Cat Behavior

From resolving problems like urinating outside of the litter box to avoiding scratches during playtime, knowledge about feline behavior is a cat care essential.

Browse our cat behavior articles for expert-written, expert-reviewed guides that will help you troubleshoot and understand your cat’s habits, motivations, and moods.

CAT PSYCHOLOGY COMMON CAT BEHAVIORS

Popular Topics

Aggression

Peeing Outside the Box

Cat Language

Sleep

Vocalizations

Stress

Catnip

Kneading

Purring

Biting

Aggression

Aggression is a threatening behavior in cats, often a response to stress, pain, conflict between cats, fear of humans, territorial fights, or redirected aggression. In younger cats, play aggression is a common issue and requires teaching the kitten how to play appropriately and safely. Treating the aggression may require reducing stress, using synthetic pheromones, a medical exam by your vet, and consulting a feline behaviorist.

Learn More: 10 Causes of Aggression in Cats and How To Help

Peeing Outside the Box

Cats who do not use the litterbox may have a health or behavioral issue. They may stop using their box if it is too dirty, small, in a noisy place, or if there is a new litter substrate. Conflict between cats and underlying medical problems are also possible causes. Your vet can examine your cat and check a urine sample for signs of infection or inflammation if that is suspected.

Learn More: 6 Common Reasons Why Cats Pee Outside the Litter Box

Cat Language

Cats communicate through vocalizing, body language, and scent marking. Vocalizing involves familiar sounds such as purring, meowing, hissing, and growling. Body language focuses on ear, eye, and tail position along with body posture. Urine spraying and scratching are both examples of scent marking and can pose a problem when done in the home.

Learn More: What Your Cat’s Tail Can Tell You

Sleep

Cats sleep for 12-18 hours a day, sometimes even longer, and they’re polyphasic in their sleeping pattern; this means instead of one long sleep, they sleep multiple times per day. Cats are also crepuscular, which means that they’re most active at dawn and dusk, so they will usually sleep at other times of the day.

Learn More: 10 Tips To Train Your Cat To Sleep All Night

Vocalizations

Cats use vocalizations to communicate with us and other cats. Vocalizations may be happy sounds such as purring, chirping, and gentle meowing. If cats are scared or feeling threatened they may vocalize with hissing, growling, and howling. It’s important to interpret your cat’s vocalizations so that you know if they want to be approached or if they want to be left alone.

Learn More: 7 Common Cat Vocalizations and What They Mean

Stress

Stress is a common cause of behavioral and medical problems in cats. Many things may cause stress in cats including a change in routine, a house move, a new baby in the home, or conflict between cats. Stressed cats may hide away and act differently. Synthetic pheromone diffusers and addressing the cause of stress may help your cat feel more at ease.

Learn More: Stress in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Catnip

Catnip is a herb, part of the mint family, that is used as a treat. Most cats love to rub, roll, and zone out around catnip. They may vocalize and act excited around a catnip plant. These effects are temporary and usually wear off within thirty minutes.

Learn More: What Is Catnip? Why Cats Like It

Kneading

Cats knead by rhythmically moving their front paws up and down, also known as “making biscuits.” They do this when they’re content and happy and will often do this on their owners. Kneading is usually a sign of contentment. Cats also sometimes do this to stretch, soothe themselves, and deposit pheromones from their paws.

Learn More: Why Do Cats Knead Their Owners?

Purring

Cats make a purring noise for several reasons, and the most well-known is when they are happy. While this is usually a sign of contentment, cats can also purr when they’re in distress or trying to communicate.

Learn More: Why Do Cats Purr?

Biting

Cats may bite in self-defense if they feel scared or threatened or as a form of inappropriate play. Biting can become a serious behavioral problem, and it’s best to seek professional help from your vet or a feline behaviorist early on if you notice frequent biting.

Learn More: Cat Love Bites: 5 Reasons Why They Do It & How To Respond