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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat Behaviour
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Question
Hello,
Have you ever had a cat that sweeps obsessively? Our cat will smell food or liquid, and whether he eats it or not, he will sweep obsessively around the container. He first started by cleaning around his own food dish, sweeping anything he spilled under the bowl, but has since moved to sweeping up even around beer glasses. He will sweep on walls, paper, tables, carpet, anything around the "food" item.
This isn't really a problem, though he has ruined notes by sweeping them into a crumpled mess, I just have not been able to discover anything online about this behavior.
Thank you!
Mike
Mike,
This behavior can occur when the cat is displeased with the location of his food bowl, the food itself, or is not ready to eat it. In the wild a cat will bury his food to keep it safe from others until he eats it. Your cat may be exhibiting those inherited traits. As for trying to bury/sweep other items, sometimes only a cat knows why he does the strange things he does!
Here is a website that an interesting articles about strange cat behaviors:
(copy and paste, or type the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.hdw-inc.com/behaviorswhy.htm
Your cat may also be bored and his behavior is keeping himself amused. You may want to think about getting a friend for him about his same age and temperment to play with and be company for him.
I hope this helped answer your question.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
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).
Education/Credentials
***********
Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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