Explaining Cat Behavior

[@awesomechameleon1536]

the "mimicking poses" thing is also why cats love walking all over your keyboard while you're typing. If you give them a second, non plugged in keyboard they'll most likely use that one instead.

[@jan_sipiki]

plug it in to a separate computer so they can write poems

[@mr.duckie._.]

​@jan_sipiki imagine doing that and the first word is somehow a hyper specific phobia that you have, and applies to a lot of words, including the phobia's name

[@Transformers2Fan1]

Nah. It has to be the one I'm using, because he likes to rest his head on my hand.

[@anironfarm6056]

@@mr.duckie._.fear of palindromes?

[@PixieNekoChan]

I just bought my cat her own “laptop” scratching board for Christmas because she does this

[@ButchPleaseImFabulous]

I used to have a cat who would headbutt us so hard it hurt. We knew he was just showing love so we weren’t upset, but it was tough to be just sitting on the couch and get violently hit in the head.

[@althelor]

Basically Toph showing affection by punching people.

[@charlottebarham7722]

B O N K

[@TheRedMan77]

I wish I got love-bonks from a cat.

[@GusCraft460]

Cats also follow you into the bathroom because they feel vulnerable when going to the bathroom, and they assume you do too. They want to be there to make sure you know they are keeping watch so you can poop in peace.

[@azrealducain3123]

I knew it. I KNEW they were trying to protect me from predators while I poop. I was right!

[@QueerioCheerio-jh4yr]

Back when I was small we had the cat toilet next to the human toilet for a while. Our cat would always run in through the kitty door and take the the stinkiest poop, right when a human went in to use the toilet and couldn’t escape. Maybe she figured if we were going it meant it was safe. I miss that cat (don’t miss her stinky poops though).

[@sketchiscribblr8285]

Ive heard that before, but I am also convinced that mine does it because she wants pets. She'll reach up and claw at my knees or hands or whatever she can reach until I pet her. If I lock her out, she shreds the bottom of the door in protest

[@avibingplaylist6381]

My cat usually does not do this, he usually runs out of the bathroom if he comes in and sees me using it. I assume that it is probably because he does not like it when people are near him when he poops.

[@StoryBird2]

my bathroom door has a hole at the bottom (someone fell and their foot went through said door), so my cat Astra chewed the hole wider so she could fit in and watch ANYBODY use the bathroom. You cannot keep her out :)

[@arifhossain9751]

Dogs are extroverts Cats are introverts

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

cats are fae Dogs are gremlins

[@JacksunLarsen]

Cats are introverts with ADHD. Dogs are extroverts with ADHD.

[@Juliette_Demon]

My first thought

[@bland9876]

I totally agree with this and all cats are shy even though we have the term scaredy cat. I knew a girl who acted so much like a cat that when I tried to act like a dog around her she didn't like it. She was super shy all the time and because of reasons she was out all the time so I tried to act like those dogs that always super happy all the time and just want to cheer up their owner all the time but that didn't work.

[@edu7979]

@JacksunLarsenim literally a cat with adhd

[@deltainfinium869]

Bro I'm a life long cat person and while watching this I was like "I want dogs explained to be in this format!"

[@gothnerd887]

Lucid Chart probably has something close

[@jhulpthefox]

You can't stop a dog from whining. It just won't happen, even I get trapped by this. Whining is from some form of distress, doesn't need to be anything huge, just some kind. Barking is kind of similar, but can be quieted down to certain moments. They are trying to tell you something, that there's something there on your property, or prey to be had, or that thing looks exciting to chase. Usually it's to let you know that someone or something is close to your 'territory' when you're at home tho. A dog jumping on or at you is NOT trying to hurt you. Usually they do this when they are excited. If they have a lot of energy and you were playing they jump because they are happy with you, maybe they want pets. Or if you have something they want they'll do so to get it. It's eagerness and energy. Dogs can be taught not to do this, but expect this from puppies, we got a very big puppy that does this a lot. And in turn his nails kinda hurt sometimes:/ his gets my dad I'm the balls a lot for some reason, lol. If a dog glaces at you while they are pooping, they aren't being suspicious of you. Quite the opposite. They're double checking you're there to make sure you are watching them. Similarly to cats looking at a wall to show trust, dogs poop looking away from you so you can watch their back while they do so. Another sign of trust. Unlike cats, dogs dog like getting pat on their heads as much, they love getting pets, rubbing the head and scratching the chin, but the real money maker is their torso area. Don't back right in the middle of their back, that's where the spine is, pat off the the side. Often if they are laying down they will life one of their legs and start turned to show their belly. Pat more towards the chest area, and anywhere where fur is really, areas without skin near their unders aren't places you should be petting. Dogs can also handle a lot more force than cats. While some cats like pats on their butts, dogs love pats all over(except their head obviously.) Dogs love doing what you're doing, they just show it differently than cats. They run when you run outside, often their energy out does yours and they might continue running in circles when you stop. Show sudden energy all of a sudden, and they'll have energy for days they suddenly need to let out. If you sit down in a chair, they'll lay down around the room wherever they see fit. Sit down on the floor and they're more likely to lay their heads or front half on you. If you go to the bathroom, you dog might be waiting outside the door for you. They wait by doors a lot actually, so expect them often if you enter a door you left in. Dogs are actually quite crafty, the way they show this depends on the dog however. I have a dog that can get onto counters and tables due to his smaller size, and he will use this, the other dog however is much more socially smart, and has a repor with the cats, often some will play with him, especially our two white kittens love to. He'll push his snout onto one and they'll plop over onto their side.

[@jhulpthefox]

@@deltainfinium869 Oh! And tail wagging isn't always when they are happy! It's just a way to get rid of excess energy. They can be aggressive and angry and still wag their tails.

[@thekoifishcoyote8762]

@@jhulpthefox Any tips for dogs that only counter surf when you're not looking?

[@jhulpthefox]

​@thekoifishcoyote8762 Unfortunately, we still have problems with our pup. One way is to always know where he is in the house, this is easier to do in a smaller home, or with a bunch of people living there. Also dont give the dog his food late in the morning. But these two ways wont stop it completely. One way is to never have food out if your not going to be in the room. I mean put it in closed containers with strong lids if its gonna be out, this doesnt count fruits since i dont think ive ever heard of dogs eating those, let alone liking them.(dont leave grapes or raisens out however, just a few can kill your dogs.) Make sure to reprimand you dogs if you see them on yojr counter, youre the pack leader, and show him how back that is. After he gets down, its a good idea to stay in the room, but dont give your dog attention fo any kind, dont look at him, dont touch him with your hands, this should get the point across more. You can give him attention again in like, five to ten minutes. Having an assertive cat that you allow ok the counters can also help, as they will swat at your dogs. We dont let the cats on the counter when were cooking, but other than that all of them can be on the counters, and they dont usually eat the food on the counter as long as you feed them, with a few exceptions like meat and butter.(some cats really like butter). Never have a chair or stool next to the counters. It will only make it easier for the dog. If you have a lower part of the counter, put heavy objects on it to make it higher, and harder to jump on. Heavier objects just in case your dog(s) still try to get up that way.

