LoveToKnow Cats:AllComments

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Hi Debbie,

I have a dog that does the same thing. I got the same response from the vet. It was driving me insane until one day I noticed my dog had one of the cat's hairs on the edge of her mouth. I wonder if perhaps your cat is experiencing this while grooming and trying to dislodge the hair?

You may want to try brushing her every day to reduce the number of loose hairs on her. This will be beneficial to her even if something else is causing her behavior.

Also, make sure that she is getting enough water and hydrated properly. Hope this helps. It's one of those odd behaviors that can take time to solve. Let us know if you are still having problems after trying these things and we can brainstorm some more ideas.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My 4 year cat over the last 9 months has started, what I call, "chewing the air". She acts like she has a piece of gum in her mouth that she's working on. She is indoor only and the vet has looked at her and found nothing, says it's just an odd habit. My other cat does not do this. It is becoming more and more frequent, now happening several times a day. It is so annoying it makes it difficult to have her around when trying to watch TV or sleep. Any experience with this? Than you!

-- Contributed by: Debbie

Hi Susan,

I think you were right the first time about the smell. Cats learn one another by scent. Likely, the smell of other animals or substances on the other cat is what is setting off territorial issues in the other cat. Since the cats are a bit older now, she may not see as well as she once did and be relying mainly on smell. Likely, the smell wears off after a few days and thus things go back to normal.

There really isn't much you can do except to keep them separated during those five days. This is just one of those cat eccentricities and aging issues that is aggravating, but all in all fairly minor. Sorry I don't have other solutions for you, but at least it is an occasional occurrence.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Lindsay,

My cat used to bring me moles from the yard. I found it disgusting, but she always seemed so proud of herself. I later discovered that this was her way of "taking care" of me and providing a meal. No wonder she was so proud of her hunting prowess.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have two indoor cats that have lived together for 14 years. Every time I take them out to the vet, when we return one cat is hostile toward the other. This only started happening about 5 or 6 years ago. The hostile one isn't aggressive enough to engage in an actual fight, but she will stalk and hiss, and once in a while take a swing at the other. This behavior will last 5 days -- exactly 5 days each time -- and then things go back to normal. I thought at first maybe it was the "vet smell" but it happens whether I take them to the vet one at a time or at the same time (so they'd both have the "vet smell"). Is this a territorial thing? Pheromones don't seem to help. Will anything? Thanks.

-- Contributed by: Susan

cute,sometimes cuddly but all in all a killing specialist...I respect the predator and love my cat.

-- Contributed by: lindsay

Hi Voni,

I'm so glad you took this cat in. She's sounds quite interesting. Occasionally, cats will smack their lips if they feel sick to their tummies or might be ready to hack up a hairball. It can also be a sign of nervousness. It sounds like she has just developed it into a cute little habit that she also recognizes in you.

I would keep an eye on her and make sure she is not vomiting, which would require a trip to the vet. Otherwise, just chalk it up to a natural behavior turned into an unusual behavior :).

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I took in a stray adult "barn" cat (I say that because she occasionally walks past the barn--IF I'm in there) who has a habit of "smacking" (the way humans smack their lips). In fact, I've found that she responds best when I call her by making that smacking sound. Since she was a stray, I have no idea what she went through before she came here and I don't know much about cats so I'd appreciate any advice anyone would like to share.

Thanks so much-

-- Contributed by: Voni

Hi Marylou,

I'd hold her as much as possible while she's still young, even if she doesn't care for it that much. Of course, put her down when she wants or you risk making her skittish. I have a cat who didn't get this lap time and attention as a kitten and she is a real brat now. She doesn't like to sit in laps or be held or snuggled. She pretty much just wants food and to sleep all day, although she will let you pet her and is friendly enough.

