Cats and Dogs are two of the most popular pets anywhere. If you’ve ever owned ether of the two, chances are you’ve found yourself asking “what the hell are you doing?” while watching your pet do…well, whatever it is they’re doing at the time. To hopefully help clear things up, here are a few answers to some common cat and dog questions.
Why do cats rub against everything?
Cats have glands that secrete a special scent, much likes dogs do with their paws. It’s a way of marking something as theirs. So, when a cat rubs itself across your legs, your couch, and its scratching post, it’s really mapping out its own territory. It’s their own little way of showing you that they are comfortable enough with you to allow you into their little world.
Why do dogs look at you when they poop?
As a kid, I’d always laugh at how my dog, Tommy, stared at me while he pooped. I always just assumed he was really embarrassed and was looking at me like “Yo, look the other way bitch.” But as it turns out, the reason is a whole lot cuter. When a dog is taking a number 2, it’s in a position where it’s completely defenseless. Your dog is completely aware of it’s defenselessness as well, and because he or she trusts you, it’s actually looking at you in anticipation for a heads up if there is any danger. Trust trust!
Why do cats purr?
While cats do purr when they’re happy, they also do it when they’re scared or nervous. Veterinarian Kelly Morgan says that purring is the equivalent of smiling for humans. You know how sometimes we smile when we’re nervous? Yeah, that. A purr happens when the cats brain sends a message to the laryngeal muscles, which then makes them twitch at a rate of about 25 to 150 vibrations a second. Cats also purr when they’re trying to communicate.
Why do dogs sniff, scratch, and spin around before they lie down?
If you’ve ever witnessed a dog pick a spot to sleep on, you know how funny it is to watch them ‘prepare’ for it. You know, the whole, clawing at the spot, sniffing at it, and spinning around on it, only to claw at it again before finally diving in. But…why?
It’s all about instinct. When dogs lived in the wild, they would often scratch and stomp around at the floor in order to create a nice little nest or den for themselves to sleep in. It also has something to do with claiming their territory. Hey, just be glad they’re scratching rather than pissing. Dogs have glands on their paws that release a specific scent of theirs. These scents are enhanced when they are scratching things and rubbing these glands. It is believed that by scratching at the spot they plan to sleep in, they’re effectively claiming the territory as their own.
Why do cats knead?
Cats do this funny thing where they dig their paws into something and then slowly pull back and release, alternating paws, for however long they seem to want to do it. There is no definitive answer, but here are a few popular theories. One of the most popular theories is that it is a leftover behavior from when they were kittens. When sucking at the tit, they would knead their mother to promote milk flow. Some people suggest that cats do this when they are bored or happy. Others believe that much like the dogs and their scratching and stomping, this was something they did to make themselves a comfy place to sleep.
Why do dogs and cats stare into space?
We’ve all heard about how dogs and cats can see ghosts, so when we catch our pets staring into space, it’s natural to get a little freaked out. The reality is, they aren’t warning you about any ghosts in your house. Dogs and Cats do have incredible hearing and vision, so when they think they hear or see something, whether that’s an ant on the wall, or a little ding of a pipe, they’ll generally keep focus in an attempt to figure out what is going on. Sometimes, though, they’re genuinely just blanking out. We all do it.
Boop.
Related Video: This cat thinks he’s a dog
