We’ve taken a trip to the What’s Wrong With Your Cat subreddit, so below, you’ll find adorable, although slightly perplexing, examples of precious cats doing bizarre things. Keep reading to also find conversations we were lucky enough to have with the team at Helping Dogs & Cats UK Rescue and Laura Watson from International Cat Care, and remember that no matter what your little fur balls do, there’s nothing wrong with them!
#1 My Cat Staring At Nothing
Image credits: neidrun
To learn more about the behavior that cats exhibit that we as humans tend to perceive as strange, we reached out to Tracey Thomas, Assistant Manager, Cat and Adoptions Coordinator and Amy Chapman, Cat and Adoptions Coordinator, at Helping Dogs & Cats UK Rescue. When it comes to how often cats do things that might make us wonder what’s wrong with them, the experts shared that “it really depends on the cat and also the person viewing the cat.” They provided the example of Amy’s cat, Mildred, who will happily get in the bath with her owner.
“Cats, by their very nature, are unpredictable and similar to humans,” the adoption experts continued. “They all act differently and have their own personality and character. [We] tend to find that female cats are more unpredictable than male cats.”
#2 This Is Six, He Likes To Attack People And Be A General Nuisance
Image credits: softsodapop
And as far as things that might make your kitties act even more peculiar than usual, catnip is sometimes a factor. “Some cats absolutely love catnip and others don’t,” Tracey and Amy noted. “Some cats see themselves in the mirror and start to hiss or even run away, as they think it’s another cat.”
If you’d like to learn more about kitties from these experts, or adopt a cat of your own if you live in the Basingstoke area, be sure to visit Helping Dogs & Cats UK Rescue’s website right here or their Facebook page right here!
#3 He Thinks "Don't Snore In My Ear" Means "Plz Snore In My Ear"
Image credits: chinigenn
We were also lucky enough to get in touch with Laura Watson, Cat Welfare Assistant at International Cat Care, who was kind enough to answer some of our burning questions about kitties. Laura first noted that, although many behaviors cats exhibit may seem strange or amusing to us, they’re likely perfectly normal for their species. “The modern domestic cat that we know today is not that far removed from their wild ancestor, and when we understand their species-specific needs and behaviors, the behaviors that were once thought strange, suddenly make perfect sense,” she explained.
Laura shared that prior to embarking on her studies diving into the behaviors of cats, there were many behaviors she thought were quite strange, such as when they: “knead (rhythmic pushing of their paws in and out, at alternating times) a person or blanket, sometimes drooling whilst they do it; bring dead prey back inside the home, perceived as a gift for the caregiver from the cat; roll over and show their tummy, perceived as an invitation to touch their belly, but when you do they bite or scratch; open their mouth and draw back their upper lip ‘like a grimace’ after smelling something; sit or lay in very small spaces or high up on the tops of wardrobes, doors, or curtains; suddenly jump if they notice an object close behind them; watch a prey species out of a window and make chattering sounds to them; and suddenly have mad moments and zoom around.”
#4 I’m Melting! I’m Meltinggggg!
Image credits: alison_bee
Laura explained that most of these behaviors are perfectly normal when we understand more about the ethology of cats. “The wildcat ancestors of our domestic cat were solitary predators and did not live in structured groups, relying solely on themselves to survive,” she told Bored Panda. “Where social groups of cats do exist, they appear only to work well when the members of the group are familiar and when there is no competition over food or other resources. Cats can form strong social relationships with familiar individuals, and particularly between kittens in the same litter and between kittens and their mother.”
#5 She's Actually Normal, It's Everybody Else Who's Upside Down
Image credits: fifth-planet
#6 Just Taking A Nap
Image credits: Mieke_007
“The social behavior of our domestic cats is more variable, and they have adapted to group living through the development of social structures, but they still do retain their roots as solitary hunters,” Laura went on to explain. “We now have an understanding that, despite having gone through the domestication process, cats currently live a number of diverse lifestyles, at one end of the spectrum living unowned and free-roaming; hunting for its food, without any human intervention is the feral cat, and at the other end of the spectrum as a companion in our homes is the pet cat and not all cats are equally tolerant or accepting of other cats or people.”
#7 They’re…fine
Image credits: WillowSLock
#8 When You Try To Sneak Downstairs For A Warm Glass Of Milk But You Hit A Squeaky Floorboard And Awaken The Sentinels
Image credits: MeeklyBludgeon
Laura also noted that, as cats are essentially solitary hunters, it’s vital for them to establish their own territories to avoid conflict with other cats. “If a cat incurs an injury during conflict with another cat, they could be unable to hunt, which could be life threatening for them, being unable to eat to survive,” the expert explained. “Cats will mark their territories using scent derived from their facial glands, urine, feces, and anal glands. This territorial marking, together with an extremely sensitive sense of smell, helps cats to communicate effectively and to minimize direct contact between themselves.”
