Flickr: wingingit
Cats are whimsical. Sometimes it is hard to put a scientific or veterinary explanation on everything they do. This makes cats very interesting and fun.
Some cats are particularly attracted to shoes and human feet. They’d rub their face against one, wiping their scent all over it (due to part of their territorial instinct). Other cats are crazy about bags whether it is a paper bag or plastic bag, they’d go wild with it. [Cheap toys for cats] Maru, the cat is famous for his cardboard box fetish. He would slide himself into a box despite its size.
Cats are sensory creatures that are very sensitive to scents and sounds. They do not have the best vision, but they are fascinated by fast moving objects. That explains why cats can stand by the windows watching squirrels and falling leaves for hours without getting tired or bored. Did you know that when cats are left alone at home, they spend more time staring out the windows than any other activity? [What do your home-alone cats do all day?]
Why do cats have strange fetishes? [Play the videos below]
Toilet Fetish:
The reason some cats adore watching water flush down the toilet is because of the fast swirling motion that flushing water creates. It goes round and round, and eventually disappears. Cats are curious about the way water moves and where it goes. They want to follow it and observe its every move.
Cardboard Box Fetish:
Maru is not the only cat that loves cardboard boxes. Many cats share the same hobby too. The reason they like to fit themselves into a tube is because they find the other side of the tube extremely enticing. They want to know what it is like to get through the tube. Jumping into a container is also an act of curiosity. What’s better than jumping into a large container to find out the mystery inside? That’s cats’ logic. They let their curiosity lead them into actions.
Shoe Fetish:
There are many theories as to why some cats are particularly fond of shoes. It can be the smell of a shoe or certain scent that triggers a cat to become euphoric. Often we see cats wipe their face and body against a shoe, putting their personal scent on it as a way to claim their ownership of the shoe.
Plastic Bag Fetish (the kitty gets inside the bag and holds it down and starts running his nose up and sniffing):
Many cats love the rustling, crinkling sound produced by plastic bags. The more they play with a bag, the more sound they get from it.
Sink & Faucet Fetish:
Water running down a faucet is similar to water flushing down the toilet. Cats are amazed by how water runs, but even more fascinated when they touch the water, but unable to catch it. Cats have the intellect that is similar to a 2 year old child.
Foot Fetish:
Cats rub their face against our toes as a way to tell us “I love you.” They are showing us affection and lots of love. On the other hand, they are putting their scent on us, so we become their servants 
.
A 10 year-old cat named Carmen with many health problems turned herself into a terrorizing feline, frightening everyone in the household and literally forcing her owners to take refuge behind a bedroom door.
Rosa Davila recounted that her cat suddenly became violent and started making strange sounds. When she tried to sooth her cat, Carmen went off attacking her son, Victor Marte, a 27 year old young man. Eventually, he managed to get into the bedroom with a few scratches.
Davila attempted to coax the cat into the bathroom, but it was to no avail. She then made her escape to the bedroom and dialed 911 for help.
When she was on the line with a 911 operator, Davila stated that she could hear her cat shrieking outside the bedroom door and they needed help because their safety was at stake.
The police was expecting to capture a wild cat such as a bobcat or lynx, but to their surprise, it was an angry domesticated 16-pound Russian Blue.
The house was filled with policemen as if they were there to catch a giant predator. Davilia was weeping when recalling the attack.
Carmen was diagnosed with borderline diabetes and a thyroid condition. She started experiencing severe mood swing and craving food every five minutes. Davila was not able to afford proper medical treatment for her cat, so allowed Carmen to eat as she wanted. Her rapid weight gain put a huge toll on Carmen’s health, making it unbearable for both the cat and the family members.
Medical problems can alter a cat’s personality and cause unpleasant behavior. It is never a cat’s intension to attack their love ones. Diabetes and thyroid disease can force the cat to act very differently. These cats need immediate medical treatment from a veterinarian.
Carmen was taken to the Manhattan Animal Care and Control Center to be held for 10 days. It is possible that the cat will be put for adoption since Davila is not able to handle the financial burden for Carmen’s medical treatment.
Via New York Post
Image: flickr – sensual shadows photography
Police Captured Domestic Cat, originally appeard on LoveMeow.com
image from gizmodo.com
What do your cats do when they are alone at home? Friskies did the very first focus group on 50 felines to see what life is like in the eyes of a cat.
These 50 cats became the repurrters for the project. Each of them wore a cat cam on their collar to capture all the nooks and crannies of their lives. The cat cams snap a picture every 15 minutes to give us a cat’s eye view of their incredible world.
The project is called the Scratchington post report. The findings are astonishing. Most cat owners think that their cats sleep most of the time when they are left alone at home, but little do they know that their cats’ life is far more colorful than they thought. Cats are sensory creatures that love to be stimulated by various things such as toys, food, living things from the outdoors and so forth.
Friskies put together a photo album of all the cam photos taken by the repurrters. The pictures are truly fascinating:
Click here to see the pictures.
What do our cats do when we are not at home? Here are the results gathered from the 50 repurrters to give us a new insight of their life:
- Looking out windows: 21.6%
- With other animals: 11.8%
- Playing with toys: 5%
- Eating, looking at food: 4%
- Sleeping: 6.1%
- Looking at TV, computer, books, DVDs (any media): 6.1%
- Hiding under table: 6.3%
- In the sink/tub: 1.7%
- Climbing (on chairs, kitty condos): 7%
- In the bedroom: 8.1%
- In the bathroom: 3.1%
- In the kitchen/dining room: 9.9%
- In the living room: 12.7%
- In the home office: 5.2%
You can see the full report of this project by downloading the Scratchington post report.
