Cats are truly fascinating creatures. They have a variety of interesting habits, which some people find baffling, but there is a reason for just about everything a cat does.

Why does my cat purr?

Cats communication using purring. A kitten and its mother will purr as a sign of comfort and, after this, the kitten will continue the behavior through its life. Cats usually purr when something pleases them or when they feel safe and comfortable. It is known also that an anxious cat or one at death's door might purr too, obviously for different reasons.

Purring is interesting because no one is really sure how the cat's body produces the sound. It might be because of blood moving through the blood vessels. It might be because of soft palate vibrations. Cat purring has been tested electromyographically, to show the electrical activity in the muscles of the cat. This could indicate that purring is caused when the muscles of the larynx, containing the vocal chords, are activated. the larynx partially closing, or glottis, could be responsible for the purring sounds.

Face rubbing

Have you ever wondered why your cat likes to rub his face on everything? Cats like to rub their cheeks, chins and bodies on nearly anything. Whether or not it feels nice to them, this is not the main reason for doing it. Around their mouths, foreheads, lips and chins, cats have scent glands. When a cat rubs itself on a person, it might be taken as a form of greeting. Cats living in a group frequently rub up against each other to exchange scents. In this way a 'colony scent' is created. This is a quick way of identifying any intruders. A cat coming back from the veterinarian might make the other cats hiss and be unfriendly because of the strange scents it brings back from there. Recognition between cats has a lot to do with smell and their sense of smell is very strong.

Scratching things

Cats like to scratch (or 'strop') all sorts of things. Obviously you would prefer your cat to scratch a tree or its scratching post rather than your best sofa. A cat deprived of a tree or scratching post will strop its claws on whatever it can. Scratching gets rid of loose nail sheath parts which cover the growing claws. Cats also have scent glands located in their paws and the act of scratching will leave the cat's scent on whatever they scratch, to mark it as part of the cat's territory. If a cat is declawed, it will still try to scratch at things, even though they have no claws to sharpen. This could be inbuilt habit or maybe the cat wants to leave its scent on the thing it is scratching. To allow your cat the freedom to scratch be sure he/she has cat furniture to scratch on.

Why does my cat knead things?

Does your cat knead your lap before lying down? This is normal feline behavior. Cats knead a surface before making themselves comfortable on it, even though this does not make the surface more comfortable. To knead, a cat uses its two front paws. It extends its claws and digs them into the surface in an alternating and rhythmic motion. Kneading, or 'milk tread', can be traced back to kittenhood. A kitten sucking at its mother's teats will knead, extending its legs, to encourage the milk to flow faster if it wants to drink faster. A cat might continue this habit into adulthood because it associates the happiness of curling up on your lap with the safety and joy of being with its mother. Also kneading can be a sign of good cat health.

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For more information on cat health and furniture see, cat feline leukemia , or cat abscess wound or Pet steps for your cat.