National Cat Day 2019 – here’s why cats purr, meow and lick their owners and other feline behaviour explained
ATTENTION moggie lovers! Tuesday, October 29, is National Cat Day in the US, giving feline owners everywhere an excuse to celebrate their furry friends.
Here we unpick the reasons behind the oddest kitty behaviour - like kneading and head-butting - that most cat owners know and love.
Why does my cat lick me?
Licking helps animals to mark their territory, so your cat could be licking you to let others know you are their property.
This stems back to the way mother cats lick their kittens at birth.
Stress could also be to blame, as licking is soothing for cats, so they could be displaying this habit as a coping mechanism when they're feeling under pressure.
Of course you could just a have a bit of food on your hand too...
Why does my cat dribble?
Cats can drool for a number of reasons, but it's particularly common when they're feeling relaxed while being petted.
It might also be a sign of anxiety or excitement.
If your cat is continuously drooling, and is aged 12 or above, you should go and see your vet as it could be a sign of oral cancer.
Why does my cat keep being sick?
As cat's bodies are horizontal, rather than vertical, their food technically goes sideways rather than downwards.
This means that if they eat too quickly, it's not uncommon for them to vomit.
Other possible causes are fur balls, infection, dietary problems or worms.
Why does my cat keep meowing?
Your cat will meow for any number of reasons, so it's no wonder you might feel like they're doing it all the time.
They could be feeling hungry, stressed, in need of attention or a female cat may be in heat.
Older cats can become confused which can lead to excessive meowing.
Why does my cat headbutt me?
You're probably familiar with your cat greeting you each morning with a 'head-butt', but this behaviour is actually known as bunting.
It's a friendly gesture that they use to bond and comfort.
And it is also because they have scent glands on their heads and is another way of marking you and declaring ownership.
Why are cats scared of cucumbers?
If you're a cat lover that you can't fail to have noticed the internet is rife with hilarious videos of cats scared out of their wits by a cucumber creeping up behind them.
But why is the fruit causing such issues for our feline friends?
Animal behaviour specialist Dr. Roger Mugford told The : “I think that the reaction is due to the novelty and unexpectedness of finding an unusual object secretly placed whilst their heads were down in the food bowl.”
He went on to explain that cats are always suspicious of the unknown so they are likely to respond in the same way to other objects like a model spider, a plastic fish or human face mask.
There is a theory that they resemble predators such as a snake, too.
Why does my cat bring in mice?
It's never nice to be confronted with a dead mouse on the kitchen floor, but cats do have their reasons for bringing you these gory gifts.
In the wild, they teach their young how to eat food by bringing home injured prey.
Perhaps they think of us humans as inexperienced hunters and want to teach us how, for their own survival.
Why does my cat chew everything?
If you notice your cat chewing a lot, it's likely they're just feeling bored or they enjoy the texture.
However, it could also be a sign that there's something missing from their diet, they have a loose tooth or they're feeling stressed.
In some cases, dental disease or mouth sores could be the cause.
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Why does my cat knead me?
As kittens, cats "knead" their mothers in order to stimulate the flow of milk so that they can feed.
As they get older, rhythmically pressing their paws one after another is typically a sign of comfort and contentment.
Often while they knead they also purr which signals that the repetitive motion brings them contentment.