Also, every cat has a different personality, so some of this may just be in her genetic makeup. Good luck! Hope the extra time holding her makes her realize how enjoyable it can be.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I just have two kittens one that is 9 months male and the other is about 4 or 5 months. The female has a very peculiar behavior quite differently than the male. The male cat is very affectionate and the female cat is only affectionate when she is hungry or at bed time when climbs on top of the bed to snuggle.

Cali the female cat when I approach her to pick her up she runs away from me. Sometimes I have to bait her in order to pick her up. Once i have her in my arms she is very loving and stays still and allows me to pet her and then she will move to let me know to put her down.

I would like to know how I can get her to allow me to pick her up instead of when it's feeding time or when she's sleepy or when she climbs on the bed. It is annoying as she is so adorable but runs away.

This is the first time that I raise two cats. The male cat totally different he is a trip, and loveable.

I appreciate any comments you may have.

-- Contributed by: Marylou Garcia

Hi Morgan,

You're in luck! We have a ton of articles on this site about. They will be excellent for you to read and get a basic idea of different behaviors.

You'll then need to narrow your idea down to a single topic. I'm sure your teacher will work with you on this. For example, perhaps the behavior of cats kneading their paws. Why and when they do this.

You will likely then have to do some type of study with a control group of cats and a test group. You'll likely have to ask family and friends for access to their pets for this experiment, unless you have cats of your own.

Hope that gives you some ideas to get started. Good luck with your project!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

HELP I'm doing a science fair project about cats i need to know alot about cat behavior

-- Contributed by: Morgan

Hi Brenda,

My cat does this as well. I have never figured out why, but it does seem to help if I give her fresh water a couple of times a day instead of just once. I would just place a towel or some other absorbent material under the bowl and hope she outgrows it as she gets older.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My adult cat plays with her water bowl. She moves it around causing it to spill and I am continually wiping the floor and refilling the bowl. Please help!!!!!!

-- Contributed by: Brenda

Hi there Nutso's Mom,

Good to have you back at the site. It sounds like Nutso is going through some anxiety over new people coming into the house. The cat reacts with emotional anxiety to the stressor (visitor) by fussing at your husband and then acting skittish.

I think the best thing you can do is to limit the stress on Nutso from visitors, at least for a while. Whenever you know someone is visiting, just put Nutso in a quiet room away from what he likely sees as an intrusion of his territory. When the visitor leaves, you can let him back out.

After a few visits, if his stress seems less, you may want to try letting him greet the visitor and then putting him a quiet place. If that is successful, you may eventually be able to help him overcome his anxiety in small stages.

If the situation grows worse, there are some anxiety medications for felines on the market. There are prescriptions available from your vet and also some natural remedies. However, giving the medication to the cat can sometimes cause the feline even more stress, so I'd only use this in extreme cases as a last resort.

Hope that helps!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi it's been a while, after logging in, I forgot just how much I enjoy this site. I have a question about Nutso's behavior lately. Nutso turns to me for food and pampering and he turns to my husband for playing. Lately, whenever someone visits my husband he follows my husband around, and wont leave his site and annoyingly, purrs and purrs and purrs. When they leave its the same. But then when my husband grabs him he trys to get away from him and his hairs stand, like he just doesnt want to be touched. What is this all about. Is he jealous?

-- Contributed by: Nutso's mom

Hi Ali,

The belly is a very vulnerable spot. Some cats really hate to have their stomachs rubbed. The pet rescue centers typically do check cats over for wellness, so it probably is not an illness, but just a personality quirk. I would just refrain from petting her belly.

