5 Signs Your Indoor Cat is Still Wild at Heart

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Cats are adorable! They're small. They're round. They're fluffy. And they're also pretty much hardwired to be tiny killing machines. As tame and trained as our domestic feline friends may seem, there is no denying that they still have a wild side. Domestic cats are still driven by their natural instincts, passed down for generations from their wild ancestors. Even though our friendly balls of fluff have never actually hunted in the jungles or stalked the deserts of Africa, those wild instincts are still present in our cats today -- and these instincts help explain common cat behaviors that baffle us humans

1. Hunting Prey

Cats are hardwired to hunt and stalk prey, even if they have food available to them every day. In fact, hunting and stalking help keep your cat’s mind and body strong and healthy in an environment that can easily become unstimulating and boring to a cat. 

For ideas about how to activate your cat’s hunting instincts, consider toys that imitate the movements of real prey. And if your cat has a really high prey drive, they might need some mental stimulation even when you aren’t home to play. Check out these battery-operated toys or consider adding a food puzzle into their meal routine.

 

2. Marking Territory

Your cat isn’t scratching the arm of your sofa out of a wanton desire for destruction. Believe it or not, cats actually scratch as a form of communication to other cats – and us humans, if we know how to read cat. By leaving a visual mark on visible areas of the house (the ends of couches or chairs, for instance), your cat is letting anyone and everyone know that a cat lives here and that this is their territory. If your cat is a problem scratcher, here are some great solutions

Cat paws also have hidden scent glands, and they use these secret scent glands to mark their territory. Besides the visual markers that scratching a post or chair leaves, every time your cat scratches, she is also leaving behind her scent -- effectively claiming it as her turf. These pheromones are pretty much undetectable to our human noses, but other cats or animals in the home will be able to sniff out that message loud and clear: This is MY house!

3. Fresh Is Best

Does your cat prefer fresh, running water to their water bowl? Do they come running anytime you turn on the sink? Your cat's instincts might be telling them that an old, stagnant bowl of water could be contaminated and unhealthy to drink. 

Most of us also naturally place our cat's food and water bowls next to each other. But this placement can actually go against a cat's natural instinct to keep food and water separate. In the wild, cats will often go to great measures to keep their food and water sources separate to avoid having the food contaminate the water.

Try a circulating water fountain designed for cats that prefer running water to encourage your cat to drink more - without you having to leave the faucet running! 

4. Scent Marking

Have you ever wondered why your cat rubs their face on the edges of furniture, walls, or even your foot? Cats have scent glands on their face and the base of their tail. When they push their head onto your hands or feet, they're scent-marking you, letting the whole world know (in their own secret, pheromone-encrypted way) that you belong to them. 

5. Seeking Height

Perching helps cats stay safe from predators while they keep a close eye on their surroundings and potential prey. Even cats who don’t live with other animals (potential predators) or have regular access to live prey have an innate desire to perch high. If you have a cat who prefers to perch up high, consider installing cat wall shelves or offering a sheltered cat tree from which to perch.

Is your cat wild at heart? Let us know in the comments!


4 comments


  • Sharon

    I have a 1 year old male cat who bites me all the time and uses the sneak attack method.


  • Rose

    Mine bites me all the time


  • Ren

    Mine is part burglar. He opens cabinets, drawers, doors, and whatever else he can get his paws on.


  • Faye Adams

    We have a kitty now that loves to head butt me especially at night as I am trying to sleep and in the morning before I get up. I figured it was a sign of affection, maybe of his maintaining control over his situation. In other words, he is letting me know that he has the upper paw!


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