They scratch you, pull you, do whatever they want… These pets sometimes suffer from a bad reputation. However, their behavior is most often completely normal… for cats. Where does this misunderstanding come from?
The cat is the Frenchman’s favorite pet*. He knows how to charm human beings, as evidenced by our fascination with videos of kittens or cats. But his behavior can also lead to misunderstandings. What if we just don’t know how to decode cats?
Cat, a big loner
To understand the cat, we must realize that it is a solitary animal.
Let’s be clear: cats are not considered a social species, unlike dogs. Hugues Martinat, cat behaviorist and founder of Équilicat, recalls that in natural conditions, a kitten is forced to leave by its mother as soon as it is weaned. This phenomenon, called dispersion, makes it a solitary animal.
But that doesn’t mean cats aren’t affectionate. It depends on the individual, their temperament, socialization and genetic heritage. “The cat species is a solitary animal, but individuals defy the rules“, summarizes the behaviorist.
- Recent domestication
The distant attitude of the cat can also be explained by a more recent domestication than that of the dog: 12,000 BC versus 15,000 for the dog (or even 30,000, according to scientific sources). The wildcat approached the human as he began to sit. With the preservation of cereals and the arrival of mice, the cat became useful to man. So it would be more accurate to say that the cat is domesticated rather than domesticated because it has remained free, autonomous and independent.
- Cats were first selected based on appearance
Cats have a reputation for being aloof and not very obedient. But for Anne-Claire Gagnon, a veterinarian, yes “Because they have a strong character. Unlike dogs, they don’t try to please us, let alone be servile. They do what motivates them when they like it.»
A domestic cat carries with it the behavior of wild cats. “Against dogs, selected on the basis of their olfactory abilities az work cats were not long ago chosen for their beauty ». That is, on appearance, coat, color and not on their docility.
The cat tolerates people, but does not need them
A cat is a predator by nature, but also prey. He can be attacked by predators, foxes… That’s why he often hides his emotions. For some owners, he is more difficult to “read” than a dog who can bark if he is happy or even cry.
- Intermittent relationship with your master
“If we adapted Maslow’s pyramid of basic needs for a cat, social contact would not appear at the bottom of the pyramid, unlike people or a dog », explains Hugues Martinat. A cat does not need company all the time. “Some cats like it holiday when’be empty and only have a visit and cat keeper daily, says Ms. Gagnon. He is rarely bored: sleep dream, play alone it’s in their nature.”
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Also note that the cat likes to choose its relationships. He can be close with one family member and not with another and he prefers to live alone than with bad company!
- Predominant behavioral needs
Being able to express its natural behavior is more important to a cat than what people offer it. We must therefore let him act according to his nature: hunt, jump, climb, scratch his claws… “If there is a behavior problem, it is because the environment is not adapted to his needs», points out Hugues Martinat.
The cat is very strict about approval
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With the exception of some “clingy” animals, cats generally do not appreciate too intrusive contact or too frequent requests. Generally prefers calm people.
The cat does not respond to attempts to dominate. “Doing what we want is a way of raising us to seek approval”, explains Anne-Claire Gagnon. It is therefore better to let him approach and let him choose the chair if you are on the sofa.
Paying attention to your body language allows you to decode your emotions. If it wags its tail, it shows annoyance and discomfort. And not at all happy or excited like a dog… So you have to stop petting him. Same thing when he puts his ears back. He might bite.
When in doubt, how should you behave around a cat?
” Humans often have a weakness for modeling their own functioning on a cat’s functioning and lack the imagination to think that everyone functions like them. Even two people can be different!“, recalls the veterinarian.
Be careful with your interpretations: thinking the cat wants to eat when it’s just looking for interaction; believing that lying down, all 4 irons and belly up, is an invitation to cuddle, when it rarely is… He’s just relaxed, confident.
To believe that a cat that comes to look at us or sits on our lap because it wants to be petted is a mistake. He shows his affection, but that’s the end of it. “He only wants to be there with you», deciphers the veterinarian.
- Recognize cat rejection
We don’t know how to fully understand them. ” Ethologist Charlotte de Mouzon, reveals Anne-Claire Gagnonrecently showed that people decode satisfaction, requests, predation but hurt the cat’s displeasure. Clearly, we don’t always see her saying NO.» According to her, the keys to understanding cats are “attention, ethological knowledge and the desire to expect nothing (and welcome everything)“.
*According to the Ifop survey (1) from July 2020