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Understanding Cat Behavior

Written by Anne


If you had to spend over a decade of your life with a foreigner who does not speak your language, wouldn't you take the time to learn theirs?



Our cats can actually learn some of our language, whether actual words or our body language. By the same token, sooner or later most cat owners learn to understand their cat's behavior and its meaning.

Unfortunately, some people tend to anthropomorphize their cats. They attribute human emotions and thoughts to an animal. I have often seen  people interpret feline behavior in terms of jealousy, vindictiveness or any other type of human emotion.

"My cat is peeing on my bed because he's jealous of my new boyfriend."

"She bites the other cats because she's mean."

The problem is you can never solve the problem without understanding the real reasons behind your cat's behavior.

If I had to focus on one piece of advice this would be it -

Your cat is not a little person.

A cat experiences its surroundings in a different way then we do. It has a whole different set of needs too. Felines are semi-nocturnal predators, domesticated only several thousands of years ago. The old adage still holds true:

You can get the cat out of the jungle, but you can't get the jungle out of the cat.


So what can you do?

The key here is learning. Take the time and read up on cat behavior. Try to see the world through feline eyes (and nose, and ears...) Educate yourself about feline needs and how to meet them in our modern homes.

You can start your research here: Cat Behavior for Beginners. Next, browse through our cat behavior articles for more information. Our huge forum archives hold thousands of cat behavior threads, so make sure you visit the cat behavior forum as well. It's also a great place for posting your questions.

Last, but not least, I recommend reading Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett - a great guide both for general cat care and for understanding cats and their behavior.

Have you taken the time lately to learn more about feline behavior? Any insights you'd like to share? Add a comment here, or visit our forums!

Comments (7)

GhostUser 2/6/10 at 7:46am
I don't have a cat, but sometimes believe my dog thinks she's a cat. We're pretty sure she even has nine lives. :) We do tend to place human emotions on our pets when in reality they think a bit more simply. Feed me, pet me, play with me, help me, take care of me, love me.
Kiley3Cats 2/15/10 at 3:03am
I definitely place human emotions on my cats and behave according how I interpret "their" emotions. My cats have so much personality it is difficult to not think of them as little people, even though I know they're not. I am definitely headed to the behavior forums, I have a kitten who won't stop jumping on the counter - even after getting sprayed with the water bottle. I need a solution to this!
GhostUser 2/22/10 at 5:49am
Fascinating topic--kitty communication. I especially like your comment that cats are not little persons. Some of us cat mommies do tend to forget that at times. I've included a section on Catty Communication in my latest book--Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Some of your visitors might enjoy reading this along with 40 cat stories and vignettes--some of them humorous, some surprising and all of them real. www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html. I'm running a prepublication discount through March 15, 2010. Patricia Fry
GhostUser 2/28/10 at 5:00pm
The comment about not being able to take the jungle out of the cat is such a true statement. Learning cat behavior is key to making cats as happy as they can be. I really enjoyed this post. Gary
GhostUser 3/22/10 at 5:41pm
Yes, "thinking like a cat" provides the solution to many a behavioral problem! Years ago, I had one cat and adopted two more, for a grand total of three. A couple months later, "someone" (never caught in the act, of course) began peeing on the floor under the couch. I assumed it must be one of the new cats, since Shelley had never done anything like that; oh, no, not her!. But once I thought about it from a cat's point of view, what made the most sense was that Shelley hated sharing a litter box after living solo or with only one other cat. So I put out an additional litter box: voila, problem solved! Kiley, try putting aluminum foil on the counter; they hate the feel of that under their paws. Or line up empty soda cans along the edge of the counter; when she jumps up and knocks them over, the unpleasant clattering noise will send her running! I admit to using a water piston and a firm "no" with mine (adult, not kitten) ... now, a pointed finger with the "no" is all it takes! .-= Jane´s last blog ..If At First You Don’t Succeed … =-.
GhostUser 3/22/10 at 5:43pm
That's a water PISTOL, not piston ... I'm not a cat abuser. LOL! .-= Jane´s last blog ..If At First You Don’t Succeed … =-.
GhostUser 1/16/11 at 12:58am
So true. Cats aren't even "little dogs," much less "little people." They’re much less domesticated than dogs, not to mention they think very differently. Of course, cats have feelings (affection, fear, sadness), but they aren't always experiencing what a person might think they are. A number of problems people have with cats, such as scratching on furniture, litter box avoidance, and aggression aren't really difficult to solve if the human care taker would take the time to think from the cats perspective and have a bit of patience.
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