Replies... I have ADORED cats since I was born, being a cat person, I have a lot of experience with cats and know what they mean, but I absolutely HATE dogs, even though I have a dog, I never want a dog in my life unless it's a Shiba Inu breed, you know, what Doge is.
I’m the same way, I love animals, but most big dogs are where I gain caution until proven otherwise. I am the owner of a husky, and if I Hadn’t raised her, I’d be terrified of her
Load More Replies... My late kitty (Peanut) used to sleep over the top of my head on my pillow + "groom" me before we went to sleep. If I interrupted her (which I learned NOT to do!) she'd start over from the beginning.
OMG. Our new kitten used to do that ALL the time. Normally she would wait until after I fell asleep to yank my hair out of it's hair tie and lick it in weird directions. After a few months she realised we don't clean ourselves like that and stopped.
Load More Replies... I have a weird cat who actually likes firm petting especially around the face. He is insanely friendly and wants to be as close as physically possible. He also gives love bites to the face. A stranger might see this as agressive, but it's really just the behavior of a cat that is so happy to be close to his person that he just can't contain himself. His name is Pretzel and he's the sweetest cat I've ever met. 😊
I love your kitty’s name. You are very blessed with such an affectionate friend.
Load More Replies... Also a quick tip, for those of you who are getting 2 cats/have 2 cats, if they have been getting along just fine for months or even years, don't get super freaked out if they start fighting. When my boys will start hissing and growling at each other I pull them away from each other for a few seconds then a bring them together and pet them both to show that they both are loved. Besides, they're almost always fighting about their favorite cushion and who's gonna nap on it that day.
I have been trying to convince my parents my entire time on this Earth to get a cat. Not a dog, a cat.
i have found out over the years thier is a difference between cat people, dog people and over all animal people. Cat people are friendly and will talk to you down the aisle while getting cat supplies, they have sympathy for dog lovers knowing that thier canine friend usually will not live as long as thier cat and overall can be empathetic even if they don't particularly care for a certain animal. animal lovers are virtually the same. However Dog Lovers are pretty damn mean. I have met a few and don't like thier company. they say that cats are prissy, mean, not loyal, dumb and will even say hateful things while commenting. even going so far as to say thier dog could tear into that cat. I don't appreciate it at all.
These two people need to get together and make a book. Imagine the title: "A guide to cats for Dog Lovers" .
"Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain
My cat Sayori is a kooky gal. She l o v e s to run around and chase her tail.
How much pressure is acceptable in petting a cat varies quite a bit. One of mine likes a very light touch, one tries to nail my palm to the couch with his hard little skull grinding into it, and the outside cat seems to like to be squooshed pretty hard and will stand there for as long as I'll squeeze her. Cats are weird. I love 'em.
I love this post. So accurate! I recognize a lot 💜 Wish my dogloving husband would act accordingly towards our cats; he still treats them as dogs and my cats don’t feel comfortable around him. He’s not predictable enough in their eyes, always away or mostly too active. Doesn’t help that our cats are scared in nature (angsty mom should never have been allowed to have kittens in the first place) and he’s not home a lot. He’s a great animal lover but utterly fails the cat language, he calls my behavior ‘spoiling them’ just because I don’t act like they’re dogs 🤷🏻♀️
It's so good to read this, I come across so many disparaging comments made about cats where there's no equivalent for dogs. For example if a cat is sitting on fence watching and a dog is going potty barking at it, the cat is the one in the wrong? It's commonly said that the cat is deliberately winding the dog up and the poor old dog can't help it. What I can see is a cat watching a dog going potty out of interest - 'what's going on here?'. The cat doesn't in anyway feel responsible for the dog's behaviour, because it isn't.
I am a dog person but am contemplating getting a cat to try it out when I'm old enough. These were very useful tips!
Wow this post helped. I knew most, but not all stuff bout cats. Dogs and cats are a totally different species and therefore cannot be treated the same way. I am a cat person and plan to get some cats when I grow up more. Cats are AWESOME and CUTE!!
Thanks so much for this article. I learned a lot of things about my cats I didn’t know before.
My cat steals my chair or the warm spot in the middle of the bed when I get up for a moment, even if I say "Seat back" . I suspect this is behavior from when cats roamed in packs and one had to show dominance to be the alpha kitty. Guess I know where I fit in.
Cats don't roam in packs and never did. They are solitary animals. Your cat steals the warm spot because she can.
Load More Replies... parents/companions/friends/etc NOT owners. Let's not with the slavery nonsense(:
Boom.cats are terrible but I still feel bad for you Jayne . I know how very hard it is to lose a pet.
