Your Cat’s Weird Habits May Be Explained By Science

Or maybe they’re just weird…

Harper Lee/ Photo Courtesy of the Author

I’ve been a cat mom for most of my life. Through the years, I’ve paid close attention to my feline companions’ daily habits and even closer attention to their many quirks. During my time with various felines, I’ve witnessed some weird things.

As I look into these weird habits, I realize many of their habits are rooted in science.

Running from the litterbox

For instance, my cat, Harper Lee occasionally runs from the laundry room after she does her business in the litterbox leaving kitty litter and little nuggets in her wake. It can get quite messy if I don’t stay on top of it.

Several theories exist about why cats do this after they use the litterbox. Some cats may have medical problems, such as a urinary tract infection or constipation.

Other theories suggest that it’s a way for them to show their independence — they no longer need their momma cat to clean them. They can do that themselves.

There’s the theory that animals in the wild do this as defecating leaves a scent and could attract predators. They run to get away from it and potential predators. The only predator in my second-floor condo that Harper may encounter is the vacuum. So, who knows if that’s the reason?

I believe it’s because she feels better and wants to celebrate. But who really knows?

Pawing the water dish

Harper’s not the only cat with a weird habit. My cat, Lucky would pat the water in his water dish several times before he took a drink. Inevitably, he spilled water everywhere when he did this. It would annoy me until I learned that he was doing it for health reasons.

Due to the way cats’ eyes are positioned in their heads, they may not be able to accurately judge the distance from their little mouths to the water level in the bowl.

If you’ve ever tried to place a treat right in front of your cat and have had to point to it several times before they see it, you know what I’m talking about.

Cats may need to use a paw to help them gauge the distance between their bodies and the water bowl. Or maybe…