[@kaedesakura9274]

Oh so that's what the work cat was trying to tell me. I just stopped petting her whenever she snapped at me and eventually she stopped snapping at me

[@lunarnightingales8651]

That's probably what they wanted you to do! As long as their body language is calm, (ears facing upwards, tail raised up or gently laid against the floor) they're probably not significantly distressed and rather just giving you a warning that they don't like what you're doing. If you disengage whenever the cat does this, usually they'll be perfectly fine afterwards. Over time, they'll learn that they can trust you to respect their boundaries, which is probably why your cat eventually stopped snapping at you.

[@hamnugg6153]

My favorite little thing is that these aren't always true for every cat, they all have their own special personalities and their behaviors are actually pretty heavily informed by their surroundings. For instance, a cat who is raised around bunnies will hop like a bunny when they go places, cats raised around dogs will bark at things and act more like a dog, cats raised by humans who hold them safe and stable in their arms will want to be held more. This even extends to how they communicate with you, they learn how you communicate with them and will try to teach you how to understand what they tell you. They're just as social creatures as humans and dogs, they're just smaller and different, and I love them so much for all the little things that make each cat their own wonderful and special little person

[@R1ver7th]

i know a dog who was raised by a cat who was raised by a dog raised by a cat. theyre really cute in how the two currently living ones both emulate some mix of cat and dog behaviors

[@kakahass8845]

You can also teach a cat to like to be held by the way. I trained one of my cats to be comfortable being held like a baby. That same cat also follows me around meowing as a way of saying "Please take me to your room human, I wish to be with you in the oddly cold room.".

[@LashknifeTalon]

You can see videos of cats all over the Internet who were raised by dogs, and have some cat instinctual behaviors, but have learned other behaviors, like enjoying swimming, or to convey happiness by wagging their tails.

[@cumunist2120]

EXACTLY the formative time in animal life is extremely important. This is the time when you socialize an animal and get them used to being interacted with. They’ll also pick up on how you as a person are and learn from you and their surroundings. If you adopt an animal that’s an adult especially a rescue be prepared for unexpected behavior.

[@bethanyandcloe3589]

We have a cat that licks plastic and loves straws and another one that makes this odd meow when you sneeze and knows how to play fetch

[@synonym1196]

There were a pair of books that came out years ago called "All Dogs Have ADHD" and "All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome", using human concepts to explain cat behavior, and as an autistic person myself I've found that to be fairly accurate for cats. I often use my own needs to explain cat needs to people (and vice versa). - I need personal space, but love hanging out. I sit with you because I enjoy your company, but that doesn't mean I want you touching me without permission. Same with many cats, that want to sit in your room but don't necessarily want to cuddle all the time. - I like physical affection, but if it goes on too long or too intensely it can become overstimulating, so it helps when people read me and know when I'm asking for a break. Same with cats, they enjoy pets but if you go beyond their comfort level they may hiss or scratch - learn to see the body language they put out saying "I'm done, please let me relax". - I don't like prolonged eye contact, neither do cats - to them it's threatening. Ignoring them when they're with you lets them know you trust THEM. Which is why many people who dislike cats are oddly popular with cats (the human tries to ignore them in the hopes they'll go away), while those trying too hard to get them to come over get ignored (constant staring and reaching and "c'mere c'mere") It's a fun sort of "rule of thumb" for a beginner to understanding cats.

[@-rizen]

im autistic too and highly relate to cats. ive often been told that im making “a face” that makes me look angry or upset when thats just my resting face. seems like cats experience that too..

[@kakahass8845]

As someone with Asperger's that explains why I'm able to instinctively understand cats but have a little bit of trouble understanding humans.

[@synonym1196]

@@kakahass8845 Yeah, I've always gotten along well with cats, even those claimed to be unfriendly or shy. I've heard "wow, I've never seen them so friendly with a stranger before" many a time! They and I just get each other.

[@crystalbuffaloe]

The way cats show trust is literally parallel play and I love them for it

[@Shatteredtales]

I saw those books in the waiting rooms of my doctors office for years as a kid! I read them as a kid and I found I understand cat body language better than humans or dogs and now, more than 7 years later I have been diagnosed with autism 😅

[@Snomrade]

Used to have a cat who absolutely loved the dog we had at the time (we had the cat beforehand and about a year after) cats WILL mourn you if you die and they love you. My cat cried so much after losing our dog and went to me for comfort

[@crazedglitch6509]

Aw, that's so cute and sad at the same time!😢

[@kakahass8845]

If you die dogs will eat your body when they feel hungry, cats will eat your body when they're starving and have no other choice.

[@artemisorwhatever9828]

In a similar vein, my cat was best friends with our bird (they had known each other vaguely since birth) and they loved hanging out together. When the bird passed away, the poor guy got so sad he just outright refused to eat or drink anything. Just sat by the bird's cage, like he was keeping watch for her. He passed away not too long after.

[@sheersternfeld1914]

3:40 my cats often meow at my dogs. maybe they just decided that if it's not cat shape, meowing is necessary.

[@BonaparteBardithion]

Dogs are also very vocal communicators, though not to the same degree as humans. I wonder if part of it is cats trying to communicate on their/our level.

[@dominiklehn2866]

Cats meow at kittens because kittens have yet to develop the vocal range tgat adults communicate in. It might very well be that like humans, dogs can simply not hear adults communication either

[@someoneawesome8717]

Ok so, cute moment: when I started T and my voice was changing, my baby boy Jasper would meow at the same time I did my voice training and even attempted lower pitch meows! MY LITTLE MAN WAS SHOWING SO MUCH LOVE AND I DIDN'T REALIZE

[@mildlymarvelous]

THAT’S SO AMAZING

[@akumafate]

thats so awesome!!

[@epicacia1782]

He's a more supportive ally than most people.

[@Attaxalotl]

Based ally cat!

