WHAT YOUR CAT IS TRYING TO TELL YOU

Expert reveals how you can read the messages sent to you being beloved by your feline friend

AFTER 18 months at home with our pets, cat owners can confirm what they have always suspected – they are sharing their home with a stone-cold weirdo.

Research by natural pet food company Lily’s Kitchen shows that 93 per cent of us are confused by our cat’s behaviour and that’s probably because the other seven per cent are zoo keepers, animal psychologists or vets.

There are 10.7million domestic cats in the UK. They have been kept as pets for centuries, yet they have retained their air of mystery through the ages.

Whether it’s yowling in the small hours of the morning, sitting in the bath demanding the tap be turned on or stealing the tiny plastic tops of bottles and batting them up and down the hall, they are always getting up to some new and baffling mischief.

Cat behaviourist Rosie Bescoby knows exactly why cats destroy Christmas trees and come and sit on the newspaper while you are reading it. And she says that once you understand your cat’s urges, you can get closer to your pet.

Rosie said: “If you learn what your cat’s behaviours mean, you might get past their aloof ways and become their partner in crime.

“Cats don’t meow to communicate with each other. It’s something they’ve learnt to do over time to communicate with humans.

Pet cats, she said, retain many of the predatory behaviours and instincts their ancestors needed to survive in the wild.

“So instead of running down rodents, they swipe inanimate objects off the table and climb trees.”

The survey found only 27 per cent of pet owners could interpret their cat’s behaviour.

Rosie added: “While we all know the common tell-tale signs of when our cats are happy, such as purring or kneading against your leg, it’s also important to be able to know when your cat just wants some alone time.

“Being able to read these signals and knowing when to back off will make your cat happier and create a better relationship.”

Here are Rosie’s top 12 mysterious cat behaviours – and what they really mean.

MAKING YOU OPEN THE DOOR TO LET THEM IN WHEN THERE’S A PERFECTLY GOOD CAT FLAP AVAILABLE

Cats have poor eyesight and can’t adjust to different light levels quickly. Going through a cat flap, from the light to the dark, can leave them feeling vulnerable. (Also, they treat their owners like

SLEEPING ON ANYTHING YOU’RE READING

Cats will do just about anything to get attention and this is just one of many clever ways they’ve learnt to do just that.

SWIPING AT INANIMATE OBJECTS

live-in butlers.)

This is historical predatory behaviour. Instead of waiting for that pepper grinder to move itself, cats will get a swift swat in first. And if they get a reaction from their owner, their work is done.

CLIMBING

Cats love to be up high in the sky and it’s essential that they have the chance to explore trees, fences, wardrobes, drying racks, scratching posts ... From an elevated position, your cat can survey their kingdom in peace.

MEOWING

Cats generally don’t meow at each other; it is a method of communication they use for humans. And if their owner does not respond to one meow, they will try another.

PURRING

This usually happens when your cat is relaxed and content but can also occur when they’re in pain to soothe themselves.

KNEADING

This is a hangover from when your cat was a kitten, when the motion stimulated getting milk from its mother. It is another sign of feeling safe and relaxed.

SQUEEZING INTO TINY SPACES

Small spaces create a sense of security: they feel safe and sound in their own box, suitcase, drawer or cupboard shelf. Let them enjoy it.