There are certain factors to consider before you decide to get a cat. First and foremost, be prepared to spend time with your cat. Although cats are known to be more detached than most other pets, they still require attention and care. Cats have their own distinctive personalities and they have their own unique habits and preferences. It is a good idea to prepare yourself with some basic knowledge about cat behavior before you get a cat.
First of all, cats like to play. As aloof as they may seem, cats are actually playful creatures. Have you seen cats chasing around a fuzz ball? But cats usually don't play "fetch" like dogs; don't just throw a ball at your cat and expect it to be entertained. Cats like to be pampered by humans. They like to have “communication” with you. Spend time playing and interacting with your cat.
Cats show their affection to their owners not only through purring, but also by pawing your arm, leg, or elsewhere on your body. If you are new to cats and not aware of this, you may take that as an attempt to scratch you. In actuality, it is just a friendly play.
Cats are also avid spectators. They love to see what is going on around them. They do this by jumping to high places like the sofa, cabinet, or table to keep a watchful eye on you and what you're doing.
Cats love to scratch, some cat training books recommend buying a scratching pad or post for your cat. As a matter of fact, this is a primary characteristic of cats, so do not stop them. Instead, keep their claws short and train your cat to use a scratching pad. This will save you money and lots of headaches in the long run.
Cats have different personalities and this affects how much they want to "speak" to humans. Personalities are partly controlled by genetics and partly by upbringing so both factors contribute to how much an individual cat talks. Like some humans, some cats probably have nothing much they want to say! Also, some owners are good at reading cat body language and the cat simply doesn't need to vocalise quite so much.
House cats develop a wide variety of sounds to alert humans to their needs and intentions. Many are variations on mother/kitten meow or chirp sounds which the cat has adapted in order to "speak" to non-cats. This is quite logical since the cosseted house cat remains dependent on humans.
Most cats tend not to vocalize with strangers unless the stranger approaches them (less often the cat approaches a stranger for food or fuss). The localization then depends on whether the cat is fearful or friendly. If fearful the cat may hiss or growl and thrash its tail (agitation) to warn the stranger not to approach any closer. If friendly it will meow or purr and its tail will stick upwards (greeting) inviting attention, or possibly begging for food. Stray cats living around restaurants learn to beg appealingly to diners - this is linked to food begging, though some do enjoy interaction and a fuss.
Cats also learn to communicate with other household animals e.g. dogs. They are less likely to vocalize because dogs can interpret scent signals and can learn some feline body language. Sometimes the cat must reinforce its unspoken message with a hiss if the other animals ignores or fails to understand body language. Like cats, dogs also rely greatly on body language. In a household setting, cats and dogs are in close enough proximity for long enough that they can learn each other's body language to some degree.
Cats have scent glands on the chin, lips (in the corners), temples and at the base of the tail. Each cat has its own scent signature. When it washes, a cat transfers its scent from these glands to its fur. This scent is then transferred to objects the cat rubs against - a fencepost, twiggy plants, a doorway or a person's legs.
First of all, cats like to play. As aloof as they may seem, cats are actually playful creatures. Have you seen cats chasing around a fuzz ball? But cats usually don't play "fetch" like dogs; don't just throw a ball at your cat and expect it to be entertained. Cats like to be pampered by humans. They like to have “communication” with you. Spend time playing and interacting with your cat.
Cats show their affection to their owners not only through purring, but also by pawing your arm, leg, or elsewhere on your body. If you are new to cats and not aware of this, you may take that as an attempt to scratch you. In actuality, it is just a friendly play.
Cats are also avid spectators. They love to see what is going on around them. They do this by jumping to high places like the sofa, cabinet, or table to keep a watchful eye on you and what you're doing.
Cats love to scratch, some cat training books recommend buying a scratching pad or post for your cat. As a matter of fact, this is a primary characteristic of cats, so do not stop them. Instead, keep their claws short and train your cat to use a scratching pad. This will save you money and lots of headaches in the long run.
Cats have different personalities and this affects how much they want to "speak" to humans. Personalities are partly controlled by genetics and partly by upbringing so both factors contribute to how much an individual cat talks. Like some humans, some cats probably have nothing much they want to say! Also, some owners are good at reading cat body language and the cat simply doesn't need to vocalise quite so much.
House cats develop a wide variety of sounds to alert humans to their needs and intentions. Many are variations on mother/kitten meow or chirp sounds which the cat has adapted in order to "speak" to non-cats. This is quite logical since the cosseted house cat remains dependent on humans.
Most cats tend not to vocalize with strangers unless the stranger approaches them (less often the cat approaches a stranger for food or fuss). The localization then depends on whether the cat is fearful or friendly. If fearful the cat may hiss or growl and thrash its tail (agitation) to warn the stranger not to approach any closer. If friendly it will meow or purr and its tail will stick upwards (greeting) inviting attention, or possibly begging for food. Stray cats living around restaurants learn to beg appealingly to diners - this is linked to food begging, though some do enjoy interaction and a fuss.
Cats also learn to communicate with other household animals e.g. dogs. They are less likely to vocalize because dogs can interpret scent signals and can learn some feline body language. Sometimes the cat must reinforce its unspoken message with a hiss if the other animals ignores or fails to understand body language. Like cats, dogs also rely greatly on body language. In a household setting, cats and dogs are in close enough proximity for long enough that they can learn each other's body language to some degree.
Cats have scent glands on the chin, lips (in the corners), temples and at the base of the tail. Each cat has its own scent signature. When it washes, a cat transfers its scent from these glands to its fur. This scent is then transferred to objects the cat rubs against - a fencepost, twiggy plants, a doorway or a person's legs.