[@maesaliva]

aww that’s so sweet

[@d4n737]

Honestly, how is it that cat owners look at dogs like "Oh, dogs are just not my thing, they're kinda noisy" But dog owners look at cats like "This evil creature, the beast is demonic in nature. Very unwise to trust it"

[@flof_i4768]

This entirely depends on who you're hanging out with. Around me I hear the opposite : dog people going "Cats are cool but not my thing", and cat people saying "Dogs are dirty and annoyingly energetic"

[@sheersternfeld1914]

I used to know this person who was basically the stereotypical Crazy Cat Lady, except she was strictly a dog person. For her, at least, cats were sort of a "Oh, these guys exist" thing, while dogs were the most amazing thing in existence. So yeah, depends on the person.

[@dandyspacedandy]

in fairness, dog owners can be like this with other dog owners just because of the reputation of certain dog breeds.

[@finkyou]

@@dandyspacedandyAt first, I thought: maybe you shouldn't judge someone for owning a breed you don't like. But then I am like: yeah, no, I know enough about pugs or bulldogs that I could judge someone from going out to get them. I am just saying, that if you go out and get a Bully from a breeder I will judge that you probably don't love dogs as much as you say you do.

[@azrealducain3123]

@@flof_i4768 Dogs are not necessarily dirty, but they all smell bad. There's got to be a reason why they all smell like urine and necrotic flesh. They can be almost 3/4 as friendly as cats though.

[@Schattenfaust2]

The "in the same room but not interacting directly" thing applies to humans too - if someone's just quietly, calmly chilling in the same space as you, they probably wanna be there!

[@ButMadNNW626]

I had a housemate who called it “being socially antisocial”.

[@disodosid]

My partner and i call it "side by side time" 💖 when we don't feel like being social but still want to be around each other, we do our own things in the same room, occasionally glancing at each other or getting the other's attention to show them something cute/funny one of our cats is doing 🤣

[@Souru_TV]

That is how i absolutely enjoy spending time with people. Just sad that most don't understand that.

[@GLnoG420]

Or they don't care that much about you and they just want to be in that room because of literally any other reason. A cat will leave or tell you to leave if it doesn't likes your presence in that room, or it will communicate in some form that it doesn't likes to be with you. A human can just decide it doesn't cares and sit in that room anyway.

[@Schattenfaust2]

@@GLnoG420 I feel like that falls under "wanna be there" - they're content with your presence or at the least not against it!

[@Gl137I4tch]

Many people only understand cat or dog behavior… I can read both, sacrificing my ability to read human behavior

[@ethanemerson4862]

Here’s another, Cat slowly closing its eyes and turns head away. DOES NOT MEAN: I’m ignoring you on purpose. ACTUALLY MEANS: slow blinking is my way of saying hi, and turning my head means I mean no harm. Doing both is like saying “I love you “ and “I trust you “.

[@sinnamonshoggoth2928]

Before I was born my great aunt insisted that my parents would need to get rid of our cats because they would be dangerous to baby me. My parents refused, of course, and kept the cats, and my mom’s cat (a black cat, too) would sit outside the door to the nursery at night, every night, facing into the hallway to protect me from anything that might sneak in at night. It’s one of my favorite examples of the vast gap between how some people think about cats and how they actually are.

[@brokenangvil4072]

Cat: "Baby is in the room, thou must stand guard to watch over the offspring's slumber. No harm shall come to thee."

[@neoqwerty]

I had the luck of being born like, two months after my cat siblings. (the mother cat, Cleo, even gave birth to her litter in my pregnant mom's bed, with the pregnant mom there and very surprised when she woke up entrusted with a litter of six newborn kittens while Cleo went to do her eating and litterbox things in peace). That meant that often my crib contained one human baby and six cat babies, plus one cat mom who was very diligent in reporting diaper changes before I ever needed to cry for it. I think that's probably where my instincts to not move at ALL in my sleep when I can tell there's something in my bed with me are from, in hindsight. But yeah Cleo was a fantastic mom and her mate Caesar (my dad was a history buff, I'm even named after an iron age kingdom) also pulled his weight in playing with me once I could swat at things, he'd "fish" with all his claws in and try to goad me into swiping at his paw, according to my dad's tales of how baby me interacted with the family cats and how they adored me.

[@dragonbornluna5274]

My cat clicked on this video when I left my computer open. I think she's trying to tell me something. Lol

[@woshyyyyyyyyy]

i used to take care of stray cats at my old house, unfortunately I moved but still visited that house quite often for a while every time my car pulled up the cats came RUNNING from wherever they were in the neighbourhood to my house to greet me, I don't know how but she somehow recognises when I'm there

[@JNJNRobin1337]

mayhaps they learnt how your cars engine specifically sounds?

[@normalman6078]

​@JNJNRobin1337 the engine is definitely a potential reason! i can tell when different people pull into my house. cars have unique sounds & some drivers have different habits. like some will pull into a corner quicker, and that's audibly unique from a slow turn in. kinda like how you could feel the turn into home as a kid. or some people have bad breaks. i could hear my sister's car from a block away because hers were awful 😭

[@sylvirgiomanach1491]

Same here. I'd feed all of the neighborhood cats that came by and there was one that I *really* loved who would come running as soon as I got home. That crazy lady would jump onto my hood before I'd even stopped!! Then when I got out, she would climb onto my shoulder for snuggles. I moved a few years ago, but I still go by to check on the house whenever I'm in the area (maybe once or twice/year) and she *still* comes running for snuggles. I wanted to bring her with us when we moved, but she wouldn't have been happy as an inside kitty and it's not safe enough here for her to be outside.

[@woshyyyyyyyyy]

@@sylvirgiomanach1491 aww thats so adorable! its great that she still comes

[@ZackagonXM]

Despite one being a small orange cat and the other being a husky that could meet me at eye level standing up, I find that both my cat and dog are really similar. They both lay around and come up to me when they want more pets. Surprisingly, the husky is the silent one. I also feel like my cat can teleport.

[@crystalbuffaloe]

Huskies are bigger, snow loving cats.

[@vozh7639]

Fellow husky owner here, can confirm spitz types are often more catlike than a lot of other breeds in behaviors and personalities!

[@cumunist2120]

Huskies get a bad reputation for being loud it’s not as bad as people say it is I’ve seen a lot of silent huskies

[@renzaluski1385]

I've heard of huskies being referred to as sassy cat-dogs that like snow.

[@ZackagonXM]

@@renzaluski1385 I almost subconsciously wrote cat dog at “I find that both my cat and dog”

[@FrumiousBandersnatch42]

I need to, once and for all, break that myth of "cats don't like when you pet them hard". It's either that YOUR cat don't like it, or that they do, but will only allow it when they trust you and find it appropriate. When I'm in a petting session with my cat, I can get pretty rough with her, and she lets me know she loves it! When she's done with it, or wants me to go gentler, she'd let me know. The preferred roughness, placement and rhythm of the petting are also extremely subjective and differ between cats. When you just hang your hand in the air and let them approach you first, you can see what they prefer.