#9 Insisting On Being A Tortoise (With The Real One Sleeping Inside
Image credits: Evilkish
#10 He Believes He Is Absolutely Invisible
Image credits: Lord_Davos
“A cat’s territory consists of a core area, or den, where it feels secure enough to sleep, eat, play, and potentially enjoy social interaction,” Laura told Bored Panda. “This forms the hub of the territory, which is the area beyond the core area that the cat actively defends against invasion from others. Beyond this lies the home or hunting range that constitutes the extent of the area over which the cat will roam. These insights into the cat as a species help us understand why they behave in the way they do.”
#11 A Zombie Cat Consuming Its Victim's Brains
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#12 I Call Him “Mr. Big”
Image credits: YungJasper
Laura also explained that, although it can be painful at times, it’s perfectly normal for your cat to knead you with their claws, so it should never be punished. “When kittens are first born, they are totally dependent on their mother for their nutrition. When they suck at their mothers’ teats, they tread with alternate front paws at her abdomen to stimulate the flow of milk. Some cats will dribble uncontrollably as they anticipate the milk-feed that kneading usually predicts, which is a normal, natural, neurological response.”
Most cats will grow out of this habit, but Laura noted that some will “retain it into adulthood, particularly when in the presence of someone with whom they feel safe or when they get on a particularly fluffy cushion or blanket because they associate the behavior of treading their paws with the comfort and safety they felt when they were nursing with their mother.”
#13 Come Up With The Name For The Photo
Image credits: fat_old_boy
#14 I Think He’s Feeling A Bit Chilly
Image credits: Uaquamarine
Laura also provided explanations for some of the most common peculiar behaviors cat owners see in their pets. As far as why they bring home dead prey, the expert noted that when domesticated kitties have access to the outdoors, their natural predator instincts may kick in. “When a cat brings their prey back home, it indicates they feel it is a secure and safe place (core territory) to leave food to eat now or keep for later,” Laura says.
And if your cat rolls over to show you their tummy then scratches you when you try to tickle them, apparently, you might be perceiving their actions incorrectly. “When a cat greets its human companion, it makes a display of trust by exposing its belly,” the expert noted. “A similar friendly ‘social roll’ is often seen when one cat solicits play from another. When a cat does it to us it may be illustrating one of two things; either it is a sign of trust and any physical contact at this time could look threatening or it is a request for a rough and tumble – either way, injury will ensue, so the temptation to touch should probably be avoided!”
#15 What Do You Think Happened...?
Image credits: Voxit
#16 This Cat Actually Loves Belly Rubs
Image credits: Ghost_157
Have you ever seen your kitty grin or grimace when they sniff something strange? “This usually happens when it’s sniffing the urine of a cat that’s in season or where a tom has sprayed and is referred to as the Flehmen response,” Laura explained. “It gives cats a great deal of information about that scent as it enables it to draw in the air over a special organ called Jacobson’s organ found in the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth. Here the cat can concentrate the scent and smell/taste it, giving it a lot of information.”
And when it comes to why cats try to squeeze into small spaces or hide on the tops of doors and curtains, the expert says, “Cats must rely on themselves to survive [as solitary hunters]. Hiding in small spaces conceals them and helps them feel safe from potential dangers and perching high up allows them to survey their environment and any potential dangers on the horizon.”
#17 One Cubic Cat Please
Image credits: ViridisEve
#18 My Cat Didn't Like My Shampoo
Image credits: TrashProfessional679
Laura also explained why cats often struggle to see up close. “Like all predators, they have forward-facing eyes and binocular vision. You may have noticed though, that a cat may struggle to find a toy or treat right under its nose or jump when startled by something behind them. A cat’s eyes can form a clear image of an object approximately 25cm away, but they are unable to focus on objects closer than this (with an optimal range of 2-6 meters away from them). This, along with a wider field of vision than the human eye and other unique adaptations, helps cats to spot prey in their surrounding environment, such as a harvest mouse in a field of corn.”
#19 We Think He May Need Braces
Image credits: MysteriousCommon6876
#20 Does Arabella Bite? No. Worse - She Judges
Image credits: KingSofaOfTheSlugs
Have you ever heard your cats making a chattering sound? Laura says this commonly occurs when a cat is watching prey that it can’t access, such as a bird, but it can also occur towards other prey species and even toys. The exact reasoning behind this is not known, but some hypotheses are: “an outward sign of frustration that the cat can see the prey but cannot access it; anticipation of capturing prey – although it can happen when the cat is indoors too and cannot physically access the prey; or the cat uses the sound to mimic the vocalizations of its prey to be less conspicuous and draw the prey into striking range.”
