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I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has told me they understand their cat. While this may occasionally be true, I have to say that most of the time we are all clueless about what our cats are really feeling and thinking. Cat owners undoubtedly come to know their cat somewhat over time, and simple daily observation and experience certainly allows them to develop a working relationship with their cat, but this is many miles away from saying that they have truly solved the mysteries of a cat's mind, and I defy anyone to say that they know for certain what makes a cat tick. Cats are not the same as dogs, they have never become domesticated in the same hierarchical way, where man has become the "master."
Cats Ancestry
Cats have lived as solitary hunters for most of their ancestry, going back over 4000 years to our knowledge, and are natural loners, depending only on themselves for survival throughout that time. They are programmed through their genes to be self sufficient and to rely on their own skills and judgement, without reference to a leader or group to make decisions for them. Consequently, what may seem like indifference or aloofness in a cat is really just a demonstration of this quality of self sufficiency whereby they do not need our permission for their behavior nor recognise our control over them. For sure a cat will accept the benefits people bring to their lives, in terms of sustenance, comfort and safety, but we all know that the cat could walk out tomorrow and probably survive if it so decided.
Does Your Cat Love You?
Some people feel that cats only tolerate people for the things they provide, but we need to understand that cats express emotion in unique ways, which cannot be related to human displays of emotion in any way, and therefore may not be recognised as love. Some of the ways cats demonstrate affection are shown below.
. Head bumping is a recognised form of greeting between friendly cats, so when your cat does this to you, it is signalling that you are recognised as a family member.
. All cats lick themselves as a self grooming process, so if the cat licks you it is because it regards you as a family member, because cats only lick other cats if they like them.
. Drooling and purring while you are stroking the cat are definitely signs of contentment and pleasure.
. If the cat shows its stomach to another cat, this is an invitation to play make believe wrestling. So if the cat displays its tummy to you when lying down, you should regard this as a display of trust and acceptance.
. A cat trying to weave through your legs is a significant sign of affection, originating from a kitten's greeting to its mother. A cat's tail carries its own unique scent so when it rubs its tail against you it is marking you with that scent.
. Cats mark their territory by rubbing their heads on objects within its area, and this "butting" behavior releases pheromones from scent glands on their heads which are then deposited on those objects. This inherited action originates from "butting" against her mother's chin when seeking to be nursed as a kitten, and is a friendly social gesture, so when the cat rubs its head against you it is a demonstration of family love.
. An often misunderstoood gesture is when the cat turns its back, raises her tail and shows you its bottom. In fact this is a sign of closeness between you and should be taken as a sign of confidence in your relationship.
. Often, when a cat is lying on your lap it will begin massaging your legs with its paws, and this can become painful if the claws are used. This is a sign that the cat is contented, and is showing its affection, so resist the temptation to push it off which may confuse the cat.
So there you have it, the cat is a complex and fascinating animal and the more you learn about cats and about cat behavior, the nearer you will come to unlocking the mysteries of its mind and understanding some of the reasons cats do what they do.
Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Publisher of http://www.catcote.com
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