Most of our blog is dog-focused, so we thought that we’d answer a few common cat questions!
Why do cats rub around their owners’ legs?
A cat lives in a world where smell is vitally important. All creatures within its social group, as well as objects, will be anointed with its unique smell using scent glands in its face, body and tail. When your cat rubs around your legs to greet you it is doing the same as it would in greeting another cat by mutual rubbing of the face and body.
As your face is a little too far away your cat will use your leg. Some cats really try to make the effort and stand on their hind legs to attempt a headbutt on a body part as near to their owner’s face as they can manage. Once you have been suitably rubbed your cat will then take himself off to groom his body and check out your scent.
Why are non-cat people so attractive to cats?
It’s all about body language. When a cat enters a room all the cat lovers start staring at it, they often move towards it, extend their hands and make noises.
The non-cat person, on the other hand, may try to make themselves as invisible as possible so the cat does not jump on them. This person is likely to sit extremely still, look down and away from the cat, keeping their hands on their lap and maintaining absolute silence. The cat finds this latter display of body language far less threatening so may well move towards the ‘non-cat’ person to explore further!
Why do cats purr?
Purring is an extraordinary sound and it isn’t exactly clear how cats do it. Not only domestic cats purr - many of the larger members of the cat family can also generate this vibration.
The behaviour stems from kittenhood, as the mother returns to the den and quietly signals (to avoid attracting attention from predators) that all is OK by purring to her kittens, they, in turn, suckle and purr at the same time.
Cats will also purr when they are sick or injured; there are various theories for this – the frequency of the purr in sick animals differs from the healthy purr and it may have healing properties or it may be self-soothing when the cat feels at its most vulnerable.
Keeping your cat safe at Christmas
Cats love mischief! This means that you’ll find them playing with the Christmas tree, the decorations and the tinsel – try to make sure that they don’t play with tinsel in case it’s swallowed. Also, keep them away from poinsettias and lilies as these are poisonous to cats.
Finally, at this time of year make sure that your car antifreeze is locked away where the cat can’t get to it: antifreeze is highly poisonous to cats.
If you have any concerns, please call us on (01) 5392677 or email us at clonskeaghvets@gmail.com
By Dr. Steve Hallahan MVB PgCertDent MRCVS @drstevethevet@gmail.com
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