[@cumunist2120]

people need to stop generalizing it’s important to know that cats are different than dogs but it’s not a hard rule everyone is different just like humans

[@CrystalLily1302]

Yeah, that one confused me, because my cat is always coming by for pets when I'm at my computer and if I have a hand free I'll drop it down and just do the scritches motion and he'll move around and push hard into my hand so that I give him pets or scritches all over and pretty hard too.

[@Zenala]

My cat lets me (and only me!) do ANYTHING I want with him. I can pet him as rough as a dog, I can press my face into his belly, I can hold both his cheeks with my hands and squish his face, I can pet his belly so hard that I leave handprints on his fur. And he doesn't mind at all, never looked at me weird or showed signs of dislike. Maybe not all cats are like that, it definitely is a personality thing. But it's definitely not all cats that dislike it either.

[@Narwhalcorn_]

now I agree with this fully, in just about every way, but my cat is also deceitful (tried to claim she was starving after eating less than 30 minutes ago)

[@Arkylie]

I like the meme, maybe from The Onion, of "Local cat has not been fed in his entire life, says local cat." XD

[@andrewwebb917]

My labrador also

[@victoryjamz]

You are petting a cat and they suddenly bite you. What people usually do: Pull away and yell at the cat for biting them. What I do: Go limp and let the cat either smack my hand a bit (this is a request to stop petting) or pull my hand somewhere else (this is a request to pet in another spot). It doesn't even hurt at all when my Beast pulls my hand to another spot. She trusts me to understand what she's trying to say. I've lived with her for years, she isn't the type to attack people without numerous warnings beforehand. Most cats aren't. But most people think they are because they lack context and understanding.

[@kamirostorino9416]

my black and whiter male cat ( i call him Blackbeard cuz he has a goatee pattern on his face) is biting every time i pet him. he will walk in front of me, splay on the ground on side, and the bite (no claws, just bite) i tend to grab him a bit and do a little shake on the floor as a form of play.

[@neoqwerty]

Me when I get swatted/bitten for petting: OKAY LITTLE FLOOF THIS MEANS PLAY~~~~ I'm fine getting the scratches and nips, I will absolutely let a cat playmaul me for the fun of faking my hands being preys and "dying". Cat gets to feel smug and get some energy out and I get to play with cat, win/win.

[@Gl137I4tch]

Something I find interesting about cats vs dogs is that cat sees you as giant weird shaped cat, but cat. Dog sees you as human, a member of their pack, but different species. Just interesting imo

[@codytoeung5089]

Cat owners don’t see cats as evil, but still agree cats are gremlins and are the true masters of the house.

[@alteria2714]

6:50 I do this as well with animals when I don't understand, I ask them to show me what they want if I can't understand, do they want water? Play? Food? And if they show me I do my best to accommodate, it's convient when my budgies get my attention and then tap or look at what they want, sometimes I gotta ask for clarification but it's great to know what they want

[@TGTKgaming]

When i was a kid, i would feed the stray cats food every day. One of the cats got traumatized at some point, and would only eat if there were no other cats around, and would hiss and run if she saw any cat. She would also run if I left her. 4:45

[@TubeTAG]

My mom's allergic to cats, and I'm not much of an animal person in general. So whenever I'm around cats, I just kind of acknowledge them and then ignore them, while many of my friends will end up fawning over them. This has led to much jealousy since the cats will come and hang out near me, because I just kind of ignore them, and not near my friends who want all the kitty attention. I have been told this is in line with cat behavior and this video seems to confirm that.

[@onbearfeet]

Can confirm. I AM an animal person, and the best way I've found to get a standoffish or skittish cat to like me is to sit down in their space, speak calmly to them to acknowledge their presence, and then pull out my phone and ignore them for a while. It's cat for "I'm nonthreatening and will be friendly if you want that, but I won't bother you if you'd rather be alone." Cats appreciate that. So yes, you are (perhaps inadvertently) telling these cats you'd make a perfect friend.

[@ButMadNNW626]

I read somewhere that when a cat walks into a room at a party (for instance), all the staring eyes from the animal lovers feel threatening, so they’ll go to the animal hater who’s trying to avoid eye contact. 😅

[@jacksont9455]

Also, with them being a desert-adapted species is why they sit in loafs, hide in blankets, sit on you and don’t let you get up, try to sit on your computer, etc. They’re cold. Our 65-75 degree houses are too cold for them. Their species is from a climate that’s like 85+ degrees. Same thing with dogs almost constantly panting. They’re too hot. They evolved from an arctic species that we domesticated shortly after the ice age. That’s also why most of them don’t mind playing in the snow, and want to stay outside when it’s cold. Their vibe is more 45-60 degrees for larger breeds. Our houses are slightly uncomfortable for our favorite pets.

[@hoppybirdy6967]

Wait, really??? Ah crap, that implies a need for some sort of climate control or at least areas where they can easily get warmer or cooler.

[@satgurs]

can somebody convert this to celsius i don't know freedom units

[@hoppybirdy6967]

@satgurs I copied and pasted the original comment, but converted all the temperatures to Celsius because that seemed like the simplest way to explain which place is which temperature: "Also, with them being a desert-adapted species is why they sit in loafs, hide in blankets, sit on you and don’t let you get up, try to sit on your computer, etc. They’re cold. Our 18-24 degree houses are too cold for them. Their species is from a climate that’s like 29+ degrees. Same thing with dogs almost constantly panting. They’re too hot. They evolved from an arctic species that we domesticated shortly after the ice age. That’s also why most of them don’t mind playing in the snow, and want to stay outside when it’s cold. Their vibe is more 7-16 degrees for larger breeds. Our houses are slightly uncomfortable for our favorite pets."

[@phictionofgrandeur2387]

Saw this pop up in the middle of a Kirby video. Kirby and cats are both cute. As a cat person I will show this to any cat haters I encounter.

[@ThatCrazyPigeonGuy]

YESS DO IT. Cats are amazing, I love them.

[@paigejustneedstocope]

Plz tell me what Kirby video you were watching! I am also a Kirby enjoyer!