Other related posts:
Images:
What do Your Home-alone Cats do all Day?, originally appeard on LoveMeow.com
Thunderstorms can be very stressful for cats. Cats are connected to their surroundings through smell and sounds. They can sense a thunderstorm coming before we can even realize it. They are able to smell and hear something far better than what humans are capable of. Many cats are well aware of the danger of thunderstorms, thus become frightened when they know a thunderstorm is immenent.
Cats can become fearful when it is raining without the thunder. Some of them are afraid of the splashing sounds and instinctively take refuge for their safety. There are a few things you can do to reassure your furry friends that everything will be just fine.
[video: These 2 cats took refuge during a thunderstorm]
Good preparation
One thing we can do to reduce fear for our cats is to take note of the weather forecast and provide things for your cats to create a pleasant experience when a thunderstorm hits. Sometimes a severe thunderstorm can knock out the power of a region. Having all the necessary supplies such as water, food, toys and treats can help keep your cats’ daily routine intact.
If your cats are particularly afraid of thunderstorms or fireworks, it would be a fantastic idea to use toys or their favorite treats as a distraction to keep them excited and stimulated, so their attention can be redirected to something pleasant. In doing so, you are creating a positive association between the loud sounds and pleasant memories rather than the fear and terror of thunder.
Stay Calm
Your mood can be very influential to your cats well-being. Your cats can get stressed out if there is tension in the family. Your calming manner can help sooth them and give them peace of mind. When your cats become antsy about an upcoming thunderstorm or ongoing fireworks, speak with them in a soft, soothing, uplifting tone. It will ensure them that you are there to keep them safe and protected. Do not yell at your cats if they become aggressive or behave abnormally. Yelling can only intensify the negative behavior and creates more fear in your cats.
Provide a spot for refuge
Many cats will take refuge under a bed, a table or anywhere that can help muffle the sound and make them feel protected. If your cats have not picked a place, you can go ahead and provide one for them. You can use treats to encourage them to hide in a safe place.
Remember that cats are scared of loud sounds or fireworks out of instinct. You can help them by staying calm, tantalizing them with toys and treats, so they can be distracted from the noise. It may take a few tries for your cats to fully understand they will be fine during a thunderstorm or fireworks. Your patience, encouragement and positivity will make everything much easier for your furry friends.
[Another video: Cats and thunderstorms]
Image: sergio_leenen
How to Help Your Cats Cope with Loud Thunder and Fireworks, originally appeard on LoveMeow.com
In a multi-cat household, a cat that has not been neutered or spayed may spray around the house for numerous reasons. Neutering and spaying can significantly reduce chances of spraying.
Why do cats spray?
There are two types of cats spray according to Pam Johnson-Bennett, a feline behaviorist:
The first type of cats spray comes from cats that are confident and tend to present themselves as the dominant figure in a multi-cat household. The other type of cats spray stems from cats that are slightly intimidated, less confident and even somewhat timid. Marking territory is a common goal for spraying in both types of felines. However, sometimes these two types of felines spray for very different reasons. [Control Urine Spraying & Help Unhappy Distrustful Cats]
Confident cats:
Besides marking territory in a new place, an unfixed cat can use it to display its sexuality especially during mating season. Also, if the dominant cat comes across an equally confident cat, he may use spraying to emphasize its status in the house in order to pressure the other cat into subservience.
A confident cat enjoys patrolling around his territory and subsequently leaving his mark along the perimeter to signal other cats that this is his domain. However, sometimes they spray simply because they won a fight against another cat in the same colony, thus spraying is a way for them to display victory.
Finally, spraying can also be interpreted as a sign of offensive aggression especially when they are facing a threat or something they identify as dangerous.
Less Confident Cats:
Besides marking territory, spraying to these less confident cats is a way to show passive or defensive aggression. They are probably intimidated by a new cat in the house, applying spraying as their last resort in hopes of getting themselves out of a threat or avoid direct confrontation with a new cat. Also, spraying can help these timid cats to gather information they need within their proximity. A less confident cat may use spraying as a medium to exchange information with another cat in the same territory, so he can avoid direct encounter with the new cat.
How to Stop Spraying
1. When cats do not have enough room in the house, they become territorial. If space is limited in your home, you can add perches or ramps in the house to create extra areas for them to rest and roam around. It can effectively reduce territorial conflicts in the house.
2. If cats sense a foreign scent from another cat, they will become territorial. In helping those cats to decrease their stress level, cat owners can rub down the new cat with a towel and bring it over to the aggressive cat to sniff and play with. By the time the old cat gets used to the new scent, his aggression will subside.
3. Cat owners can also consider using a cat gate to separate the cats at the beginning. Allow them to sniff and study each other through the gate. Cats use their facial pheromone to mark places they have been to. It is a safety indicator for them. By sniffing and smelling another cat face to face, they are swapping personal scent with each other, getting to know one another in a much deeper level.
4. Cat owners can consider using Feliway Comfort Zone, a great product to help prevent spraying in a multi-cat household. It sprays a scent that is similar to the smell of a cat’s facial pheromone which calms the cats and prevent many undesirable behaviors.
References:
Cat vs. Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett
Image: glamorous_girl
