There’s no such thing as a normal cat! Seriously, all cats are unique, loveable and according to their human parents, “the best cat ever!” Am I right? We all love our fur baby like he’s the most perfect creation on earth. But, how do you know if your cat’s behavior is normal or a sign that something’s wrong?
First off, cats have a funny way of showing affection. If a random cat walks over to you and rubs its face on your leg, he’s saying, “I like and approve of you.” Aw, that deserves an ear scratch! Conversely, if a random human did that, I’m calling the police!
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If your outdoor cat shares her “kills” with you, that’s another compliment, not a sign of bad behavior. Leaving you a part of the lunch she’s caught in the backyard is a present that means she considers you worthy of her affection.
It’s most likely harmless if your kitty drinks from the toilet bowl; it may be that the water is fresher than what’s in his dish if it’s not changed often. Just remember to keep harsh chemicals out of the bowl.
It’s normal for indoor cats to munch on greens, but they should have a little fresh catnip available if they like to nibble your plants. Common houseplants such as aloe, lilies and philodendron are toxic for cats.
Cats sleep 16+ hours a day. If your cat seems lazy he’s most likely content and doing what comes naturally. However, consult your vet if you notice a major change in behavior, such as a normally spunky cat who refuses to play. Cats hide illness well, and a marked reduction in activity can be a sign of sickness.
Likewise, a normally quiet cat who suddenly meows all day is cause for concern. Asian cat breeds vocalize more than others, but if your cat has a change in vocalization patterns consult your vet.
Excessive meowing can be caused by hyperthyroidism. Similarly, an older cat who all of a sudden remains awake and alert all night may also be suffering from the condition.
A random sneeze or two may mean that kitty was playing with dust bunnies under the bed! But persistent sneezing that continues more than a day or two should be checked out by the vet.
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These are great explanations about cats behaviour. I’ve had cats for years and I always made sure not to scold them if they ever left a dead mouse or bird at my doorstep, as I had read that it was just the cat trying to ‘provide’ for me.
I don’t own cats, so I definitely would have questioned what was and what wasn’t normal if I ever had one.
I am a total cat person, I have always had at least one since I was very young. My cats are strictly indoors, but my Mom had one that loved to gift her with all sorts of dead creatures from the outdoors.
We don’t have a cat these days, but I have noticed that all cats do act differently and I’m glad to know that it’s completely normal. It’s great to know these things in case we ever get another cat.
I have three cats and have to say that normal is relative when it comes to cats. You might think you have the most normal cat and then they do something that just makes you go…what??? They are always so much fun though and bring a ton of love into the family!
These are great explanations about cats behaviour. I’ve had cats for years and I always made sure not to scold them if they ever left a dead mouse or bird at my doorstep, as I had read that it was just the cat trying to ‘provide’ for me.
Two of my kitties are very vocal, but we got them when they were tiny and talked to them a lot! Now it sounds like they are talking to us lol. No 2 cats are the same are they? Thanks for sharing!
Really cats can sleep up to sixteen hours a day, wow I never knew that. Our cat was an indoor outdoor cat. He came and went as he pleased. He never drank out of the toilet bowl but always had fresh water to enjoy.
I don’t own cats, so I definitely would have questioned what was and what wasn’t normal if I ever had one.
I am a total cat person, I have always had at least one since I was very young. My cats are strictly indoors, but my Mom had one that loved to gift her with all sorts of dead creatures from the outdoors.
We don’t have a cat these days, but I have noticed that all cats do act differently and I’m glad to know that it’s completely normal. It’s great to know these things in case we ever get another cat.
I have three cats and have to say that normal is relative when it comes to cats. You might think you have the most normal cat and then they do something that just makes you go…what??? They are always so much fun though and bring a ton of love into the family!
I am more of a dog person, but this information is good to know for the cat owners out there.
I’m not much of a cat person but I got to understand cats better through this post. They can really be sweet pets.
Two of my kitties are very vocal, but we got them when they were tiny and talked to them a lot! Now it sounds like they are talking to us lol. No 2 cats are the same are they? Thanks for sharing!
Really cats can sleep up to sixteen hours a day, wow I never knew that. Our cat was an indoor outdoor cat. He came and went as he pleased. He never drank out of the toilet bowl but always had fresh water to enjoy.
I didn’t realize they slept 16 hours a day. I thought mine was being lazy and tried keeping her awake so she wouldn’t run around all night lol! Good to know she’s “normal”.
I am more of a dog person, but this information is good to know for the cat owners out there.
I’m not much of a cat person but I got to understand cats better through this post. They can really be sweet pets.
I have to admit, I have owned cats all my life but never thought about if my cat is normal! This is an interesting post and picked up a few pointers there.
I didn’t realize they slept 16 hours a day. I thought mine was being lazy and tried keeping her awake so she wouldn’t run around all night lol! Good to know she’s “normal”.
I’m so afraid of cats. Having them rub up against me sends my heart into full anxiety panic. I had idea that meant they approved of me.
I have to admit, I have owned cats all my life but never thought about if my cat is normal! This is an interesting post and picked up a few pointers there.
I don’t have a cat now (I’m a proud dog mama) but I did briefly have a cat when I was a little girl and he was the oddest/coolest cat I’ve ever known! He was literally like a dog. He did tricks and LOVED water. I love know animals all have fun unique personalities.
I’m so afraid of cats. Having them rub up against me sends my heart into full anxiety panic. I had idea that meant they approved of me.
I wish I wasn’t so allergic to cats. I have had dogs, but I have absolutely no clue when it comes to cat behavior. This was so interesting!
I don’t have a cat now (I’m a proud dog mama) but I did briefly have a cat when I was a little girl and he was the oddest/coolest cat I’ve ever known! He was literally like a dog. He did tricks and LOVED water. I love know animals all have fun unique personalities.
I wish I wasn’t so allergic to cats. I have had dogs, but I have absolutely no clue when it comes to cat behavior. This was so interesting!
As soon as I saw this I said, “No cat is normal!” and then, you said it too, hahaha! I love the uniqueness that cats have. Thanks for this great info!
As soon as I saw this I said, “No cat is normal!” and then, you said it too, hahaha! I love the uniqueness that cats have. Thanks for this great info!
My husband is the cat person in our family. I might not have known what to look for to determine if our cat was sick, but he might have. Thanks for letting me know what to look for, though!
My husband is the cat person in our family. I might not have known what to look for to determine if our cat was sick, but he might have. Thanks for letting me know what to look for, though!
This is a great post. I just adopted a kitten for my daughter four days ago. So this is very helpful.
This is a great post. I just adopted a kitten for my daughter four days ago. So this is very helpful.
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