Unique Physical Traits
Cats have several unique physical adaptations that help them thrive as predators. One of their most well-known traits is their retractable claws. Cats can extend and retract their claws at will, allowing them to climb, capture prey, and defend themselves when needed. When not in use, the claws are pulled back into a protective sheath to keep them sharp (source).
Whiskers are another key physical adaptation for cats. The whiskers are highly sensitive tactile hairs that help cats detect objects and navigate in the dark or in tight spaces. The whisker placement helps cats determine whether they can fit into an opening (source).
Cats also have excellent night vision due to a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. This layer allows light to pass through the retina twice, enhancing vision in low light. Cats can see in light levels 6 times lower than humans (source).
A flexible spine and loose skin allow cats to twist, turn, and squeeze through tight spaces. Cats have more vertebrae than humans and can rotate their ears 180 degrees to pinpoint sounds (source).
Strange Behaviors
Cats often exhibit behaviors that seem strange or unusual to humans. Some of their more peculiar behaviors include:
Kneading – Cats will often use their front paws to rhythmically “knead” soft surfaces like blankets or their owner’s lap. This instinctual behavior originates from kittens kneading their mother’s belly to stimulate milk flow, and continues into adulthood as a self-soothing habit.[1]
Chirping – Cats make an odd chirping or chattering sound by quickly moving their lower jaw while keeping their mouth closed. They often do this when observing prey they cannot immediately catch, almost like a frustrated reaction. [2]
Head Bunting – Cats will head butt or rub their head against people, furniture, or other objects. This deposits facial pheromones that mark territory and show affection. The cat is transferring its scents and mixing them with scents from the bunted object or person.[3]
Chasing Invisible Prey – Cats will sometimes suddenly stare at a fixed spot and paw at the air, as if seeing and trying to catch prey that isn’t there. This instinctive hunting behavior is triggered when cats detect motion that sets off their prey drive.[2]
Eating Grass – Cats will graze on houseplants or outdoor grass without nutritional need. One theory is this helps them vomit hairballs or unwanted items from their stomachs. Grass may also provide trace nutrients or aid digestion.[1]
Picky Eating Habits
Cats are well known for being picky and finicky eaters. One of their most common quirky eating habits is the refusal to eat food from their bowl, even if it’s their favorite food. Cats prefer their food to be fresh, so once it has sat in the bowl for a while, they will turn up their nose at it. This fussiness likely stems from their origins as desert-dwelling hunters who ate their prey right away before it spoiled in the heat. Cats also gravitate towards food that moves and makes noise, associating movement with fresh live prey [1]. This explains why some cats appear hungry but ignore their motionless food in the bowl.
Another picky preference many cats exhibit is for running water over standing water. In nature, running water from streams and rivers is fresher and less likely to harbor parasites and bacteria. This instinctive taste for flowing water leads cats to beg for water straight from the tap and drink out of waterfalls and fountains. Cats frequently reject perfectly fresh water that has been sitting still in their bowl for too long. Providing a cat fountain can satisfy this desire for cool, running water.
Excessive Grooming
Cats are known for being fastidious groomers, spending hours a day licking themselves clean. Their barbed tongues are perfect tools for removing dirt and loose hair from their coats. Cats produce a special saliva while grooming that acts like a natural moisturizer, conditioner, cleanser, and deodorizer for their fur and skin [1]. Grooming also stimulates blood circulation and the production of sebum, which keeps their coat and skin healthy [2].
While daily self-grooming is normal cat behavior, excessive grooming can indicate an underlying medical issue like skin allergies or parasites. It can also signal stress or anxiety. If your cat spends hours grooming every day, to the point that they lick off fur and irritate their skin, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for an evaluation.
Agility and Acrobatics
Cats exhibit extraordinary agility and acrobatic skills thanks to their quick reflexes and flexible spine. According to Vetstreet, the cat’s flexible backbone allows their front and hind legs to move independently, enabling them to squeeze into tight spaces.
Cats have extremely quick reflexes that allow them to rotate their bodies mid-air and always land on their feet. According to Cat Agility, this righting reflex engages when cats fall, helping them orient and land safely after falls from heights of over 7 feet.
Cats are excellent climbers and can easily scale fences, trees, and other structures. Their retractable claws provide traction when climbing up surfaces. According to CFA, a cat’s tail acts as a counterbalance when climbing and walking along narrow spaces.