Cats are glorious—don’t be afraid! And some of them have a lovely smell in their neck when they’ve been sleeping. I used to huff my cat on a regular basis.
Load More Replies... i always thought slow blinking and squinting was like "get away from me i need to sleep" but now i know my cat is just smiling :)
I have 5 cats. More and more I am very reluctant to leave them. When I do, I always hire someone to come in and feed them. My cats are very elusive when a stranger comes in. I have some care givers tell me that they never saw any of my cats when they came to care for them. Sometimes they eat and sometimes they don't. The longer I am away, the less the eat. Now if I go, my max time away is 3 days. I think with care givers, they would be good for a week or so, but I just don't want to leave them for that long. I am sure they would be fine, but not sure I would be fine.
I’m an experienced catsitter and have never had a cat remain aloof if I’m there for more than three days.
Load More Replies... When im home alone i learn a lot more about my cat so its nice to be able to read this i grew up with dogs so- yeah
My cat knew when I'd come home; he'd perch on the window sill facing the street where I'd turn and would 'meow' as soon as he sees me.
I read somewhere (my memory is but a memory of itself, so I don’t remember where) that cats know you’re on your way home about 20 minutes before you arrive, so they’re waiting for you well before they hear your footsteps on the porch or your key turning the lock!
Load More Replies... Seriously though, what animal lover, be it dogs, horses or whatever, actually says "cats are evil" seriously. I can see jokingly saying something like that, but I don't think anyone who loves any species of animal would claim another species of animal is "evil." I just do not believe that would happen.
A little over a year ago I took the big step and adopted a cat. At first it was a bit of an adjustment, being more used to dogs, and only ever having lived with a cat when house sitting for my aunt an uncle (and only for a few days at a time). So all of this was stuff I had to learn with my baby. It's so comforting and makes me so happy when he smooshes his face again mine. He also has an interesting behaviour, that isn't mentioned here. He doesn't mind being picked up for a bit of a cuddle, he seems to like the opportunity to look around from the higher vantage point (particularly in the kitchen, because he's not allowed on the counters, and is very good about that), he often doesn't like it for long though, but rather than struggle or try to jump out of my arms he gives me a little sort of half bite on the hand or wrist to say time to let me down. Never an actual bite though, just puts his teeth on me.
You two seem to understand what each other needs! ♥️
Load More Replies... My childhood cat used to butt my head all the time, I never knew that meant he was being affectionate and really liked me. He was quite wild, but he did like to sleep on my bed and didn't really let anyone comb his fur except me :)
We lost our Ragdoll 2 years ago at the age of 9 from kidney failure. The headbutting part was a sucker punch to the gut as he did this at the last visit to the vet when we were trying to explore more therapy to extend his life. He actually fell over trying to connect with my leg and that’s when we realised his quality of life wasn’t there anymore. Absolutely destroyed my husband and I to lose him - he was the best cat ever.
you can pet a sleeping cat on the belly and they love it(from my experience)
My older cat was raised with big dogs, and I sometimes think it changed his personality a bit. The younger one is more cat like, but she taught the older one to be more gentle. He used to bite hard sometimes. It's very interesting.
Cats have super sharp teeth and claws, anyone who thinks a couple of tiny scratches from playing is the cat "attacking" them is delusional. Ferrets are the same, can draw blood while innocently playing so get a bad name, but if they really did mean to bite you, they'd be putting dents in your bones
I just don't like cats cus 1. there's a lot of strays near my house and their annoying my doggos 2. I don't have a lot of experience with cats and 3. they just don't like me. Literally. They just glare at me from a distance and it annoys tf out of me so I just do my own thing. Unless there's a dog, then I love on the doggo.
I've been living with two cats for over a year and yes, they have temper tantrums if you rub their belly, even gently for too long, they can still be gentle in their correction--if you react properly. I was--it's more playing with his fur, barely touching the skin under, he was purring, kneading, then he latched on to my wrist, claws and his mouth. It HURT. I tried pulling, just a small tug and he held on. I stayed like that for a second, tense, then I sighed, put my palm on the table, and he let go. Just instantly. He didn't even leave a bruise. Dogs are....they can be nastier.
Thoughts on the silent meow folks? Sometimes she actually meows or makes other noises. The most enigmatic are the silent ones. My other cat does not silent meow. Both are moggies.
also i have a problem with one of my cats and im trying to figure out what it is, her name is chica and she is a indoor/outdoor cat, she wont pee outside and saves it till she get back in the house where she will per INFRONT of the litter box, she has done this everyday, and the litterbox is cleaned regularly, so i cant figure out whats wrong.