#21 Maggie Trying To Be Subtle
Image credits: nat_cat1521
#22 Miss Congeniality
Image credits: st4rgoon
#23 My Silly Cat Was Sleeping Like This
Image credits: sangu811
Ever wonder why your cat seems to go mad at random moments? “Cats would naturally spend a great deal of time during the day, stalking and chasing prey or avoiding danger in their adrenaline-fuelled lifestyle of hunting and exploring,” Laura explains, noting that the average house cat doesn’t often have the opportunity to do anything dangerous and use up their energy. “Suddenly, often without warning, this energy will burst out and your cat will act out a little fantasy role-playing, alternating between the hunter and the hunted, dashing around the house with a flicking tail and widely dilated pupils.”
“This often occurs at times of the day and night when cats are naturally more active, for example at dusk, and it can be triggered by a loud noise, a visit to the litter tray or something quite inconsequential,” the cat expert continued. “They may stare into the top corner of the room before launching themselves across the carpet, but don’t worry, they’re just using up that excess energy.”
#24 If I Fell Asleep Like This I Would Be Having Neck Pain For Weeks
Image credits: floweredsecrets
#25 I Left The Pantry Open For One Minute
Image credits: goth_trash
Even though all cats are unique, Laura says there is one plant that has a quite surprising effect on around 80% them: catnip or Nepeta cataria. “An encounter with either the plant itself or with a catnip-stuffed toy can make cats excited, and they may sniff and roll around on the ground or over the catnip,” she explained. “The active chemical in the plant is called nepetalactone and has been likened to LSD. However, its effect is short-lived and harmless.”
“Catnip can be a helpful tool to initiate play with cats, however, kittens under the age of three months old are not receptive to catnip, so it is worthwhile reintroducing it after this age to see if they are receptive to its effects,” Laura noted.
#26 Why I Have Fur On My Clothes
Image credits: no-yeah
#27 Why Does He Love Chewing Cardbord So Damn Much
Image credits: 465pointsinscrabble
Finally, Laura left us with some wise words. “Next time you witness a cat doing something you think is strange, I ask you to think of the cat and their species-specific behaviors, and consider: is it strange? Or perfectly normal for the species?”
If you’d like to learn more about cats from Laura and the rest of the International Cat Care team, be sure to visit their website right here!
And if you’re looking for even more hilarious and bizarre pics of cats after finishing this adorable list, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring the What’s Wrong With Your Cat subreddit right here!
#28 Why Is He Like This
Image credits: DaddyDongLegz
#29 Cat Loves To Be Outside Looking In. I Open The Door, She Refuses. I Bring Her In, She Whines To Go Out. Guess Janet Just Likes The Voyeuristic Perspective
Image credits: Live_Dirt_6568
#30 How Is This Comfortable?
Image credits: yassupanju
#31 Lucipurr Is Such A Weird Lil Dude. He Also Has More Than One Tooth
Image credits: Lorlaa
#32 Twisted Burnt Turkey
Image credits: poop_dawg
#33 We Were Concerned Seemo Wouldn't Move Into The New House Well...boy Were We Wrong
Image credits: DecentestMama
#34 How He Slept On My Expensive Silk Pillow Case Today
Image credits: cupidcrucifix
#35 Cat Politely Refuse To Be Petted
Image credits: luonganhvu
#36 What Happened To My Cat? Wrong Answers Only
Image credits: tilthevoidstaresback
#37 Jinx Enjoys The Laundry Bin
Image credits: Space_Snakes_
#38 Theo’s Banana Turned Him To The Dark Side
Image credits: heelsmuller
#39 Mother I Crave Violence!
Image credits: Swefe97
#40 Ughhh
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#41 My Cat’s Favourite Sleeping Arrangement: Belly Side Up And On The Bean Bag
Image credits: littlegrass12
#42 Beautiful And Graceful - Tuna’s Preferred Cleaning Position
Image credits: oldhousenewlife
#43 So Sent Me This While I Was Sitting In The Next Room
Image credits: notfunnynotfunny
#44 Beans Stands Very Often For Long Periods
Image credits: Oldmangilbey2
#45 Fred Ate The Final Meat-Stick. And No, Alas, There Are No More Meat Sticks. As You Can See, He Is Close To Starvation
Image credits: Celtic_Cheetah_92
#46 This Is The Least Flattering Photo I’ve Taken In All My Years Of Rescue
Image credits: grayshush
#47 Seymour Blue Likes To Be Touching Me At All Times When I’m Laying Down. This Is How He Chose To Do So
Image credits: mac_therose
#48 I Guess Laying Beside Your Sister In The Sun Was Just Not An Option
Image credits: Ok_Avocado_8399
#49 Wwwyc Indeed... I Keep Looking At This "Air Pocket" Thingys Behind His Ears And Can't Tell What Their For. Do All Cats Have Them?
