Good place for learning about kitties?

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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I'm looking for a site that can describe kitty behavior.

Such as:

1) Leaving you a present
2) Rubbing their chin on you
3) Rubbing the top of their head on you
4) Making biscuits/kneading/makin' cakes, etc
5) shivering their tails to greet you
6) showing their belly
7) licking

any theories?

I thought "making cakes" came from kittenhood where they are telling mom "hey, make some milk for us"
Leaving you a present is "hey, I got some grub for us! Want me to play with it more or would you like to kill it?"

shivering their tails may be "man I'd really love to spray you but your chopped off my boys. So this is the best I can do."

rubbing chin means "you don't smell right, let me mark you so that you do."

Just curious or would like to hear ponderings from cat owners.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
I thought "making cakes" came from kittenhood where they are telling mom "hey, make some milk for us"
Leaving you a present is "hey, I got some grub for us! Want me to play with it more or would you like to kill it?"

shivering their tails may be "man I'd really love to spray you but your chopped off my boys. So this is the best I can do."

rubbing chin means "you don't smell right, let me mark you so that you do."
Just curious or would like to hear ponderings from cat owners.
Click to expand...

hahhaa

i love your explanations... and as funny as they are I'b be willing to be they are at least mostly correct or on the path towards true-edness. :)
 
R

rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,475
1
0
Rubbing against you is a sign of affection in felines, it's also how they greet each other. The kneading thing is a nursing thing, presents are again signs of affection and sharing (fairly common in felines when food is abundant).
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
I've heard it called "kneading" many times, but never "making biscuits" or "making cakes".
 
M

MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
KittySpeak, by M4H:

1) Leaving you a present
"I :heart: you. Here's a present."

2) Rubbing their chin on you
"Scratch underneath my jaw, it feels good."

3) Rubbing the top of their head on you
"Now you smell like me, so other cats won't try to steal my meal ticket."

4) Making biscuits/kneading/makin' cakes, etc
"You're soft, fuzzy (sweater) and squishy (flesh) - I want to knead you to form a comfy pillow."

5) shivering their tails to greet you
"I want to play with you. And by play, I mean bite and claw."

6) showing their belly
"Pet me. In return I'll bite you."

7) licking
"Something you've been eating tastes good" or "I just bit you as a sign of affection, and now I'm kissing it better in the same thread."

This session sponsored by Teh KittAy.

- M4H
 
L

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
I've heard it as 'making pizza', but also kneading... but pretty much it's like what you do to dough.
 
K

KarenMarie

Elite Member
Sep 20, 2003
14,372
6
81
Originally posted by: MazerRackham
I always thought they did it because they were weaned too early. I am sure I'm wrong though.
Click to expand...

I used to think so too... but I have a mom with two grown kids who do it. I also have a few that were abandon while still nursing that have never done that. Now, I have no idea why they do it, except I guess it is like sucking a thumb... some kids get a security feeling from it and others dont.

I believe that cats bring home dead animals to tell the humans that they own..."you are too stupid to fend for yourself, and I love you, so here is some food".

Many people believe that they rub against you to leave their scent. I have seen a remarkable difference in the rubbings when they are marking territory and when they are loving you... they look totally different.



This seems to be a decent site.

:)
 
M

MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
Originally posted by: MazerRackham
I always thought they did it because they were weaned too early. I am sure I'm wrong though.
Click to expand...

Correct. That causes wool-sucking, which some cats do anyways. Wool is soft and feels to them like the mother's fur, which is why Kitty may suddenly decide to lunch on your stomach and purr heartedly. :p

- M4H
 
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spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: rahvin
Rubbing against you is a sign of affection in felines, it's also how they greet each other. The kneading thing is a nursing thing, presents are again signs of affection and sharing (fairly common in felines when food is abundant).
Click to expand...

well I also hear that there is a difference between "loving on you" and "I'm scenting you"...something to do with the difference between chin/jaw (scent glands are there I belive) and top of head.
 
Queasy

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
Nothing like having two cats who are in constant competition over whose scent gets put on me by rubbing their heads against my chin....
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: Queasy
Nothing like having two cats who are in constant competition over whose scent gets put on me by rubbing their heads against my chin....
Click to expand...

well, that's what I'm wondering.

what is the difference between "I love you" and "you don't smell right?"

Because spooky can literally knock you over with rubbing his head on you.

And when he gets really into it his rear leg starts shaking and scratching uncontrollably, similar to a dog when you "scratch his spot".

Eyes rolling back in his head, etc. So he must be marking?
 
L

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: Queasy
Nothing like having two cats who are in constant competition over whose scent gets put on me by rubbing their heads against my chin....
Click to expand...

well, that's what I'm wondering.

what is the difference between "I love you" and "you don't smell right?"

Because spooky can literally knock you over with rubbing his head on you.

And when he gets really into it his rear leg starts shaking and scratching uncontrollably, similar to a dog when you "scratch his spot".

Eyes rolling back in his head, etc. So he must be marking?
Click to expand...

One has purring and the other doesn't.
 
Vic

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
My opinions as a lifelong cat person:

1) it's just a present, and they're hoping you'll reward them
2) scent marking/sign of affection
3) same as #2
4) cats knead the exact same way when nursing from their mothers as kittens. I'm convinced that even the oldest cats are able to remember all the way back to being born, and that being with their mother nursing is (to them) a treasured memory of love and security. "Back to the womb" kind of thing.
5) neutered male cat? probably "pretend" spraying.
6) submitting to your dominance, i.e. telling you that you are the "alpha cat". Contrary to popular belief, feral cats are actually social animals that live in large (but somewhat informal) groups, with a lot of fighting for male hierarchy.
7) licking themselves or licking you? Licking themselves to clean themselves comes from hunting in the wild. If they still stank like their last meal, then they could never catch more prey. Cat saliva contain enzymes to clean up blood off their fur. Licking you is a sign of affection.



Spidey, cool cats :)
 
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