For many of us, cats are friendly household guardians that entice us with their varied personalities. I've always found a friendship with one of them to be a soothing, and funny experience. Often I have speculated on the thoughts of my pets over the years, and at times felt certain I knew just what they were saying or thinking. I'm six months pregnant, and I've had some added free time on my hands as I take it easy at home. Something you may find yourself looking up in times like these is cat psychology haha! I have a young cat named Luna who is incredibly vocal, and I wanted to understand what could be driving her to meow endlessly at times- and maybe how to get her to stop! I wondered if she was okay, and if so... what the heck did she want from me?!
Next thing I knew, I had just watched 5 cat documentaries on youtube and become a cat expert(ish). With my new found powers of cat intel, I vowed that I would make sure my fellow Steemians got a sample of my research! So, here are some things you (probably) didn't know about cats!
#1. Cats have HUGE feet
Cat's spines include their tails, and help stabilize them when sprinting or jumping. This is incredibly important, because cats have even more acrobatic talent than we give them credit for. The collar bones of your fluffy friend are not attached, which give it the ability to scrunch and stretch it's body into impressive positions. A cats foot is a very large portion of it's leg, and starts at the point many would think of as the elbow/knee! The paw- what many of us would consider the foot, are actually the toes of a cat! That's right, these lil dudes are always walking on their toes!
For these reasons you will see a cat push back onto it's full foot before jumping. The distance of a cat's leap would be comparable to an adult human leaping onto the roof of a house! The unique bone structure they have makes this agility possible, and creates the formidable force of a cat's kick in a fight.
#2. Cats aren't as selfish as they seem
To a cat, humans are equal partners- and they may have a point! Even domesticated cats will attempt to hunt in their home, and have a skill at catching vermin even when it does not provide a needed meal. Left to their own devices most cats will eat just fine, and will diminish the population of disease spreading buggers in the process. We think cats need us, when in reality the longer life span of a cat may not be worth it to them if it is spent inside. We project our value onto pets at times, but from the cats point of view they are keeping us as much as we are keeping them.
Cats have been known to live fairly peacefully in colonies when either enough food is present, or group hunting provides an advantage. Female cats in particular have shown compassionate and social behavior to each other in these conditions. When one cat is giving birth, another female cat has been observed more or less acting as mid wife- cleaning the kittens and helping to chew away the placenta. It is not highly unusual for female cats with this sort of bond to feed each others kittens! As aloof and solitary as most domesticated cats may seem, they do care about other animals they have accepted as part of their pride.
In some unusual cases cats have even found a niche in caring for others. A few years ago bored panda wrote a story about a nurse cat who attended to other animals in a shelter. Here is a picture from that article:
What a sweetheart! It is clear to me that the body language of this nurse cat speaks volumes on the loving nature cats can have.
#3. Cats can smell through their mouth
Cats mark their domain by spraying to communicate their presence partially out of insecurity. A hostile environment is not always a factor in why they do this. In fact, scent is simply their language. In addition to pungent smells like urine that humans pick up on, there are a myriad of smells cats leave behind to communicate that we do not notice! Glands around a cats face, paws, and genitals release odors that other cats can learn from. A rub against your leg may indicate hunger or affection, however it also communicates a deep acceptance of the person the cat is rubbing against. In doing this, a cat has applied your scent on them which indicates to other animals that the cat is with you. In many cases, this is a great form of protection from hostile forces for outside cats. It is also a touching gesture, your cat feels safe around you, and trusts that you are on the same team.
Smells are of particular importance to cats, because they receive and interpret them in two different ways. In addition to having incredibly large nasal cavities, felines also have what is called the Jacobson's organ or vomeronasal organ, located on the roof of their mouth. This organ allows cats to study scents in great detail, especially pheromone heavy odors. Have you ever seen a cat sort of grimace with their mouth open while smelling something? They were using their vomeronasal organ to analyze a smell! This organ is very dynamic, as it connects to glands in both the mouth and nasal cavity.
#4. A cat's exposed belly says a lot
Any cat owner knows that rubbing your pet's belly is often a great way to get clawed up. Even cats who enjoy a belly rub can be very fickle with their desire for one. Oftentimes an exposed stomach is not an invitation, it is the communication that a cat feels safe around you. I have come to see a cat's exposed belly to be similar to a human offering a hug, it is a sign they are comfortable with you and your affections. As I said earlier, cats are very insecure creatures which makes an exposed stomach much more significant than a hug may be to you or I. Just as a hug can be uncomfortable when someone holds you in it for a few seconds longer than you'd like, a third belly rub can be an unsettling deal breaker for a cat. This is the most vulnerable part of their body, and unless it is expressed to you that they like to be pet there it is better to leave this tempting area alone. The belly exposure alone is like a hug, and it is better not to violate this gesture.
#5. Purring isn't always a sign of happiness
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has wondered if cats meow to one another to communicate. The answer to this is no, not in adulthood. A kitten will meow to it's mother when they want something, however once they reach maturity cats will only meow to communicate with humans. Oftentimes this will be more common when a human has owned a cat since it was a kitten, in some ways you represent their mother to them- especially through the continued tradition of feeding them. Sadly, this leaves the question that spawned my desire for research unanswered. My cat Luna may be trying to say any number of things to me when she meows.
One thing I did learn however, was that cats do verbally communicate. There are many different types of vocalizations cats have available, and a few are sort of like a meow. For example, cats chatter to attract prey such as birds. Cats can also mew, which I once thought was just a quiet meow. It turns out this is a sound of interest, and often accompanies the exploration of something your cat finds intriguing. The biggest verbal communication a cat can offer is purring, which can mean a number of things. Typically a cat will purr when they are happy with affection, as a signal to you that they would like you to continue the interaction. However, a cat can also purr when they are in pain. The purr tells you, I need a friend I am not feeling well. Additionally, cats sometimes respond to a threat or upset with purring. This is in part a stress reaction, when confronted with danger cats will sometimes do odd things to discourage an attack. Some studies suggest that the frequency purring occurs at encourages healing, but I cannot find any definitive evidence of that. Certainly, it is a much more diverse action than I had previously thought!
My Luna Lumen
Are there any compelling cat facts you think should have made my list? Have a feline friend of your own that you'd like to show me? Comments are always appreciated :)! Hope you enjoyed this crazy cat lady's research!