July 18th 2015 - Cat behaviour
I have spent quite a lot of time today searching the net looking for answers on my
kittens behaviour. I have had many cats during my life and most from small kittens, but my newest kitten Starla is something else. I have never known any of my cats/kittens do what she does. I will explain what she does and what my friend google (various sites visited) say it means. I've certainly learnt things from the net today.
Starla is not quite 7weeks old, she is eating food and litter trained but mummy cat had had enough of her 5 kittens and wasn't looking after them anymore, so I housed her 2 weeks earlier than planned. She is mainly a grey tabby but does have some ginger and white patches, including white socs. She is so loving and sweet. Meet starla:
Firstly i'm sure she thinks she is a parrot - she loves being up on my shoulder, whether sat looking around or asleep. This apparently is the behaviour of shoulder cats, when they start doing it as a kitten they will continue when an adult cat (i'm not sure I want a fully grown cat as a scarf!). It is linked to them wanting to be close, to see eye to eye and because they can feel the pulse in your neck which reminds them of the closeness of their mother.
She keeps putting her paw gently to my face when she is sat snuggling, usually when I am stroking her face/chin - I have NEVER had a kitten/cat do this to me and had no idea what it meant. Well apparently it is a sign of trust, affection and love and that they want attention from you.
Putting her "booty" in my face - this is the way that cats say hello to each other and she wants me to "sniff it" (I DON'T think so). It can also be linked to them seeing you as a "mother figure" and may indicate that they want it cleaned (ewwwww YUK!) They only do this to those that they have given their full trust to.
She likes to sleep against my head or face - This is linked to small/young animals not being able to regulate their body temperature properly and wanting warmth and a closeness that they would get from their mother.
She sleeps on her back with belly up and paws all over like a star fish - this behaviour surprised me as I always thought cats only went on their back to attack as they had their claws upwards, but again it comes down to trusting you and feeling safe not threatened to expose their belly.
Head butting me gently and rubbing cheeks - She loves to put her head to mine and look into my eyes (her eyes are so trusting), this is because of the scent glands in the head - cats and kittens only do this with those they trust in their circle and when they do it to human is an indication that I belong to her and her me, and she sees me as a big cat! This is the same for rubbing cheeks.
She licks my ears (most annoying!) - Apparently this is linked to her being so young and taken from her mum, it can be linked to wanting to feed or just a sign of affection.
Mewing before and after going to the litter try - this is really comical - she mews before she climbs in it and then after she has been. This is linked to her calling her mummy cat. She doesn't need help to go, she has done both wees and poos. I spoke to the lady I got her from and she did it there as well.
There are many other bits she does but nothing I had to search - she comes running to me if she wants peace and has had enough of playing etc. Its as though i'm her safety blanket. She mews at me when she sees me (not at anyone else in the house), and she loves to lay either on my chest or as close to me as she can get. Her tail is always pointed up when she sees me. Kitten kisses are given whenever she comes to me.
