
Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
I love cats in fact, they’re my favorite animals. But I’ve got two problems: I’m allergic and I don’t understand their body language. So I have a few behavior-related questions: Why does my cat lay at my feet or legs, then eventually move even if I don’t? Why is my cat so “talkative” around me and my mom but she barely is around other cats (especially if my mother and I are gone for awhile)? Why does my cat love the bathroom so much? I think that’s all. Sorry for asking so many questions–I’m very curious.
~ Chelsea
Thomas: Welcome to the world of cat guardianship, Chelsea! You’re starting out on the right paw by wanting to get information about cats’ behavior and body language, and we’re happy to share some cat behavior basics with you.
Bella: First of all, you asked about why cats settle in at your feet or near your legs and then move for no apparent reason. Well, that’s just normal cat behavior. We’ve got things to do and places to go! For example, I love to snuggle with Mama when she takes naps, but sometimes I’m just ready to get up before she is. Maybe there are some birds to watch, or I might just get the urge to play with one of my toys or visit with Thomas or Tara…
Tara: You don’t come and visit me for any other reason than to chase me, Bella. It’s not nice!
Bella: You don’t understand, Tara. I just want to play with you! Thomas is old and he doesn’t play as much as he used to, but we’re about the same age so I thought we could be play friends.
Tara: Oh, okay. I’ll try to remember to have fun with you instead of running away from you.
Thomas: As for why cats are so talkative with people but not with other cats, it’s because cats communicate with each other primarily through body language. The position of our ears and whiskers, the way our tails are moving, and the position of our bodies tell other cats all they need to know about how we’re feeling. The only time cats ever make noise at each other is when they’re having a spat: for example, a cat may hiss at another cat as a “GO AWAY NOW” message. Kittens may mew if their mother goes away from the nest and they get cold or hungry. Cats who are fighting often scream at each other while they’re trying to scratch or bite one another.
Bella: Yeah. We communicate vocally with humans because you all aren’t as good at understanding cat body language as another cat would be. Some scientists think we’re vocal with humans because we still retain that kittenish relationship with you and we make noises so you understand we need something.
Tara: And why do cats love the bathroom? Well, obviously, it’s because you humans spend a lot of time in there! And usually when you’re in there, you’re sitting on the toilet, which makes it a perfect time to get petties!
Thomas: Some cats are also curious about the shower or the bathtub. Poor, sweet Dahlia (may she frolic forever in the catnip-filled fields on the other side of the Veil) used to be fascinated by the sound of the water in the shower and she’d always cry to get in while Mama was showering. One day Mama finally let her in but she closed the door so Bella couldn’t come and go as she pleased. She howled and cried like she was being tortured, and I did the best I could to get her out, but all I could do was make comforting noises on the other side of the door and put a paw underneath so she knew she hadn’t been transported to a horror world in which rain poured constantly …
Bella: And, of course, if you have a litter box in the bathroom, it’ll definitely become Grand Central Station for cats!
Tara: There’s a fantastic book about cat behavior that we highly recommend to anyone new to living with cats, and that’s Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat and Not a Sour Puss by Pam Johnson-Bennett.
Thomas: Fun fact: Pam Johnson-Bennett’s books taught Mama a lot about cat behavior, and she used the lessons she learned from Pam’s books while she started living with cats, too. Pam and another cat writer, Amy Shojai, were the inspiration for Paws and Effect! Pam also has a website with lots of advice on cat behavior and training issues. (Yes, you can train a cat, but we kitties tend to be a bit strong-willed so you’ll need to be patient and consistent.)
Bella: And if you want to see all the awesome books Amy Shojai has written about cat care and behavior, check out her website.
Thomas: Between us, Pam and Amy, you’ll get everything you need to know about cat behavior basics–and beyond the basics.
Bella: We wanted to address the allergy issue while we’re here, too. The primary allergen cats produce is in their saliva–it’s a protein called Fel d 1. Since cats groom themselves a lot, obviously they get a lot of saliva on themselves. The good news is that people who are allergic to cats and are consistently exposed to cats tend to find their symptoms improving over time. But you can also do things like buy an air purifier or use damp wipes to wipe down your cat to get the saliva and its proteins off. This post on PetMD provides some tips on how to reduce cat allergies.
Tara: And one more thing you should know as a new cat guardian: your cat needs annual vet checkups and vaccinations on a lifestyle-appropriate schedule as determined by you and your vet. Cats also need dental care; tartar can build up on their teeth and lead to gingivitis or resorptive lesions (sometimes known as “kitty cavities,” even though they aren’t cavities in the sense that humans get them), which can be painful and cause difficulty in eating or grooming.
Thomas: It’s really important that you find a vet you’re comfortable with and who knows how to handle cats. Some vets are better at working with cats than others. We’re lucky that our vet works at a cat-only clinic, so we don’t have to worry about giant dogs coming along and sniffing at our carriers or anything like that!
