ASK THE EXPERTS WITH CODY
up in the middle of night and give your cat some attention for his craziness, he’ll consider this a reward for his behavior and continue it.
Sitting On Your Computer. When your computer is on, it can feel like a nice, warm heating pad for your furry companion. “Plus, it’s hard to ignore a cat when she’s sitting on the keyboard, and she’ll quickly learn that by sitting there, Mom is more likely to give her attention,” says Dr. Miller.
Raising Their Haunches. That upfront reaction to backside rubbing may be a reflex action – much like a dog’s leg pumping when his belly is scratched or rubbed, says Dr. Miller. “Perhaps it tickles or feels good because it’s a place that’s hard for them to reach themselves.”
Rubbing Their Faces on Things.
Remember, scent is important to cats – and with special scent glands on their face (among other locations), they “mark” people and items as their “property” as an identifier to other felines. “It’s also a sign of calm for your cat to feel that she’s at home with the group,” says Dr. Miller. “Sharing her scent by rubbing her face on things is like wearing a Jersey. It’s like decorating the house with her scent.”
Laying in the Sink or Bathtub. On hot days, this might result from your cat seeking a cool place. But it could also be something in the water. “I don’t have
evidence to back it up,” says Dr. Miller, “but my suspicion is that there is an earthy smell that comes from the drain pipes that can attract cats. Of course, cats can also learn that water comes from the faucet, and they like to drink from the dripping faucet.”
Switching His Tail Back and Forth. Usually this is a warning behavior, says Dr. Miller. “For cats, this primarily happens when they are agitated, and they’re warning someone to stop doing something. It could also happen when your cat is extremely interested in something, but that often manifests itself more as a twitching of the tail than a wagging.”
“but my suspicion is that there is an earthy smell that comes from the drain pipes that can attract cats."