Rita noted that a cat's behavior can be dependent on their breed as well. "We often get people who assume a cat is a cat. Then they adopt a beautiful Bengal because they are so pretty! If they aren't prepared for a cat this close to his wild roots, the cat destroys their home because Bengals are a super high energy breed who need lots of stimulation," the expert explained. "So it is wise to know as much as you can about the breed before adopting."
Rita also wants cat owners to understand their specific kitty's behavior. "If your normally social cat is isolating, or your normally isolating cat is meowing at you constantly, they might need a vet visit," she says. "Cats who normally inhale their food but are suddenly turning to grazers or grazers who are wolfing their food down... Alarm bells! Any behavior change is cause for concern and investigation."
When it comes to understanding a new cat, Rita encourages anyone who is adopting to get as much info about the cat's past as possible. "If this cat has been through trauma or was out on the streets, they will carry that with them, just as we carry trauma from years past," she explained.
"Also, Google can be your friend here. Don't ask for medical advice but, for example, a client wrote in and said his cat was sucking on a blanket and drooling while kneading. Now that's purrrrfectly okay and is common," Rita says. "I would bet that cat got separated from mom too soon and didn't get it all out. But this human had never seen it before, so it was odd. A quick Google for 'is it normal for cats to suck on blankets' will show you it is actually quite common."
"Weird behavior can be a physical condition, but it can also be behavioral," Rita told Bored Panda. "Vet check first, and then if it's an issue, contact a behaviorist. A lot of weirdness comes from cats being bored and needing more enrichment. Just ask Linda's cat who got stuck in the chimney," Rita added with a smile. "If that cat isn't kept occupied, he is a menace!"
If you'd like to gain more guidance about taking care of cats from Rita, Linda and the rest of the Cat Behavior Alliance team, be sure to visit their website!
We hope you're enjoying scrolling through all of these silly and adorable pics of kitties, pandas. Keep upvoting the ones that you find most hilarious, and let us know in the comments if your cats have ever done anything that made you think they were malfunctioning. And if you're interested in seeing even more of these pics, you can check out Bored Panda's last article featuring the same subreddit right here!
#36 He Wasn’t Cleaning Himself. He Wasn’t Doing Anything. He Was Just Sitting Like This When I Came Back To My Room