If you notice that she is in any pain, you may want to go ahead and take her to the vet, however. Also watch for these symptoms:

Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Increased thirst
Problems using litter box

Otherwise, it just sounds like you're both getting to know one another and need to figure out what the other likes :) Also, good for you for giving a cat a home. The shelter animals I've owned have all been wonderful.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I just bought a 1 1/2 year old cat from Petsmart today. I took her home and let her explore the apartment. I followed her around a little to make sure she didn't get into anything she wasn't supposed to. A little after an hour that she'd been home, she layed down. I was excited because she hadn't seemed relaxed at all since we'd gotten there. I went down on the floor to pet her, and everything was fine. Finally, I started rubbing her belly, and she freaked out..I thought it was just a tiff so I let it go. I did it again two more times, and both times she freaked. Could it be because I wasn't giving her her space? Or maybe because she just isn't used to all this yet? Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

-- Contributed by: Ali

Hi Nichole,

It sounds like your cat may not yet feel completely secure in his new surroundings. Either that, or he is trying to establish with the Persian that he is boss - period. :)

What you've tried does work in many cases, but it sounds like you need to take a more drastic approach to try to work this out. Understand that the two cats may never be best friends. Your goal is simply to gain some peace in your household, so that the two cats tolerate one another's presence.

First, I would go ahead and separate your cat into a contained area for about a week. Ideally, this is where his litter, food and water are going to be permanently too. If you don't already have separate boxes for him and your boyfriend's cat, then you should purchase separate litter boxes and food and water bowls. That can create a lot of conflict right there.

After a week, place your cat into a carrier or crate (something with slots or holes. Take him into the main living area of the house, where you spend most of your time. Leave the cage in that area for one hour with him inside. Allow the other cat to sniff the cage and check it out.

After an hour, open the door and allow him to come out. The minute he attacks or acts aggressively toward the Persian, place him back into the cage for another hour. Repeat this up to three times a session, returning him to the contained room if the experiment has not been successful.

Be patient. It can sometimes take several weeks for this process to work. It may seem like a huge commitment, but it will be worth it in the end.

I would not, even after he and the Persian finally start to get along, leave him alone with the other cat, as he may attack when you aren't watching. This is to protect both cats and prevent injury.

Hope this helps!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Quick question-I recently moved into my fiancÃ©s house with my deaf five year old cat who is apparently the alpha male. The resident cat is a friendly four year old Persian who is complacent. We have separated them in separate rooms, switched them in and out of the rooms, fed them both wet food on opposite sides of the door, so they would not think the other was after the food. We went by books to acclimate the two males. My cat though always tries to attack the other. There is hissing, growling and batting on my catâ€™s part. My cat chases the other into a corner every time. We have tried breaking them up and then letting them fight it out themselves. My cat was adopted from the pound several years ago and did play nice with my old roommateâ€™s cat; he is a D/S. My fiancÃ©s cat is a Persian. Please shed some light as to why my little cuddle bug is still attacking the resident cat after three months of living in his new home.

-- Contributed by: Nichole

Hi Jerry,

I've answered your question on our Ask the Cat Experts page. Congrats on the baby!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi....My wife is pregnant and our cat seems to be acting odd around her, at times a little aggresive. Can cats sense when a persons pregnant?

-- Contributed by: Jerry

Hi Nutso's Mom,

How are you doing? Happy New Year to you too. Nutso is actually marking you as his territory. Cats have glands in their faces that leaves a scent on anything they rub against. The scent should be undetectable to humans. Apparently he sees you as family and is claiming you as his own. It is also a somewhat affectionate gesture.

It may also be a convenient way to get you to feed him, since it sounds like he enjoys eating. As long as the behavior is not irritating you, I wouldn't worry about it. It is very common and normal.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Happy New Year! Whenever I am standing in a spot for a few seconds or minutes, Nutso is always near by, but once he see's that I am still I will feel the tip of his tail and/or head as he slowly circles around me over and over.. is he just being affectionate or is he trying to get my attention. He's the cat I told you is always under my feet as soon as I move trying to remind me to feed him even when his plate is still full.

-- Contributed by: Nutso's Mom

Hi, Mike,

Do you mean after the cat finishes defecating or while in the process? If it is after, this is actually something that relates back to their feral cat instincts. In the wild, a cat's stool can attract other animals that might want to attack the cat. It is instinctive to get as far away from the scent as possible to avoid attack. Sometimes, household cats will run like crazy after using the litter box, because of this instinct.