Enhanced Senses
Cats have extremely sensitive hearing and can detect frequencies up to 64kHz, far beyond the human range of 20Hz to 20kHz [1]. Their advanced inner ear structure and 18 or more muscles just for their ears allow cats to pinpoint the source and location of sounds with great accuracy. Cats also rely on their acute sense of hearing to hunt prey and be aware of potential threats.
Cats have an extremely advanced sense of smell, with around 200 million odor-sensitive cells compared to only 5 million in humans [2]. Their sense of smell is 14 times stronger than that of humans and they use it for hunting, communication, finding mates, and detecting threats. A cat’s sense of smell likely plays a large role in how they experience and understand the world around them.
Disdain for Human Conventions
Cats are known for ignoring many of the rules and conventions that humans try to impose on them. For example, cats often seem indifferent when their owners call them by name. While dogs commonly come running when they hear their name, cats usually ignore the call unless they feel like responding at the moment. This demonstrates a cat’s independent spirit and lack of interest in conforming to human expectations (source).
Cats also frequently shred curtains, furniture, and other household items, despite their owners’ efforts to stop this behavior. They seem to take pleasure in destroying fragile human possessions and are difficult to deter once they’ve set their sights on something to shred. Instead of obeying rules about keeping the curtains and furniture intact, cats exercise their natural instincts despite the preferences of their owners.
Additionally, cats sleep wherever they want, whether it’s on top of the TV, in a sock drawer, or stretched across their owner’s laptop keyboard. They don’t conform to the notion that certain spaces are meant for sleeping and others aren’t. Cats prioritize their own comfort and convenience over any human conventions about where it’s acceptable to take a nap (source).
In these ways, cats exhibit an amusing disdain for the rules and conventions that humans would prefer them to follow. Their independent spirit leads them to march to the beat of their own drum instead.
Aloof and Independent
Cats are notoriously known for being aloof and independent animals. Unlike dogs that bond with most humans and desire constant companionship, the majority of cats are selective about who they bond with. They tend to gravitate towards certain individuals in a household and ignore others. This stems from their territorial nature and needing to feel safe- cats that aren’t comfortable with a person will avoid interacting with them.
Cats are also highly independent creatures. They do not rely on humans for their basic needs in the same way dogs do. Cats come and go as they please, often leaving for hours at a time to patrol their territory outside. Their independent nature is a large reason why cats are mistakenly labelled as “mean” or “cold”- they simply do not crave human interaction and affection to the extent dogs do. However, once a cat bonds with a human, they can be extremely loyal and loving in their own unique way.
Nocturnal Instincts
Cats are often characterized as nocturnal animals, but this is not entirely accurate. They are actually crepuscular, meaning they are most active around dawn and dusk.
This crepuscular behavior evolved as an adaptation for hunting. In the dim light of dusk and dawn, cats can see better than their prey but remain obscured by darkness. Their peak times of activity coincide with when small mammals like mice and voles are also active and easier to catch.
While highly adaptable, domestic cats still retain these ingrained hunting instincts tied to dawn and dusk. An indoor cat may display increased energy and interest in play during these times when their predatory drive would normally kick in. They also tend to sleep more during the midday, much like their wild feline cousins.
So while cats are not strictly nocturnal, their overnight activities can still disrupt their human housemates. Understanding your cat’s natural rhythms and providing ample playtime during their active periods can help prevent undesirable nighttime antics.
Unusual Vocalizations
One of the most fascinating things about cats is the wide variety of unique sounds they make to communicate. Unlike other domestic animals, cats have a large vocal repertoire that extends far beyond just meowing. Some of their most notable vocalizations include:
Purring – Cats purr not only when they are content, but also to signal distress or pain. The mechanisms behind purring remain a mystery. According to this source, domestic cats purr at frequencies between 25 and 150 Hertz.
Chirping – Cats chirp as a friendly greeting towards humans or sometimes when observing prey. The sound is similar to a meow but shorter and more high-pitched.
Trilling – Trilling is often used to greet other cats or kittens. It sounds like a cross between a meow and a purr.
Chattering – Cats chatter by rapidly moving their jaw and teeth when they spot potential prey outside a window. Experts think this behavior replicates the killing bite aimed at the prey’s neck.
Meowing – Of course, meowing is a cat’s most famous vocalization. They mainly meow to communicate with humans and rarely meow at other cats. Kittens meow to let their mother know they’re hungry or distressed.
