You are here:
- Home
- Animals/Pets
- Cats
- Cats
- Cat Behavior
Cats/Cat Behavior
Advertisement
Question
Hi,
I have a 6 year old spayed indoor cat I have had since about 8 weeks old. She has some funny behaviors such as at night she has a "route" she walks that covers the whole apt, every room, over furniture etc and she follows that same path every time. I attribute this to being a sort of "throwback" to her cat nature and that she is "patrolling" and/or hunting. SMost of her behaviors I can more or less logicly figure out what they probabl mean but she has one that I find very funny and I dont know why she does it.
I feed her canned food every day but she also always has a bowl of dry food available. Well when I sleep at night she lays on the bed next to me and as soon as I wake up she comes to see me and greets me. Then as soon as I get up out of bed, she runs over to her food dish and starts mowing down dry food, as much as she can. She does the same thing everyu single morning. Why would she be doing this? The only thing I can think of is that she is doing it so I cant get it, but that doesn't really fit her personality and she gets more than enough to eat.
Do, you have any thoughts on the matter, it has me curious as I like to try and know what she is thinking?
Thank You
Jason,
Although I wish I could answer your question, I do know cats do not think like we do. So, to try to figure out what they are thinking or the reasoning behind their little behavioral quirks, to me, is a fruitless exercise. I do not try to reason out their motives or thought processes but just enjoy their behaviors.
Cats in the wild tend to gorge themselves since they really do not know when or where the next meal is coming from. This is the only thought I have on the matter, which may or may not have anuthing to do with such a cute behavior.
I am sorry I cannot help more, but cat thought processes are still pretty much a mystery to me <ggg>!?!?!?!
Seasonal regards... Norm.
Related Articles
- Major Developmental Theorists - Developmental Psychology Study Guide
- Chibi, Tied for Third Place - Reader Submissions: Cutest Kitten Photo Contest
- Before You Adopt a Cat - A Cat Should Not be Adopted Before Answering These Questions About Owning a Cat
- Cat Behavior 101 - Everything you Need to Know About Cat Behavior
- How to Help Your Child Take an OCD Self-Test - Parenting Children with OCD
Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.