Cat-Why's

Cat-Why's

 

Why do cats wag their tails?
Why do cats gravitate toward people who don't like them?
Why do cats purr?
Why is it cruel to have a cat declawed?
Why does a cat "knead" a soft surface?
Why are cat's eyes special?
Why is a male cat called a tom?
Why is a female cat called a queen?
Why do cats always land on their feet?
Why are cats so curious?
Why do cats arch their backs?

 

 

 

 

 

Why do cats wag their tails?

Most people imagine that if a cat wags its tail, it must be angry -- but it's really in a state of conflict. The cat wants to do two things at once but each impulse blocks the other. For example, if a cat cries to be let out and the door is opened to reveal a downpour of heavy rain, the animal's tail may start to wag. If it rushes out and stands there getting drenched, its tail wages even more furiously. The conflict is between the urge to explore and the powerful feline desire to keep snug and dry. Once the cat makes a decision and either returns to the shelter of the house or sets off on patrol, its tail will immediately stop wagging.

 Why do cats gravitate toward people who don't like them?

One theory is that, when a cat walks into a room full of people, the ailurophobe (one who dislikes cats) is the only one who's not staring at him and making a loud fuss. He or she is quiet, looking in the opposite direction, hoping that Kitty will look away and go to someone else. But feeling intimidated by all those stares, Kitty seeks out a safe lap, which, in his opinion, is the only one in the room not moving, not waving their hands, not meowing and not staring at him. So, that's where he'll go.

Why do cats purr?

The question of HOW cats purr -- that is, the mechanics of how the sound is made -- is still being argued by experts. One theory is that the purring originates in the cat's voice box or larynx, or rather, in the "false vocal cords." This theory treats the sounds as similar to the human heavy breathing when relaxed -- or snoring. The other theory says that when the flow of the cat's blood through its main veins into the heart is increased, turbulence is created, swirling blood that is thought to make the purring noise, the diaphragm acting as an amplifier of the vibrations. However, even though the source of the sound is not completely understood, the meanings of the sounds can be more readily understood. To the human, we understand these sounds to mean that the cat is in a nonhostile mood, is friendly, submissive, reassuring, appeasing or contented. The basic message is one of friendliness. For cat-to-cat communication, purring occurs:

1. When kittens are suckling at the nipple letting the mother know all is well, and the mother letting the kittens know that all is well.
2. When the mother approaches the nest, telling the kittens that there is nothing to fear.
3. When a young cat approaches an adult for play, letting it know that it is in a relaxed mood.
4. When a sick cat is approached by a dominant one, letting it know that it is in a weak nonhostile mood.

Why is it cruel to have a cat declawed?

To remove a cat's claws is far worse than to deprive cat owners of their fingernails. The claws have so many important functions in the life of the cat, that removing them therefore produces a maimed cat. It must be left up to the owner to decide if they will or will not have this procedure done, but it is important to know what the facts are. The procedure is called "onychectomy." The claw, along with the first knuckle is removed from the cat's foot. Some cats experience ongoing sensitivity after the operation, and bad habits such as not using the litter box properly because they don't like the feel of the litter on their now-sensitive footpads. Or they experience pain when they jump down from a high surface. Some extreme cases have been reported where the cat's psychological and behavioural make-up changes significantly, becoming agitated, less friendly with their owners. Cat breeders and anti-declaw enthusiasts are trying to educate the general public about alternative ways of dealing with the inconveniences that are produced with the cats using their claws on furniture, etc. Behavioural techniques include using various methods of gentle negative reinforcement, along with supplying cats with adequate scratching surfaces. For further information on declawing, see http://www.cfainc.org/health/declawing.html.



Why does a cat "knead" a soft surface?

