Common Cat Behaviors and What They Mean

Cats and kittens do a lot of things that may not make sense to humans. I have had cats for over 35 years, and will break it down for you.

Making biscuits or needing — When kittens are nursing they get milk flowing from their Mom by pushing their paws back and forth on her underside, one paw then the other. Typically they also expand and contract their paws and individual digits. Your kitty might do this on a soft place, like a bed, a pillow, or on you! This is very sweet and shows that your kitty sees you as Mom or Dad. You can trim their nails if they go into skin or just get a thick blanket. Feel free to softly pet your kitty while she/he is making biscuits.

Biting your hair — I have only had one cat do this over 35 years, but if a cat sits on the back of the sofa and starts biting your hair, it is mothering you. This may be uncomfortable, so you may want to transition to petting your kitty. Congratulations, your kitty loves you!

Cats only meow at humans — If your cat is meowing, it’s talking to you, not another cat. Feral cats, for example, grow up without humans and don’t meow (but they may learn to squeak if brought into a home). You will need to determine what your cat is trying to say. You will see patterns in their behavior — kitty may meow in the morning to be fed for example, or meow to go in or out of a door.