Bella: If you can’t find a cat-only clinic, or you don’t find a vet that’s a good match at your local cat-only clinic, look for a clinic that has separate waiting areas for cats and dogs, and possibly separate entrances, too. Clinics that are certified Fear-Free are a great place to start, because that means all the clinic staff from the vets to the techs to the front desk staff have been trained to make vet visits as comfortable as possible.
Tara: And clinics that are certified by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have to adhere to a very high standard of care and are inspected every three years to ensure they maintain that AAHA certification.
Thomas: So, there you go! We hope we’ve been able to provide you with some helpful cat behavior basics information, and that the information on allergies and veterinarians also gives you the tools to make sure you and your cat have a long, healthy life together.
Bella: What about you other readers? Why do you think cats move away from you for random reasons? Do you have a cat that loves to hang out with you in the bathroom? Have you seen the differences in the ways cats communicate with one another and the way they communicate with you? Sound off in the comments! And, of course, if you have questions about cat behavior basics, feel free to drop us an email by using the contact form, and we’ll be glad to help you understand your cat better.
My cats usually stay close since I was in hospital for 4 days, like they want to be sure I am there. they sometimes get up to move to a sunny spot, maybe the floor has gotten warm and they want a cooler spot. also if a noisy tv program comes on, they move to a quiet place.
The bathroom: when I go there, all follow and use the box there, every thing I do, they want to do. Harley especially thinks he has to eat everything I eat so if I want to season with garlic, onion, turmeric or ginger, I take out some of my food before I season it as garlic and onion especially can harm cats. He even has a small bite of pink grapefruit at breakfast. Hope this helps.
I believe my cat likes to be in the bathroom with me because that is the room which has a closed door the most often. If I am in there alone she usually gives me a paw under the door and maybe a loud meow or two. She is saying, Hey let me in there, why did you close me out?! Yes, I simply think the bathroom thing is just because the door gets closed.
Chelsea- congratulations! Yeah, a new cat mom! I’ve rescued kitties for 40 years, boy, have I learned a lot! I grew up with small dogs, so I didn’t know about cats either, but for some reason they started finding me!
I just rescued my most recent in March, he’s now a year old, and after 35 cats, he’s the first to lie at my feet like a dog! He also follows me around everywhere I go, doesn’t like me being in the bathroom with the door shut. I do accommodate his every curiosity tho. He’s soooo much fun! All my other cats are 10+, my oldest will be 21 in Nov (adopted her at 7 mos.).
Make sure you have a variety of kitty toys, crinkly balls, catnip toys (my fav is Ratherbee catnip cigars – organic catnip and sew by hand ie Not factory made). A scratching post is a must, tall enough for your kitty to stretch the whole body out, I’ve also laid them in their side too, and cardboard scratchers are popular here too as my kitties love to sit and just lie on them (I have 7 rescues).
Personally, I feed wet canned food (fancy feed classic) and occasionally dry food as a treat, because cats are obligate carnivores and don’t eat dry stuff in the wild imho. 😊. I’ve got a water fountains (ceramic) and water dishes around the house, both food and water far away from the litter boxes. I like the corn based litter, Natures Miracle, because even the supposed clayless clay litters are still as dusty as can be.
My guys love a large paper grocery bag lying around sometimes to hide in or just lie on top, or a box to hang out in. I’ve got cozy fuzzy beds for them as well as little pieces of carpet they like lying on, esp in front of our woodstove in the winter.
I don’t mind them sleeping with me at night, tho obviously that’s a personal choice! Some are lap cats, others like a little holding but more petting. Some like to be brushed, others not, but I try to at least brush the ones that need it most (my older kitties).
I can’t wait to hear your progress! I’m so happy you’re saved a kitty giving it a furrever home!
Thanks for sharing all that great info, Marty. We love hearing from other cat lovers and cat rescuers because you also have great tips to share with our readers. Thanks again! :-)
Chelsea, oh, I forgot, most importantly! I’m allergic to cats! The most important symptom for me (I’m asthmatic too!), is itchy eyes, so I’m very, very careful after petting, to not rub my face or eyes. I keep some OTC allergy medicine on hand when case I occasionally forget, that helps me immensely. And my allergy to them has definitely lessened over the years.
I’m very, very careful after petting
And Chelsea, as said previously, try to stay away from the habit of sharing human food. Onions, leeks, garlic are poison to cats, as well as many other human foods. Also, houseplants, many, many houseplants are poisonous. So many that I cannot name off of the top of my head. Please do research on both of these topics. Asap. Research now before finding out the hard way. Many veterinarians have pamphlets with this information for free to pet owners. But it is a bad habit, as you will be teaching your feline friend to beg. And a great plant to grow is cat grass. It is fun and fast to grow and most cats enjoy chomping away as it grows. Congratulations and best of luck in the future. Like a child, you will be responsible for about eighteen years!