Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Crystal and her soul cat, Ivy.
Hi, Catsters!
We all know what we think about cats: they’re funny, wonderful, smart, sometimes very strange, and always adorable.
But have you ever stopped to think: what do cats think about us?
Oftentimes, when I’m busy around the house with certain things, like cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry, or coming home with groceries, Ivy intently watches me with what I imagine to be a look of confusion on her cute little face. I then find myself wondering: what is she thinking?
Here are some human habits that I think cats find strange:
1. Showering or Taking a Bath
I think this one might seem the strangest to them, since most are not big fans of water. Every day (hopefully!), we shed our clothes and climb into a giant tub or stream of water, where we drench ourselves with water completely, only to dry off and do it again either later in the day or the next day.
2. Our Strange ‘Hunting Ritual’
Do cats think we went out hunting when we come back with groceries? And why do we put some of the groceries in a giant, cold box? And how is their cat food almost instantly replenished without them having to lift a paw?
3. Phone Calls
You’re talking, but not to them, and there’s a semi-familiar voice coming out of a device. Sometimes, when we’re on the phone, we might laugh or cry, or become instantly angered. Sometimes, we stay on the phone for hours, talking to the voice on the other side.
4. Watching TV
Oftentimes, our nightly rituals involve watching a big, glowing rectangle. We stare at this rectangle for hours, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes with no expression at all. Pretty weird to think about, right?
5. Cleaning
After your cat has carefully and selectively secured its territory by rubbing up against certain things, we remove it by cleaning it. More often than not, we use cleaning products that smell very strange and invasive to them.
6. Vacuuming
Hot on the heels of the strange cleaning phenomenon, we have the dreaded beast, which is referred to as ‘the vacuum’ – what’s the deal with that? It’s loud, it’s invasive, and in their minds, it’s out to kill them.
7. Wearing Shoes
This one’s a no-brainer: we cover our ‘paws’ with some sort of covering before heading out into the world. I mean, what even?
8. Walking on Two Legs
How strange must this seem to them?! The more I think about it from a cat’s perspective, the more creeped out I get. Also, they must think us highly inefficient. How will we climb trees or quickly get away from threats?
9. Having Guests Over
Why are there strange, loud, weirdly smelling strangers in my territory? Also, why are they constantly trying to pick me up and pet me? Imagine if a stranger walked up to you and just simply picked you up. Definitely a huge cause for concern.
10. Seeing Us Fall
Ivy has seen – and caused me to – fall on numerous occasions. Does she think I’m weak and pathetic because I can’t land on all fours? I have to admit, it is very embarrassing to fall with your feline watching.
Living with humans must be a constant source of bewilderment – and amusement – for our feline overlords! Their silent judgments are likely far more astute (and humorous) than we can ever imagine.
Did I miss something? Can you think of another human behavior that cats find puzzling?
Catch you next time, Catsters!
- Read her previous article: Perfect Kitty Frenemies: Ivy and Her Orange Friend
1. Showering or Taking a Bath
2 Responses
I had a foster cat who would get angry and sometimes even attack me when I talked on the phone. I learned to close myself away from him when I needed to talk on the phone, but I often wondered what he was thinking!
Hi Kitty, some cat behaviors are a mystery, but he probably got scared or territorial and attacked you out of fear or dominance. But whatever you did next molded the behavior.