Image credits: AnaONeves
#50 The Cat That Comes To Visit Us In The Office Makes Interesting Grimaces
Image credits: Dragapult2020
#51 I Think She’s Malfunctioning?¿ Ms Stevie ?
Image credits: osdomina
#52 Princess - 19 Years Young!
Image credits: AvatarSnacks
#53 Francis Says Good Morning!
Image credits: kelly52182
#54 What
Image credits: NatyBond_OF
#55 Ouch
Image credits: Willman3755
#56 Anyone Missing Their Sleep Paralysis Demon? It’s Scaling My Doorframe Every Night
Image credits: legacie22
#57 After A Long Night Zooming On Cat Nip. ?♀️??❤️
Image credits: Independent-Debate22
#58 Hey, You Got Phone On Your Games?
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#59 Always Being Awkward In My Lap
Image credits: chezbo425
#60 Goose Says, Hello ?
Image credits: stinky_pinky_vtc
#61 This Is Her Absolute Favourite Position To Sit In And I Have No Idea Why
Image credits: kaida_the_serval
#62 First, Lick The Banana To Death; Then, Time To Pass Out
Image credits: MyCalicoAndMe
#63 Why Is She Like That?
Image credits: Iridium_771
#64 She’s Not Been Run Over
Image credits: calebismo
#65 My Brainless Beasts Have Been Paused Mid-Wrestle For The Last 15 Min. At This Point, Magpie Is A Gloried Chin Rest
Image credits: SJtheFox
#66 He Be Doin A Sniff (He Said U Smelly)
Image credits: SizzLor_The_Sizzlord
#67 She Wants To Look Outside Without Going Outside
Image credits: faceoh
#68 I Accidentally Activated Demon Mode. How Do I Turn It Off?
Image credits: Tuhyk_inside
#69 Apollo Hates Sleeping Next To Me On The Couch Or Bed, But Is More Than Happy To Sleep Under The Blanket Draped On The Floor If I’m Using It
Image credits: pm_me_cute_sloths_
#70 Wfh, Look Over To See This Weirdo
Image credits: Godzirrraaa
#71 When You Remember That Embarrassing Moment From Years Ago
Image credits: lnonl
#72 This Cannot Be Sanitary
Image credits: pencilvia
#73 Gulliver Is A Master Of Weird
Image credits: pookierawrz
#74 The Bacon-Greaser After She Has Rearranged Her Favorite Rug
Image credits: mishatries
#75 I Saw Your Leg Kitties And I Raise You My Climber
Image credits: Spirited_Caramel999
#76 We’re Still Not Sure What’s Wrong With Milo
Image credits: dingogrundle
#77 He Likes To Play Tug Of War
Image credits: Greggs-the-bakers
#78 Ok, Let It Be Tweet-Tweet
Image credits: fat_old_boy
#79 Target Acquired
Image credits: SaltGrit
#80 Error 404
Image credits: Strong_Constant_1190
#81 He Seems Comfortable
Image credits: ladyjacquetta
#82 This Is Normal, Right?
Image credits: __InnerPeace__
#83 Perfect Timing
Image credits: Sad_Channel_2124
#84 This Is How Izzy Sits
Image credits: FoxDrivePrincess
#85 My BF’s Cat Was Sleeping Like This ??????
