MillenniumPost
Insight

Cats & their quirks

Some love them to bits and some can’t stand them at all - cats can be extremely caring and supportive pets but of course, they do have their own quirks that adds to their cuteness

Why do cats wiggle their bottoms before they pounce ?

Yes, cats crouch, do a bottom wiggle and then pounce. While there has been no scientific study on this, the obvious answer is that it gives the cat more traction to prepare its muscles, push itself forward and jump. The wiggling loosens and stretches the muscles a bit. Look at what human athletes do when they need to jump. But the wiggle could also be because they are excited by the thrill of jumping at a prey. After all, cats are still wild. Domesticated cats aren't alone in this behaviour; wild cats — yes, even big cats such as lions, tigers and jaguars — shake their behinds before striking.

Why Do Cats Like Boxes?

For pet cats, all the toys in the world can't compare to a simple cardboard box. Cats are drawn to boxes and other enclosed objects, including bags, laundry baskets, suitcases and backpacks.

Seeking out confined spaces is an instinctual behaviour. In the wild, these areas allow the animals to both hide from predators and surreptitiously stalk prey. Such hiding spaces allow them to watch the world around them without being seen. And, if something they want passes by, they can dash out to get the object and then quickly return to its safety spot. Boxes also provide cats with a cosy, safe place to sleep, which is very important given that the felines sleep for up to 20 hours a day.

Why Do Cats Stretch So Much?

Cats are constantly stretching their muscles because it feels good and increases blood flow. Cats sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day, about twice as much as people do. When humans sleep, the brain paralyzes most of the body's muscles. The same thing happens to cats during catnaps. Once the cat wakes up, the stretching begins to get their muscles moving again. When a cat is sleeping, or relaxed, its blood pressure drops. Stretching can help to reverse that. This increases the amount of blood flowing to the muscles and also to the brain. This helps to wake the cat up and make it more

alert. As the muscles start moving with each stretch, they also flush out the toxins and waste by-products that build up during periods of inactivity. Stretching readies the muscles for activity so that it can hunt.

Why is my cat afraid of water?

The domesticated cat is the descendant of felines that typically live in dry arid areas. They have never learned to swim because there was no evolutionary need for it. Cats have an undercoat which does not dry easily . Its like wearing a wet t-shirt for hours, making it hard for them to dry themselves. Also because cats have sensitive noses it's possible your cat doesn't like the scent of chemicals from tap water.

Views expressed and information provided are personal. Send your questions to manekaanimallove@gmail.com

Next Story
Share it