However, if the cat is running around while in the process of defecating, this could indicate that the cat is in pain or has some other health problem. It would be best to take the cat to your veterinarian and have some tests run. Be sure to take a stool sample as well, so the vet can test for worms.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat has been running around uncontrollably while defacating.

-- Contributed by: mike shannon

Hi, Denise,

Can you give me a few more details on the situation? Do the cats seem to be playing? Is the one cat drawing blood from the other cat? Is either cat howling in pain? Cats can get pretty rough in their play at times. Also, how long have you had each cat and what are their ages? Thanks!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

my question is our cat is bitting the other cat and has done this for two days i dont know whats wrong can you give some information on this

-- Contributed by: denise

Hi, Fran. Cats do seem to almost have a sixth sense at times, but it could also be that the cat just loves you and wants more attention. If you feel unwell or suspect you may be pregnant, you should make an appointment with your doctor just to ease your mind. My favorite cats are the ones who like to sit on the lap. There is nothing like a purring cat in your lap to soothe your soul.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Me and my boyfriend have a Cat, he was here before me. I hve now lived here for a little over a year. The last 2 weeks, the cat, Slick, has been obsest with laying on me. Why do you think? does he sense something?

-- Contributed by: Fran

Hi, Pam. Cats communicate in a variety of ways, from purrs to meows to yowling and their "voices" are different. Some cats may purr so softly that you really can't hear them. If he will let you, put your hands on his chest when he seems contented and see if you can feel a rumbling. That will tell you if he is actually purring or not. Domestics cats all have the ability to purr from birth unless there is a defect of some sort.

Trivia: Lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards are not able to purr but raccoons can purr.

Although it is rare, some cats do have a condition called laryngeal paralysis, where they cannot purr. You may want to have your vet check the cat over just to rule out any health problems. I really think he probably is just has a soft purr, though.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat never purrs and when he meows it sound broken as if he has a cold, however, he's a very healthy cat. Can you tell me why some cats don't or can't purr?

-- Contributed by: Pam Anderson

Hi Cassara,

This is natural behavior to a certain extent in that your cat sees you as part of her territory. However, you should probably discourage her from this behavior for the welfare of her kittens at least.

I usually recommend keeping a water bottle on hand and giving the cat a squirt in the face when she behaves too aggressively. This is harmless, yet most cats hate it and will stop the offending behavior. Hopefully this will work with your cat.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I have a lot of farm cats. My baby Patches is very protective of me when I pet or play with my other cats she will fight them off. Even her own kittens! Is there any way to correct this behavior or is it just natural and i sould let it be? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Cassara

Hi Kotter,

Some cats won't allow it, but some cats actually will. I think it has a lot to do with breed and individual personality. I also don't think cats climb into our laps for exactly the same reason a dog would. Some cats seem to be playing their own game of "King of the Hill". It's like they think you're going to knock them off if they let you pet them, so the challenge is not to let you pet them.

Gotta love them, don't you? Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Why do cats like to be in a lap but not held or even petted while there?

-- Contributed by: Kotter

Hi Candace,

It's not always easy to tell what a shaking tail means. Generally a cat will switch its tail back and forth when it is concentrating on something that has caught its interest. If the switching is fairly quick, it may mean the cat is annoyed by something.

When your cat shakes its tail, observe everything going on around it, and this should give you clues about how it's feeling.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

What does it mean when a cat shake its tail?

-- Contributed by: Candace

You're very welcome!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Just a quick Kudos to you for this site and your kindness in answering all these questions, thanks, I've learned a lot! x

-- Contributed by: Beautifulnightmare

Hi Katelynn,

You'll find the answer to your question at Ask the Cat Experts.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

my new kitten that is 6 weeks old contiously scratches hard wehn he plays what shoudl i do because my arms are all scratched up

and should we keep two litter boxes for him becuase we have two stories and he uses the litter box and a place up stairs where there isnt a litter box

thank you, katelynn

-- Contributed by: katelynn
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