[@GoroAkechi_Real]

as someone who has a special interest in kirby and is snuggling my cat right now, you are one based person :]

[@NUMBR1_CHEEKYFAN]

oh my god . i never knew about the pose mimicking thing. THATS why my cat lays in that goofy ass position, she’s just trying to be like me! and i knew about the guard thing and love it. sometimes while im 8m in my closet getting dressed she will sit outside the door and watch. i love my girl. ily harley ur the best kitty ever

[@PlagueMoo]

i read the title as "Explosive Cat Behavior" and now im slightly disappointed

[@tyrrell203]

There's a board game about that

[@matiassanchez1362]

Have you watched a cat with diarrhea?

[@lzrshark617]

@@tyrrell203 And a card game I was introduced to via our writing club ('Exploding Kittens'). It's a lot of fun; basically the 'exploding kitten' card is an insta-kill, and your job is to try and pass it around other player's hands like a hot potato and not draw it yourself, or try and manipulate the situation to guarantee someone else draws it

[@uncroppedsoop]

me irl

[@TheRovingPunster]

It's only the kittens that explode

[@ladria9743]

I volunteer at an animal shelter, and many cats seem to enjoy eating more just because I'm in the cell with them. Also, one of my absolute favorites who has been in a new home for three months now used to slap me a lot - but always really politely with retracted claws. She didn't want to hurt me, she just wanted to say "Please, don't touch me right now". I learned to read her better - Whenever I slowblinked at her she gave me a kiss, coming onto my lap with her paws and touching my nose with her. Over the time we learned to read each other. One certain look of her and the slightest twitch of her paw, and I knew to stop petting her. But she also learned that I would listen to her. She often was just happy that someone was with her, purring the whole time I was with her - and when she stopped purring it was a sign for me to leave and give another cat attention. She was also the goofiest, silliest little thing, always playful and up to mischief. And one of the most beautiful cats I've ever known, a silver spotted british shorthair mix. She often seemed to smile at me. I hope her new family treats her as the princess she is - if there would have been any way for me to adopt her, I would have done it. But while I miss her I'm also very happy she has that new home. And whenever I go to my parents, my two girls are waiting for me, Maja and Lizzy, the best cats in the world.

[@sanga1380]

As someone who speaks both dog and cat. This is precious. I did not see anything about cats jumping up on you while you are laying down, whether you plan to sleep or not. From what I can tell is, if they lay down in a loaf while facing you, they are showing you affection while also knowing you will watch over them. If they stretch out and just lay on their side, they are watching over you. If you think your cat just collapsed/passed out/died randomly, while they are completely motionless. They have so much trust in you that they are willing to sleep completely without paying attention to anything. Note: I know the first one said the only thing about affection. But a cat sleeping on top of you is the affection.

[@cycloneabsol9405]

Love cats. Part of why I love cats is that while I know behaviorally that the "staring at your from across the room" thing is them being somewhat comfortable, I do think it's funny to imagine them plotting my demise. "Who's a cute little demon lord? that's right, you are!"

[@NedeogN]

i had dogs for most of my live, only having gotten two Kittens last year and having always loved all animals in equal measure i already learned how to treat cats and show them love, having caused those little rascals to love sleeping on my lap for hours, to the point my legs fell asleep

[@thanosdevito]

Understanding how cats think is key to earning their trust. There are very, very few cats that don't like me, and it's really not that hard as long as you're quiet and respectful.

[@Nobodyshere1105]

This is giving me, "Extroverts and Introverts are NOT the same. They express themselves differently!" Great video!

[@jennayaadain]

So I have a cat. She’s an old girl, 17 going on 18. I just thought to look up something that she’s been doing with my dad lately, which is burying her head in his belly… “She loves you, finds your scent comforting, feels safe with you (if she buries her head in your arm she can't see trouble coming, but trusts you'll keep her safe)”. It says arm, but I’m assuming that it applies to other spots, too.

[@soraya742]

Okay, now I need this post but for dogs instead, because dogs freak me out a little bit. I don’t really know how to interact with them? And they don’t always give me the personal space I need? I keep wanting to give them slow blinks from 10 feet away, or soft calm pets, or hang out in the same room not directly interacting, and for obvious not-being-a-cat reasons it doesn’t really work. Dogs-and babies-bamboozle my brain into going “error, interaction schema not found. Would you like to select the cat schema and slow blink?” Dogs do not know what slow blinks mean. If a baby ever understands the slow blink means it’ll be “oh no, I’ve socialized this baby to be a cat.” And I’ll have to hope that there aren’t a limited number of “language proficiency skillpoints” and that someone else helps this child learn human social skills. I quite literally have more luck with the agitated jaguar at the zoo than almost any dog I’ve met. 😭 We make eye contact for a moment while they’re pacing, I give them a slow blink, they give me a slow blink back, we gucci.

[@hoppybirdy6967]

Genuinely same though. For dogs, they usually accept the soft head scritches, but for babies... I once struggled to figure out how to affection with my baby cousin because, in the absence of cat ears to scritch him behind, I wasn't sure where and how to apply the affection. My aunt was very amused, but I can't remember if she taught me how to do affection with human babies.

[@azrealducain3123]

What does it mean when my cat exposes her belly and likes it if I rub my face up and down her fluffy belly and purrs while I do? She also loves it when I slowly rub my cheeks against hers and try to purr. She purrs back! She loves it when I rub my lips from the front of her head to the back of her head (feels like she's being groomed I guess?). She really like it when she's running from one end of the house to the other and I run alongside her as best I can without running into the furniture. She gives me walkies I guess? There's no time of day she wants attention more than right when I've just gotten out of the shower. She likes it when I gently step on her at that time and purrs like an engine (wtf?).

[@FaisLittleWhiteRaven]

The exposing of the belly means trust and if you can get away with rubbing it then 1) She LOVES you, and 2) she's got a high tolerance for tickles/touch on areas that most cats are more sensitive on. Cat zoomies are great XD And right after you shower... Guess she likes the smell of you being clean? Or she wants to re mark you with her scent (which btw tends to be an affectionate thing, rather than a possessive thing) and loves that you, yourself are willing to speed up the process while also giving her affection? Cute no matter what the reason though

[@renzaluski1385]

Some cats are just weird. We love them anyway.

[@Alchemyyyyyy]

Another thing about meows, maybe just this stray cat in particular, but he meows when I’m doing something he doesn’t like, such as petting him too hard, not petting him, and not sitting down to pet him.