Have you ever experienced when sitting down and your cat jumps up and sits on your lap, only to feel, a few minutes later, a soft trample of her paws on your lap, or on a soft cushion or blanket? To understand the meaning of this rhythmic kneading, watch a litter of kittens nursing from their mother. You will see the little front feet on either side of the nipple, slowing, methodically treading the area around the nipple, and is always accompanied by loud purring. This "milk-treading" action stimulates the flow of milk in the mother's nipple. The kittens will do this every time they nurse. This action can be carried on through weaning into adulthood. Sometimes new cat owners, having experienced this for the first time are taken aback, especially if the claws come out of their sheaths in the kneading motions. However, it should be understood that these motions mean that the cat is comfortable, and takes the warm, soft body of its owner to be its mother, thus displaying the infantile motions and reverting to kittenhood. We like to call it "happy feet" because the cat/kitten is purring, contented and extremely comfortable.

Why are cat's eyes special?

Cats have exceptionally good vision, their eyes "seeing" things in a different way than humans, or even other animals. Cats have excellent binocular vision, which in turn creates good three-dimensional vision, vital to hunting animals, enabling them to judge distances accurately. Contrary to popular belief, cats cannot see any better in the complete dark than we can. On a pitch-black night they must navigate by sound, smell, and the sensitivity of their amazing whiskers. However, their eyes can function much better in dim light conditions, requiring only one-sixth of the light we do to make out the same details of movement and shape. They possess an image-intensifying device at the rear of their eyes, which acts likes a mirror behind the retina, reflecting back light. It is at this point that a cat's eyes can shine green or gold, almost appearing to glow. The cat can utilize every scrap of light that enters its eyes, hence their ability to make out movements and objects in the semidarkness that would be quite invisible to us. In very bright light, the muscles in the iris of the eye allow the pupil to change shape, appearing as vertical slits. The cat can stare into the sun without damaging the retina. The pupils widen, or dilate, when the "flight or fight" response is activated. This creates a wider field of vision and enables the cat to see more potential dangers. With the ability to make delicate adjustments according to the amount of light, the feline eye is a unique instrument. Cats see green and blue but not red. The focus of their vision is the center of whatever it is they are looking at, with the periphery remaining slightly out of focus. This is not a weakness as smell and taste, rather than colour or clarity distinguish their prey. One other special note about the cats' eyes' uniqueness is the ability to focus on fast-moving objects clearly. Unlike dogs or humans, a cat's head stays level as he bounds along.

Why is a male cat called a tom?

This can be traced to the year 1760 when an anonymous story was published called The Life and Adventures of a Cat. In it the "ram cat," as a male was then known, was given the name "Tom the Cat." The story enjoyed great popularity, and before long anyone referring to a male cat, instead of calling it a "ram," used the word Tom, which has survived now for over two hundred years.

Why is a female cat called a queen?

When she is in heat, she lords it over the toms. They must gather around her like a circle of courtiers, must approach her with great deference, and are often punished by her in an autocratic manner.

Why do cats always land on their feet?

Cats have what is called a "righting reflex" controlled by an inner-ear mechanism known as the vestibular apparatus. However, it should be noted that cats do fall from heights and injure themselves, as any veterinary clinic will attest to. Therefore, it is very important to watch your cat closely if she is allowed out on a balcony or other high place.

Why are cats so curious?

Cats are perhaps the most curious animals around, but they can get into a whole lot of trouble because of it. By nature, the cat is an explorer and is constantly on the hunt. So part of the reason for their curiosity is that they're always looking for food. Some "hunts" don't end up all that successfully. In 1986, one curious cat got shut in a fridge for 12 hours. Victa was pronounced dead by a vet, then suddenly stood up and walked away. Hundreds of such tales just reinforce our amazement at their curious curiosity.

Why do cats arch their backs?

The cat's arching back is actually part of her complex body-language system. The arched back usually is accompanied by her hair standing out all over her body, especially on her tail. This is her response to feeling threatened. Sometimes, she'll even turn sideways to present an even more impressive profile in order to scare away a threatening animal. The arch is able to get so high because her spine contains nearly 60 vertebrae (we humans only have about 34) which fit together loosely, giving her that incredible flexibility.