Our precious furballs have a knack for melting our hearts… but also for getting on our nerves. They sometimes bite us for no reason, sleep on our faces, hide, meow at indecent hours… but we love them in spite of it all. Do you suspect your cat is deliberately giving you a hard time? Find out why, and how to keep calm.
1. Sleeping on our heads
Does your cat love to snuggle up to your head while you sleep? It’s adorable, but it can quickly become embarrassing. Nobody likes hair on their face and snoring. But cats love to sleep on top of us: they’re attracted by our warmth and reassured by our smell. Your head is therefore the ideal place to sleep. What’s more, this behavior reflects a deep attachment to you. So, even if it wakes you up in the middle of the night, take it as a sign of affection.
2. Meowing at 5 a.m.
Early-morning alarm clocks produced by a hungry or attention-seeking cat are a classic. The little monsters always act at first light, before your alarm goes off. Why on earth do they always meow at dawn? It’s their natural hunting instinct: dawn is the ideal time to stalk prey. Always make sure your cat’s bowl is full before you go to bed, to avoid waking up at the crack of dawn. Unfortunately, we’re not going to lie to you: if your cat is used to waking you up very early, it’s likely to continue to do so, even on a full stomach.
3. Trophy report on the carpet
Cats that bring birds or mice into the house don’t do it to annoy you. This behavior stems from their hunting instinct. By offering you their “catch”, they think they’re sharing a precious booty with you. And yes: every corpse is a gift, a token of deep affection. So don’t scold your little feline, who won’t understand your displeasure at all. Some experts in animal psychology also claim that it’s a form of teaching: your cat is showing you how to “survive”. What kindness!
4. Attack us when we stroke them too much
You’re cuddling your cat and everything seems perfect. He’s purring, squirming with pleasure, eyes closed. Suddenly, he turns around. To lick you? No, to bite you. Why would he do that? Cats have a well-defined limit when it comes to petting. This behavior is linked to over-stimulation of your cat’s nerves. The receptors at the base of his fur become hyper-sensitive when you stroke him “too much”. Learn to read the signals: a rapidly wagging tail, swiveling ears or insistent gaze… This means: “Stop, thank you!
5. Clawing at our furniture
Clawing is a natural need for cats. It allows them to mark their territory and maintain their claws, so they don’t get too long and stay sharp. Sofas and carpets are the preferred victims of cats, who appreciate their texture. Invest in scratching posts and place them strategically to save your furniture. There are scratching posts that can be stuck to the corners of sofas to prevent damage. They’re not very aesthetic, but they’re effective.
6. Intentionally spilling objects
Your cat jumps up on the table and slowly pushes your glass of water away. He then slides under the Christmas tree and springs up, taking baubles and tinsel with him (a way of asking for a little present at the foot of the tree? Link to Christmas gift articles). He leaps onto your sideboard and mows down your favorite vase. Is he provoking you? Perhaps, but it’s more likely that he’s seeking your attention or simply playing. Cats love to observe the consequences of their actions, no matter how terrible they may seem to you. If, every time your cat spills something, you react, he’s likely to see it as a game and do it again. Ignore him or secure your fragile objects to limit breakage.
7. Trample on our belly (with their claws!)
Cats that paw your belly or legs sometimes dig their claws deep into your skin or clothes. This behavior goes back to their childhood: kittens knead their mother to stimulate milk production. In adulthood, it becomes a sign of happiness. If this bothers you, place a blanket between you and kitty’s sharp claws to avoid the pain.
8. Fit into any box
You receive a parcel, unpack the contents… and your cat jumps into the box. But why this obsession with packaging? Simply because boxes give cats a sense of security. They allow them to hide and feel protected. They’re also an ideal place to keep an eye on their surroundings “discreetly”. So, even if it takes up space in your living room, let matou enjoy his super cardboard hut for a few hours.
9. Refuse to drink from their bowl
Some cats prefer to drink elsewhere than in their food bowl: from the tap, in an abandoned glass or even in puddles. This behavior is instinctive. In the wild, feral cats avoidstagnant water, which can contain bacteria and make them sick. Running water, like that from a tap, seems safer for them. Glasses, on the other hand, are safe to drink from. Puddles… are attractive to domestic cats, paradoxically. Investing ina cat water fountain can solve this problem and help your cat to indulge its proud, wild cat ways.
10. Hiding in the most unlikely places
“Oh no! The cat’s disappeared! It ran away *laughs* ! Ah…no. He was just hiding in the cupboard. But why didn’t he answer when I called him? Come here, you little rascal, have a treat, Mummy was really scared.” Does your cat disappear for hours at a time, only to be found in a closet or under your bed? In the wild, cats look for safe places to sleep or rest undisturbed. This gives them a sense of security. To prevent him from getting trapped, leavea few accessible areas where he can hide without risk. You can also offer him a hut-type basket or a cat tree to help him hide. Finally, if your cat doesn’t deign to show himself, pull out the ultimate weapon: his kibble packet, shaken noisily, will conjure up the missing cat’s whiskers in no time.
Cats are cute and annoying at the same time. We hope our article has helped you understand their behavior, which isn’t all that irrational after all. Be tolerant with your cat: even if he’s annoying, he’s not deliberately trying to annoy you, despite appearances.
