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Cat Behavior terms
Why cats do what they do, and what to do about it.
AllogroomingOne cat licking another, usually around the head and neck, which strengthens bonds between cats that live together.BuntingA cat pressing its head, cheeks or chin against a person, object or another cat to leave scent and say hello.CatnipA mint-family herb whose scent triggers a short burst of playful or mellow behaviour in about two out of three cats.ChatteringThe rapid clicking of the jaw and teeth, often with chirps, that cats make when watching prey they cannot reach.Clicker trainingA training method that marks the exact moment a cat does the right thing with a click, followed by a treat.CrepuscularMost active at dawn and dusk, the pattern cats follow because their natural prey is busiest at those times.EnrichmentGiving a cat chances to carry out natural behaviours such as climbing, hunting, scratching, hiding and exploring, so it stays well and busy.Flehmen responseThe open-mouthed grimace a cat makes when it draws a scent to a special organ in the roof of its mouth.Junior catThe life stage from about seven months to two years, when a cat reaches adult size and sexual maturity and its energy peaks.KneadingThe rhythmic pushing of a cat's front paws against a soft surface, a habit that starts in nursing kittens and usually signals comfort.Litter box aversionWhen a cat that used to use its litter box begins urinating or defecating elsewhere, often because of pain, stress or a dislike of the box.Multi-cat householdA home with two or more cats, where enough litter boxes, food stations, perches and hiding spots prevent stress and conflict.Night howlingLoud calling, wailing or yowling at night, common in older cats and in cats in heat, and sometimes a sign of illness.OvergroomingLicking, chewing or pulling at fur so much that it causes thin or bald patches, with causes ranging from skin disease to stress.Pheromone diffuserA plug-in device that releases a synthetic copy of a cat's facial pheromone, sold to help reduce stress-related behaviours.PheromonesChemical signals that cats release from glands and in urine to communicate with other cats, sensed through the nose and a special organ.PicaThe habit of chewing or eating things that are not food, such as wool, fabric, plastic or string, which can cause blockages.Play aggressionBiting and clawing during play that is aimed at people's hands and feet, common in young cats that lack playmates.Predatory sequenceThe chain of behaviours cats use to hunt: watch, stalk, chase, pounce, kill-bite and eat, which good play should echo.Prey giftWhen a cat brings home dead or live prey, a habit with several possible explanations that is not a sign of ill will.PurringThe continuous low rumbling sound many cats make when relaxed, and sometimes when hurt or frightened.Puzzle feederA toy or tray that makes a cat work to get its food, adding exercise and mental effort to mealtimes.Redirected aggressionA sudden attack on a nearby person or pet by a cat that is highly aroused by something it cannot reach.Scent markingHow a cat leaves chemical messages on objects, people and places using glands in its face, paws and body, and in its urine.ScratchingThe natural habit of raking claws against a surface to shed claw sheaths, stretch, mark territory and relax.Separation anxietyDistress shown by a cat when left alone, such as crying, destroying things, soiling or overgrooming while the owner is away.SilvervineA climbing plant from East Asia whose chewed wood and leaves excite most cats, including many that ignore catnip.Socialisation periodThe early weeks of a kitten's life, roughly two to seven weeks, when gentle handling and new experiences shape how friendly and confident it becomes.SprayingWhen a cat stands, backs up to a vertical surface and squirts small amounts of urine to leave a scent message.TrillingA short, rolling, rising sound cats use as a friendly greeting, copied from the way a mother calls her kittens.Vomeronasal organA small scent-analysing organ in the roof of a cat's mouth that reads chemical signals such as pheromones.ZoomiesShort, sudden bursts of high-speed running and leaping, common in young cats, usually in the evening or early morning.Body languageHow a cat shows mood and intent through its tail, ears, eyes, whiskers, posture and fur.HissingA sharp, breathy warning sound a frightened or angry cat makes to tell another animal or person to back off.PiloerectionThe upright bristling of a cat's fur, most often a sign of fear or arousal, which makes the cat look larger.Slow blinkA relaxed half-closed blink that cats use to signal comfort and goodwill, and that people can return.Tail languageWhat the position and movement of a cat's tail reveal about its mood, from a friendly upright tail to a lashing one.WhiskersThe long, stiff, touch-sensitive hairs on a cat's muzzle, brows, chin and forelegs that help it sense nearby objects and air movement.