Take Chica to the vet. One of our cats does this when he has a UTI
Load More Replies... I can relate to this, cause i have 4 cats, one of witch people think is really mean, like when the cat is fast asleep and they scare him, he will prepare to fight the person, cause you just pet him while he was sleeping.
I'm a dog person, and this is genuinely useful and interesting for me. It would be great if everyone understood cat behaviour and dog behaviour; many lives would be saved - both kids lives, and the lives of dogs or cats who have to be put down after attacking a child when the animal had been giving clear "don't touch me" signals.
If you pet with a bit of force, I think that calms them down. There were dogs barking last night that I think was scaring him, and this seems to work
im a lifelong dog person and i didnt know what cats were really like, as im allergic and havent been around one ever and this made me understand cats
I have cats that live outside, and we had kittens and they are cautious of us, how do I get them to like me? They kinda have gotten used to me through
Feed them, spend time calmly sitting where they can see you, and give it time.
Load More Replies... Wait was there a part about a cat meowing slowly, sounding worried or scared i don't know about you but for my cats it means the are looking for me I don't know why I decided to post this but its here :)
I am as you would say “a dog person” but i like cats a lot and have never thought they were evil, I never thought they were supposed to act like dogs. I do understand where you are coming from though, people think they act the same, and it does annoy me. I did already know some of the things that were said in this list, but thanks for the new information
I'm a cat person, and I need a guide like this about dogs 😅 Like, if a dog barks at you and chases you, apparently that means it wants to either play with you or attack you, how tf am I supposed to know which?
I just learned something today from this article and the comments. My cat, Molly, turned out to be my husband's cat and follows him everywhere and is very vocal with him. Sometimes she will meow at him and wants him to follow her to her food and wants him to stay with her while she eats. Now we know it's because it's her most vulnerable time and she wants him to watch her back.. I never knew this and the mystery is solved. Also she's very demanding of him at bed time, she will put her head under his hand and butt it insistently until he pets her. Such a calm and affectionate girl she is.
I have 5 cats,each is an individual,but I agree with rabbitinheadlights. Some prefer to stay out,hunting,others love to be pampered,and at this present moment my youngest cat,1yo,is happily watching me,whilst demanding head bumps now and then.My oldest one,13 years old,is happy to spend most of her time hunting,and sadly catching mice etc,it is simply her instinct,when she had her kittens she hunted for them,as well as eating cat food.They are also seen as being stand offish,I usually see that when they are wary of people coming into their home. Overall cats aren't dogs,and there are no ties between them,so yes they will be different. 103053780_...607a79.jpg
I owned a cat when I was a kid. My sister broke it's leg with a brick. Does she count as someone who had an impact on it's life or was she just someone living in the house? See people just don't get sisters. If your sister throws a house brick at you she's just expressing her love. I don't get sister haters xD
I've been a cat person since i was kids since my grandma was a cat person as well, i till learn something new about them apparently.
Beautiful. I knew a lot of this, but the turning the back to you, I didn't know this. I figured I was just getting the cold shoulder.
When a cat lies on his back, he sometimes wants you to pet his head and neck. This is true especially for the grey cats.
I think it’s safe to assume that dogs and cats are different. Not sure who doesn’t get this or why.
thank you. this means a lot to me and I love the fact that someones finally exposed why cats aren't dogs
There was a columnist for the _San Francisco Chronicle_ who often wrote columns about his cats, and in one of them he discussed cats names...to wit, cats have three types of names: (1) the name we give them, (2) the names we call them, and (3) their secret personal name for themselves which we may or may never know.
Load More Replies... So my baby boys are my moms now? =3= Huh. How the tables have turned.
Great post! I remember that, when I came home from work from the weekend, my cat was expecting me ... basically, he watched the door like 2 hours before, and started purring immediately when I entered - and tried to sleep on my bag on sunday evening (not on other days, although the bag stood there all the time). He knew me very well I think. Cat's body language is really great, and not too hard to learn. They even adapt to humans who aren't that fluent in it ... but they'll never forgive if you lie to them. Never! And rightly so!
My cat lived 21 1/2 years. She was at least 1/4 Siamese. They are very talkative and can live up to 28 y/o. My cat had both of these Siamese traits. I still miss her.
Load More Replies... Us dog owners still have one great thing going for us. I don’t have a box of poop in my house and no fecal matter on my beds! My dog poops in the woods outside
But dog owners in the city have to pick up their dogs warm, soft poop from the pavements. While cats on the countryside poop outside just like dogs do.
Load More Replies... People that keep pests/food as pets and misinterpret pets as canine pests who knew...
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