[@risipieces]

3:53 made me actually tear up because one of my cats will never let me pet him for long because he keeps getting up to make biscuits on the other side of the couch, and i figured that this was like fidgeting and he was bored and just humouring me being clingy and tactile the same way that he seems disconcerted when i pick him up and smooch him but doesn’t mind as long as i put him back down fast enough. but no he loves it!!! he’s so happy!!! it’s 4:30am and i’m actually crying over this

[@ryliedillman7391]

As someone who only grew up with cats, I was utterly baffled the first time I went to a dog owner's house and they practically just slapped their dog's ass as a pat (the dog was delighted) So that's how I found out the average large dog is MUCH sturdier than the average cat lol

[@YanYanicantbelievethistakenffs]

"Look at this good boy" •SLAP• [Dog is deligthed] I love that for dogs. And i do something similar to my cat. "Ah the cat!" •SLAP ON THE BELLY• [Cat is a bit delighted] And lie on the floor next to her. She always jumps up for pats. Either that or she bites my ankle.

[@randykittelson2456]

I always like to explain cat love as trust. Cats express affection for each other and us by showing trust. Being the being they can let their guard down with is their highest form of affection.

[@do811]

That last one about cats watching the door while you game. My cat loafs on the back of the chair behind my head, conveniently in a spot where he can see the door behind the wall. I always thought he was just being cute so I used him as a pillow (lightly of course, and he is a very solid, pudgy cat so he’s a great pillow)

[@ghostkitten9264]

The earlier parts of this post explain why it bothers me so much that Disney dog-codes so many of their recent "animal sidekick" characters. Here's the timeline as I see it: child watches Tangled and Moana, sees the horse and the pig displaying dog behavior. Child assumes most animals follow this pattern. Child encounters cat. Child misinterprets cue to stop petting cat (swishing tail) as cue to continue. Cat lashes out at child. Child grows up believing cats are unpredictable and mean.

[@Wawawaeeewi]

OKAY THIS IS REALLY BITTERSWEET My family used to have a cat when i was young and he was OLD. Like, i think around 20 years. I don't remember much of him because i was maybe 5-6 when this happened, but the day we put him down, i was sitting with my mother in the office and we were having our last goodbyes, and he was headbutting the both of us like crazy. I now know why. I am devistated, even though i don't remember much of him, i do remember how quiet the house felt after we went home because i had lived my whole life hearing him meowing as loud as possible around the house because he always wanted affection from us. AGHH i wish i could pet him again, he was really fluffy :(

[@toganium4175]

Cats are perfectly aware of the mischief they cause.

[@usernametaken017]

especially when they piss on my fucking couch and DISAPPEAR FOR THE REST OF THE DAY these fuckers KNOW what the did

[@Timeskipper-g2n]

So basically cats think they're your comrade in arms. "Yeah bro, I've got your six, none of them tangos' getting through me".

[@SpyFoxB]

Of all the funny things I’ve seen people describe cats talking like there is an odd amount of joy I get from seeing an interpretation were they just casually are like “I am evolved for a desert I do not need to blink as much”

[@Soon2BVA]

I'm still trying to get it through my brother, sister, and dad's heads that "You can't scruff up the cat like you used to scruff up the dog! He doesn't like that!"

[@xerofelix7090]

My cat, Finn, comes up and meows at me until I get his attention, then blinks at me! He's imitating that fact that I did that with him and his siblings when I first started fostering him! It's sooooo cute! Like "I know you know what this means mommy! I interrupted what you were doing, just to say 'i love you' in cat language!" 😍

[@JadeD-n5d]

I had a dog that acted like a cat but didn't realize it until years after she had passed she was the chilliest dog I've ever met, my grandfather's cat decided that I was now hers she sits on my feet when I sleep and will let me pet her when I wake up but as soon as I get out of the bed she takes off like a bullet, Cats are weird and wonderful creatures

[@emiliaperkins]

Being raised with both Cats and Dogs lead me to have strange interpretations of both when I was young. They're both so loving but in very different ways lol 😂

[@MDSeeeger]

"mraow" < ultimate cat behavior

[@Shikaschima]

Okay, I hear you. But also "PrrrHBT?"

[@roryandbro1561]

Beat me to it >:[

[@MDSeeeger]

@roryandbro1561 sowwy

[@MDSeeeger]

@@Shikaschima oh yeah, good point, whoops

[@roryandbro1561]

@MDSeeeger it's ok :]

[@indigofenix00]

Apparently, I am a cat.

[@LashknifeTalon]

I've kind of actually gotten the impression canines are unusual in that rapid tail movement indicates pleasure for them. Cats indicate agitation by wagging their tails, snakes indicate general excitement (and usually not in a good way unless they're super horny) by shaking their tails, which is how rattlesnakes work. Seals will slap their tails when they're agitated or angry too. It feels like most animals with long tails move them around rapidly when they're not happy with their current situation.

[@vaughnhaney7020]

As a lifelong cat owner i only disagree about needing to pet cats gently. Strongly depends on the cat. Most cats I've known want you to be pretty rough in giving them scratchies (especially chin/jaw) and some of them really like being patted ("played like a bongo" my best friend puts it) Some cats are more sensitive though. Generally when meeting a new cat, I'm extremely careful and gentle, then as i get to know them i watch their body language carefully as i test the waters being more intense until either they show discomfort or any rougher is outside MY comfort zone lol

[@linneathesystemsdruid308]

My biggest flex (after getting a nervous rescue dog to sleep near me after only knowing her a weekend) is the time my cat and I took a nap together, we slept in the same position and everything, he used my arm as a pillow and stayed calm and content when I put my other arm over him and tucked him in too (Also right now this little fella is sitting with me again. )

[@brittanyd798]

I had a cat that almost literally from the day i got her would NOT leave my lap/ chest. She learned pretty quick to sit next to me in the morning. I didnt reluctantly move her like at night Her "brother" (not litter mate, just adopted at the same time) after a while started crwaling into my basket of folding in the middle of the living room and sleeping on his back facing me

[@n7a1g14]

One behavior I learned was a cat stealing your seat is because they love you. I realized this because my cat started stealing my desk chair all the time so I was like, alright, thats yours now, and took to sitting in a different seat. A few weeks later and thats the seat id find him in all the time. He just wanted to be in the places I was ToT

[@forgedabauditt9955]

Dr Dolittle coming in at the end

[@-rizen]

1:15 cat version of parallel play

[@ECRWriter]

Dogs are apex predators, horses are prey, and cats evolved to be both predator and prey--hence all the wariness/watching mixed with hunting/play-fighting behaviors.

[@end_slayer]

2:56 the reason why dog people don’t like cats is because there’s a whole song and dance that goes into interacting with them. Dogs just let your do whatever. I’m kind of neutral on the whole matter.

[@pelinalwhitestrake3367]

Oh yeah, my cat does indeed remember my patterns. He asks for food 1-5 minutes AFTER I get in bed to sleep. Almost every time!

