After spending enough time with your cat it is pretty easy to see them as miniature humans who prefer not to talk.  Indeed, pet cats are our beloved friends, but unlike humans they have their own instincts and evolved behaviors.  Felines have natural hunting instincts that make them considerably different from humans, dogs, and other mammals.  Understanding cat behavior can help you to be a more patient and loving cat owner.

One of the first things to remember is that cats are active, curious, and highly athletic creatures that have evolved from a long line of hunters.  Kittens require a lot of active play with people, other cats, and/or interactive toys as well as a safe area to climb and explore.  It is always best to keep kittens (and even adult cats) indoors so they are not exposed to predators or other dangers.

Problem behaviors such as aggression, scratching, or inappropriate toileting can arise with pet cats but there are usually very good reasons for this.  Aggressive behavior is often a sign of anxiety so you should try to understand what is causing your cat to feel stress.  Alternatively, scratching is a very natural cat behavior that helps them to maintain their claws, so a professional clipping may help to deter this behavior.  Otherwise, you should provide your cat with an appropriate place to scratch.  Finally, cats are very clean creatures and they do not like a dirty litter box.  In most cases of inappropriate toileting the cat has either not been properly trained or their litter box has not been properly cleaned.

Generally speaking, behavioral problems are rare in pet cats.  If you observe sudden or unexplained behavioral problems in an adult cat, you should visit the veterinarian immediately to rule out a more serious medical problem.

While humans obviously rely on language to communicate, other members of the animal kingdom use a range of calls that help them to communicate.  This is also true for your cat.  While you may think that a “meow” is a meaningless sound, there are a range of different meows that cats use to communicate.  In fact, if you take the time to learn them by listening very carefully to your cat, you may be able to understand exactly what your cat is trying to say.

Cats clearly communicate with each other using meows and other subtle methods of communication.  Relying mostly on body language, cats can understand messages about danger, rank, mating, and aggression.  Indeed, your cat may use a combination of posture, tail movement, eye contact, and even smells to communicate a variety of ideas.  The very astute observer may have already considered how rare it is to see cats meow at each other except in very specific circumstances.

Nevertheless, when attempting to communicate with humans, cats seem to exclusively use the meow in combination with certain body positions.  Depending on the tone, pitch, volume, and rhythm of the meow, your cat may be trying to tell you something different.  Over time, many cat owners become familiar with particular meows, like the one that tells you they are hungry, for example.  But here is a list of different cat vocalizations and the possible meanings associated with them.

• The standard meow may simply be a way for your cat to get your attention and say hello.
• Low-pitched grumble indicates danger or a perceived threat.
• Purr or warble is used to show affection.
• Low-pitched howl combined with purring is a sign of distress, discomfort, fear, or pain.
• Howls denote sadness, pain, fear, or stress.

All felines, even house cats, have evolved from a long line of predatory animals.  Indeed, many of your cat’s most famous attributes like soft, silent paws, sharp teeth, and superior night vision have evolved to make them better hunters.  As such, the natural instinct to hunt is incredibly difficult for a cat to shake.  Even more interesting, is the fact that the feline hunting abilities are what encouraged the Egyptians to domesticate them in the first place.  Cats were even used on sailing vessels from Europe and bound for the Americas for their ability to hunt and kill pesky mice.

Nevertheless, in the past hundred years or so, cats have gone from being prized as hunters to being loveable house pets.  As you can see, our expectations of cats have changed considerably.  Yet, while we hope to have cute, cuddly, and cherished companions our cats are still hard wired to hunt.  An obvious example of this deeply ingrained characteristic can be seen in the way your cat plays.  In many cases, hunting behavior and play behavior in cats cannot be distinguished.  Stalking, pouncing, scratching, and biting are all natural hunting behaviors.

Have you ever wondered why your cat is insistent upon delivering unwanted gifts to your door?  Just about the last thing any cat owner wants to see is a dead mouse or bird at their doorstep, but even this behavior is a clear indication that your cat is a predator.  Cats will capture and deliver dead animals for a number of reasons.  Some researchers believe it is because they are aware of our inferior hunting skills and that they’re treating us like kittens by delivering our food.  Most cat experts believe that capturing and delivering animals is simply an expression of your cat’s innate drive to hunt and kill prey and that scolding your cat for these efforts is futile.