Understanding Cat Habits: A Comprehensive Guide
By nature, cats are solitary creatures with a strong tendency towards jealousy. This is due to their instinctual behavior as independent hunters, which persists even after domestication. While many households have multiple cats and manage to coexist peacefully with human intervention, careful observation will reveal that even when they share meals and play together, they still establish their own territories or personal belongings. Jealousy among cats is particularly evident among siblings; when one is being petted, the others often gather around, seeking their own share of affection.
Intelligent and emotionally rich, cats possess a high level of natural talent. While there's no official measure of a cat's intelligence, it's likely that they don't fall short of dogs. Cats also have a strong sense of time, able to anticipate feeding times. However, they can be quite stubborn, and will not do something they don't want to, no matter how much pressure is applied. To earn a cat's trust and friendship, one must treat them kindly, be patient, and maintain a gentle demeanor. Forceful methods are unlikely to yield the desired results, which is why they are often referred to as "master cats" or "kitty lords" in some cultures.
Cats are known for their tendency to sleep and their nocturnal habits. Approximately twothirds of a cat's life is spent in slumber, making them the longestsleeping common domestic animal. Unlike humans, who typically sleep for 8 to 10 hours straight, cats divide their sleep into several short segments, each lasting no more than an hour, and they are often in a light sleep state, easily startled by minor disturbances.
Cats are also very clean and hygienic creatures. Using a litter box is one way they express their cleanliness. After eating or drinking, they meticulously clean their faces with their paws and regularly groom their fur (which includes ingesting some of their own fur, so it's important to provide them with a hairball remedy). During the shedding season, grooming your cat can help new fur grow in. As for bathing, it doesn't need to be frequent; once a month in summer and every 1 to 2 months during other seasons should suffice.
Cats are obligate carnivores and can be quite picky about their food. While it may seem odd that they eat grass, it's actually to aid in digestion, not because they can digest it. Once a cat forms a habit of eating a particular type of food, they tend to stick to it. When changing your cat's diet, it's important to do so gradually, ideally over a period of one week or more, to avoid potential fasting or gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea.