[@Tarantio1983]

The best description of the feline-canine dichotomy that I've ever heard is: - Cats act like autistic people, they seem aluff but actually just socialise at arm's length! But dogs (particularly working breeds) act like ADHD folks, they bounce around in a scatterbrained and hyperactive way!

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

I kind of get a military vibe from cats. Like they show affection the same way two soldiers in the field might.

[@visiblehen]

i never knew i could love cats more than i already do

[@jamiehall1460]

That's why I love shibas, cat logic in a dog body. My mostly Shiba 30lbs mutt is very cat like and I basically treat her like a giant sturdy cat who could take me out at the knees when she does zoomies and tries to run into my legs butt first. I also got to be a cat lap at a shelter and the stray I was tasked with socializing seemed to trust me right off the bat. First day in my lap purring like it was the most normal thing other,older, cat laps had their jaw on the floor. To this day I wonder what made me special to that cat (who I would have adopted if I hadn't been 13 and my mom wasn't allergic)

[@40Kfrog]

Not on the list: don't reach towards a cat's face with an open hand. They'll see it as an attack. I've noticed lots of dog people do this to instigate play with their dogs, who seem to like it better. Instead, reach towards the cat with your hand pointed down and wait for them to get used to your hand before trying to pet. Also, the smell memory thing is real. I had a very skittish cat who would totally forget my look and sound while was away at college and freak out when I came home for the holidays. But all I had to do was get close enough that she could recognize my scent and it'd be like I'd never left. I miss her 😭😿

[@wun_zee3599]

iirc, cats communicate with each other thru scent and body language, so them meowing at us is like them lovingly yelling at us lol

[@arceusinsanity301]

One of the ways my family trains cats, is hands are for petting only, if they bite or scratch, you get up and leave them alone for a bit, they get the memo over time, and our cats are very loving and affectionate

[@OspreyMantis]

My cat has a daily routine of slapping me in the face to wake me up, headbutting me untill I give her love, and then making muffins (cat massage.), step four is repeat

[@klltsun_2576]

I remember a video of two cats on a stand off, then a puppy came happily, probably thinking the cats were playing cause of the wagging tail, then got smacked instead. I wondered whether dog people (who dont know) are like the puppy thinking a cat wagging its tail is a good thing, and waited for the tail fact to show up in the vid lol

[@bethanyandcloe3589]

Oh my gosh thank you for interpreting some cats behavior we have a cat named bandito that does some of these behaviors that means I don’t like the way your petting me and I always interpreted it as stop petting me I want to go to sleep but I never suspected that she just didn’t like how I was petting her so now knowing this is gonna be helpful because while she isn’t my cat she still likes to sit on my lap sometimes and so I try to pet her and she will look at me seemingly annoyed and swat my hand away and even try to bite my hand so i just don’t pet her and then she ends up leaving this is very helpful knowledge for me thank you so much for explaining this

[@jep9092]

Thanks for posting this. As someone who grew up around cats and dogs my whole life, I cant find a way to articulate cat behavior. I just know. Sending this to my fiance who didnt grow up around cats so he can better understand our Mocha and Coffee Bean

[@NunyaBizniz-om6xf]

Suddenly it makes more sense why the cat my family adopted liked sleeping with me but only slept near my legs. probably something with not seeing the room well or even with them trying to protect my feet? yeah? anyway, im glad she enjoyed that. caught her sleeping on my computer one day lol.

[@chanterellecryptid]

Some cats (like mine) absolutely love a firm pet and a belly rub, even from people he's just been introduced to. All cats have their own boundaries!

[@Lois-u1x]

Guys... I think i'm a cat

[@TheJschulter]

I's finally clicked why so many people generalize dogs as male-coded and cats as female-coded! So many of these behaviors match with general communication styles of the two. Staring from across the room to convey affection as compared to just trying to lick your face is just the most obvious one, for example.

[@TinnaMinor]

Yeah. Cat has food anxiety after growing up in an outdoor colony. She will only start eating if she sees/feels one of my legs close by. Will also trust two of my roommates but she doesn't have as much access to them, so she won't ask them to be on guard duty. Instead she'll wait by the door for me to get home. Then she will scream at me, escort me to her food bowl, and only then start eating the food roommates placed nearly 2 hours ago.

[@conspiracypanda1200]

Dog: I am going to look at you at all times to show that I am paying attention to you! Cat: I am going to close my eyes at you to show I trust you enough to be near me when I cannot see and am therefore vulnerable, even though you are very, very large and could easily hurt me.

[@lou-cidmire3065]

When I was a kid I would watch "the Wild Thornberries" with such envy because I really wished I could talk to animals - after living around cats for 30 years, I realize that we *can* "talk" to each other -- If we just meet them halfway and learn some of their language, as they learn some of ours. 😄

[@TheLastDigitalDragon]

I am a dog person. Mostly because I am highly allergic to cats. But also because I find it easier to read dogs. But I am always respectful to cats. And in my time this has led to many a visit at friends houses with shy and traumatized cats, where I was told I would not need my allergy medication as the cats would never come out with me around, only for me to be swollen like a balloon two hours after because the cats felt safe with me. Because I left them alone, recognized that they are there and was very gentle, slow and deliberate in my movements and voice.

[@hrpang]

There's a netflix documentary on Cat behaviour that I love because it reminded me that Cats evolved from prey animals. They were still predators yes, but they were also prey and vulnerable to stronger and faster predators like early dogs. So they either grew bigger, faster or climbed higher to escape predators and to also chase their prey. But the wary instinct of prey never really went away, especially in the cat that we humans would eventually adopt as Felis Catus, the domestic house cat.

[@beansworth5694]

One thing with understanding how pets interact with their people that really complicates things is that they probably pick up on human behavior and try to imitate it in ways that are unpredictable and unnatural to their usual body language. It's unpredictable because not every individual will pick up on the same behaviors or come to understand a same meaning, or even notice the same things. Just like human children they all have very different life experiences and developmental history regarding their dominant caregivers, and like neurodivergent kids they're working off of very different mental structures than that of everyone else around them. There's probably a standardizing effect if cats or any other pet has the opportunity to be extensively socialized with animals of the same species, though, since their instinctual behaviors are more likely to be responded to in a way that's more naturally expected and therefore they'll have a more consistent foundation to build upon when interacting with humans.

[@xeldrine66]

Also, if a cat is not busy and comes when you call their name, they REALLY trust you.

[@PotatoWithALaptop]

Here is the thing I’m a dog and a cat person I have had both and love both. They are very different yet still very amazing pets.

