Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/cat strange behaviour

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 4/28/2008


Question
I have recently taken in a stray cat, she came to live in my garden a few months ago. I have noticed that she keeps banging and rubbing the front of her head against things, i have owned a cat before and understand that cats sometimes do this to scratch themselves, but this cat does it very hard and seems like it could be hurting itself. Do you have any idea why this could be?

Answer
Sofie,

Usually that means that she is leaving her scent on things. Is she spayed? She could be in heat.

She could be wanting to be petted. She could have a flea nest on the top of her head. Sometimes there is no explanation for the quirky things that cats do. Only they know why they do some things. Too, a cat, like a human, can have 'a screw loose' or emotional problems that cause their behavior.

Cats can take what looks like pain to us but it doesn't seem to affect them. I have a blind cat who bump HARD into something (unfortunately it's usually something I forgot and left in her way)
and it looks like she should have a bloody nose or a concussion but she just bounces back and goes around it as if it's was nothing. Go figure!

I hope this answered your question.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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