Ever Wonder?

Ever wonder why we do some of the strange things we do? I tell all on this page!

1. Do cats really watch TV?
   Well, we're not really watching the show. What we are interesting in are the flickering movements the pictures on the TV set make. We like fast movements. It's part of our hunting instinct. The flickering kinda reminds us of quick little rodents. Another reason we stare at the TV is because we want to know why you find it so interesting.
2. Are cats admiring their beauty in the mirror?
   Although there's good reason for us to stare in the mirror at our gorgeous faces, that's not the reason we do. Like with the TV, we're attracted to movement in the mirror. It doesn't even matter if we're the ones making the movement.
3. If cats are afraid of water, why do some wash their paws beneath the faucet?
   Even though we usually don't like getting wet, we're attracted to the dripping faucet because of the movement. Sometimes we're so interested in it that we even try to catch the droplets of water with our paws.
4. Why does my cat open doors, cupboards and windows by itself?
   It's just our way of asserting our independence. By learning how to do that stuff, we can come and go as we please. Why are we so independent? Well, in the wild, we tend to be solitary animals.
5. Can my cat really read newspapers and magazines?
   I hate to admit it, but we're probably more interested in the sound of the pages turning than in what's actually written. Continuing the hunting motif, the noises sound like small animals running in dry leaves and the grass. Another reason we'll jump on your lap while you're reading is to become the center of attention like your book.
6. How does my cat know what time to wake me up in the morning?
   We have an internal clock. Really. It's very accurate. It goes back to when we were hunters (yes, that again) and we had to remember the best times to hunt animals. Now, we house cats use that ability to know when we can expect food. ;o)
7. How does my cat know I'm home before anyone else does?
   We have a keen sense of hearing. We hear about six times better than humans can, so it's no wonder we hear your arrival earliest. In fact, some of us can tell the difference between our pet humans' footsteps on other people's footsteps. A few can even recognize our humans' car engine!
8. Why do cats talk in their sleep?
   We don't just talk in our sleep; sometimes we "run" by moving our legs in our sleep. This happens at a certain stage in our sleep known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. It's at that time that we're dreaming--probably about catching mice.
9. Eeewwww! Why does my cat keep giving me dead mice or birds?!!
   It's our way of saying we love you. It's supposed to be a present, so please don't yell at us or punish us. We also bring you the dead animal hoping that you'll learn how to hunt. We've never seen you hunt, so obviously we believe you're totally incompetent in that area and will learn from us.
10. Ouch! Why does my cat keep pricking me while sitting in my lap? It hurts!
    It's instinctive. We call it kneading. When we were kittens, we'd do that to our mom so we could nurse. It shows we're content and happy. If you really want us to stop doing it, though, put some newspaper or aluminum foil in your lap. It just doesn't have the same feel and will discourage us from kneading anymore.