[@AlsoMeowskivich]

cat's don't always "pretend" to watch tv. sometimes they'll bat at things they find interesting on the screen too.

[@Lady_Brown_99]

It's also fun to act like cats are evil and make jokes about it, while also knowing this information.

[@swordsmancs]

Cats are absolute _sweethearts_ and I love them so, so, so much. My cat will often sleep near me, either at my feet or, if there’s enough room, right in my arms, sometimes facing me but usually with his back to me. Sometimes I’ll be lounging on the couch watching some tv or whatever and he’ll just come on over and curl up on my leg and sleep, sometimes he’ll sit on top of the couch or chair I’m in, sometimes when I’m gaming he’ll get my attention, let me pick him up and cradle him like a baby (I of course let him up when he’s had enough) then he’ll loaf in my lap and sleep while I keep gaming He’s my best buddy and the sweetest little thing, I’d kill the world for him

[@Somerandomjingleberry]

What I’ve always heard is “dogs show love through affection, cats show love through vulnerability”. Or “dogs socialize kind of like ADD people, cats socialize kind of like autistic people”, which as someone with diagnosed autism as well as some ADD tendencies… yeah, I see it so much. If there’s a similar dog thread, you should do it. Misconceptions about “mangy mutts” as oafish or even outright destructive also need some demystifying in our world, too. Also also! Cats and dogs aren’t even “inherent enemies” or anything, at least by default; some of it may be their different social tendencies clashing, but a lot of it is just projecting the pet popularity contest onto them. Also also also!!! There’s a video or two out there of a cat acting very doglike due to being raised by dogs, indicating an element of nurture to all of this! Really the “thumbless preschooler who is very much self aware even if not sharing your version of common sense” talk fits so much.

[@MakriaMicronation]

Cats are nice because they don't demand walks and don't eat all their food in one go. They just chill. They sleep, they hunt, they are good pest control for flies and roaches. Sometimes they wanna chill in your lap, other times they wanna f off and eat birds in the backyard for 6 hours.

[@BonaparteBardithion]

Depends on the cat. We had one that would walk up and down the block with us, he loved walks. And we have another one that demands I observe a strict bedtime with her (which I often ignore). Some of them can be quite demanding of your time. As for food, I've heard cats that get fed at certain times are more likely to eat everything in that one sitting as opposed to leaving a bowl out for grazing throughout the day.

[@avibingplaylist6381]

My cat has a kind of friendly relationship with my dad because he treats him like a dog a lot of the time. My cat mostly hates, and is very vocal about it when my mom or I are home, but I also think that he secretly enjoys the attention because any time I catch them interacting when my mom or I aren't around my cat is affectionate as ever.

[@enolp]

I love this from an autistic perspective. As an autistic person I like to view dogs as the allistic ones (not autistic) and cats as the autistic ones. Cats get so misunderstood because of the different ways they think about things and how they react when having fun, hanging out, or are getting overstimulated and need to release the restless energy. All the signs that they trust you that go over the head of the people that don't understand and what people naturally want to do, not intending to break that trust but doing exactly that. The language that takes time and care to understand that is just different than what dog people are used to. Parallel play and mimicking. Giving space as a sign of respect and care. It just makes sense to me to think of it like that

[@jhulpthefox]

Yeah, I live with two dogs and six cats rn, and I've lived with dogs and cats my whole life. The thing is, now I also watch some of my siblings' kids sometimes, and my oldest brother's kids doesn't get animal memos a lot of the time, despite having cats at their house. He has three kids, and the youngest in particular kept invading cat's personal space, and running up and after them. After nothing else working, I decided to show him how that felt, but suddenly running up to him dn getting in his personal space when he wasn't feeling playful, and afterwards I talked him through his feelings and that was how that cats felt, but on an even bigger scale. Ever since then, even though he isn't the best with animals, there's been a noticeable improvement. It's also kinda funny to note that he was/kinda still is scared of one of our cats called Casper(a black cat) because Casper has little-to-no patience and let's you know where you are with him. And while other cats warn you, run away, give you a warning swipe, Casper will kind meow-growl at you a few times if you've done something he doesn't like, and he will leave if you don't heed his warning, very madly too, but this kid must've tried to pick him up(he can't pick them up very well) and pushed instead of just not heeding his warning, because he got full-on scratched. Casper's a big cat too, so picking him up like the kid does(where you don't support any legs and kind around their midsection, closee to their front legs, both arms circling the body) well, holding him like that would be even worse, especially since I imagine it would be harder for him to get out of the hold than other, more agile cats. Casper sounds mean when he meows too. He just has a mean-sounding meow, with limited patience and we kinda call him a diva, because while the other cats have collars too, he will be extremely mean to anyone and everyone if he doesn't have a collar on, and it needs to have a sparkly bit too. Lol. Oh! Right! Back to the point. Whenever the kids complain about something the animals are doing that isn't harming them or anything, I tell them that the animals live here, and they don't. That means that yes, you can just kick the dog off his spot, he was there first, and that's a dog toy, you can play with it, but only when he isn't. We have a whole toy chest for the kids too so, yknow. Also, we let the dogs on the couch as well, and the cats aren't supposed to be on the counter and table, but we only usually enforce that during dinner time.

[@evaahallows1102]

Dog moods are easy to read by the tail, cat moods are easy to read by the ears. A frightened or aggressive cat will pin their ears back. Do not approach. They will go for blood if they feel trapped and threatened. A playful cat will have their ears forward and up. This is play mode. Approach at your own risk but it might be safer to grab a toy for them instead. Ears relaxed or facing out means chilling and happy. Ears flicking frequently means annoyance if the tail also starts really swishing, stop petting. They are overstimulated and will probably start attacking if you don’t leave them alone. Most cats understand the difference between gently correcting someone with teeth/suggestion of claws and actually trying to hurt them, but not all. So if a cat suddenly bites you while petting but doesn’t bite very hard, they aren’t saying ATTACK, they’re just trying to communicate that they want you to stop. (If you want to teach them to be more gentle, anytime they hurt you, cry out in pain and then ignore them/walk away. Cats don’t understand negative reinforcement, yelling or hitting just makes them not trust you and be more likely to be aggressive in the future because they see you as a threat they have to defend themselves against.)

[@werewolferror5593]

I woke up this morning to my cat coming up to me laying on my chest and then starting to groom my face it was adorable I felt so bad because I needed to get up to get food but I sat there for like a good 30-40 minutes before my stomach said no food now

[@yvlnt]

I have had dogs my entire life and just got a cat a month ago. This was very helpful.