Image credits: m0kosa
#86 He Likes To Sit Under The Coat And Today Poked His Head Through The Buttons. A Regal Prince
Image credits: Litleboony
#87 Meet My Cat Squeak, She Has Fiv And Very Expressive Eyes (Oc)
Image credits: lostplanetari
#88 Growing A Cat Loaf Don't Water It Too Often
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#89 He Sat There For 30 Minutes. I Have No Idea
Image credits: FloofySamoyed
#90 She's Fine, Don't Worry
Image credits: EightBitCow
#91 I Don't Even Know With Him Sometimes
Image credits: JosepKong
#92 He Just Loves Feet
Image credits: thatirelandkid
#93 Oscar Was Just Chilling With His Leg Behind His Head
Image credits: gianthooverpig
#94 Very Thirsty
Image credits: bunichanuwu
#95 Luna Had Many Talents, But Sitting Is Not One Of Them
Image credits: Admiral_Kizaru
#96 Auditioning To Play The Body On Csi
Image credits: Trystiane
#97 When He Sees Someone Freeloadin' On His Lawn
Image credits: Pynacle
#98 Ground Control To Major Tom…
Image credits: Mountain-Bee9240
#99 My Crazy Cat Used To Race For The Closest Heater Vent And Flop Down On It Like This Whenever She Heard It Turn On. She Was Devastated When We Left This House And The New One Had A Wall Heater
Image credits: AbusiveMouthful
#100 Don't Think She Ever Learned How To Retract Her Claws. Always Gets Stuck On Everything. Lol
Image credits: Le-Misanthrope
#101 He Likes To Sit Like This And Bite His Toes For Fun
Image credits: jackATTACK55
#102 I Am Bat Cat
Image credits: tyw7
#103 8 Teeth Extractions Got Herbert Like
Image credits: grace_grape
#104 So You Gonna Put Your Leg Back Or...?
Image credits: pumpkin_moon
#105 Smile!
Image credits: robotdinosaurs
#106 How Is He Comfortable?
Image credits: Ether85
#107 Insists On Sleeping In The Box
Image credits: PitifulFox6066
#108 I Swear She Likes It
Image credits: KrabbyPattyParty
#109 He Only Had 5 Minutes Til His Feeder Was Supposed To Go Off ?
Image credits: heart0flife
#110 Caught Mid Sneeze
Image credits: Discordia_Dingle
#111 My Boy Doesn't Understand Frosted Glass
Image credits: DoctorDib
#112 Frankie Never Gets The Joke
Image credits: Charivari8
#113 This Is My Cat In Her Casserole Dish. I Don’t Know Why She Loves It, But It Is Where She Sleeps The Most Right Now
Image credits: grayshush
#114 Ex-Stray Cat Hasn’t Quite Gotten The Hang Of Snuggling Yet, But He’s Trying Very Hard
Image credits: TheGrayCatLady
#115 Luggage Was 95% Zipped, But Barely Enough For Him To Pull It And Make Room
Image credits: zalmoswiss
#116 Not What I Expected When I Went To Take A Shower
Image credits: External-Pilot-2207
#117 Charlie Watching Dateline
Image credits: highfivesandhandjobs
#118 How Can I Fix This??
Image credits: clowegreen24
#119 He Sat Like This For Over An Hour
Image credits: Shockedtrain
#120 Don't Sink There
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#121 Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Image credits: fat_old_boy
#122 She Won't Let Me Brush Her Face, But She Will Let Me Hold The Brush So She Can Do It Herself
Image credits: paintingcatlady
#123 Nap So Good You Forget Where And Who You Are
Image credits: honest_battery
#124 She's Gone To Sleep With Her Leg Over Her Head
Image credits: ThrinnyMcWhinny
#125 Do U Hab Games On Ur Phone
Image credits: Pyramidhands
#126 I Think He’s Mad At Me
Image credits: SizzLor_The_Sizzlord
#127 He Always Been Different
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#128 Scully Thinks She Is A Penguin
Image credits: rcroswell
#129 My Cat Is A Seal
Image credits: KittehForever
#130 My Niece’s Cat In An Unusual Pose
Image credits: Intelligent-Snow7250
#131 Should I Let Him In?
Image credits: GRAVELAZER
#132 What’s Wrong With This Tiny Cat, You Ask? Albert Is Obsessed With Butter And Knows Where It Lives In The Fridge!
Image credits: anl28
#133 She Likes To Sit On My Chest While I Sleep, So This Is Often My Breathtaking View Upon Waking
Image credits: hayabsolute
#134 Why Does He Use The Litter Box Like This?
Image credits: mr-swoon
#135 Pancake Legs
Image credits: azantisinc
#136 Not. One. Single. Braincell
Image credits: ginger_smythe
#137 Cheese Likes To Sleep With One Leg Out
Image credits: Left_Regret7557
#138 He’s Not Yawning In This Photo, But Screaming At The Top Of His Lungs
Image credits: Tjbiggay
#139 Strange Spot For A Nap But Alright
Image credits: MsJessucka
#140 Correct Half Is In, Great Success
Image credits: Iitutin
#141 Open The Door!
Image credits: fat_old_boy
#142 I Bought Her Some Cat Grass
Image credits: baristakitten
#143 Loki Strikes Again - Angrily Peeping At Us Through The Letterbox (Clinging On By His Claws) Because He Could Hear Us Speaking To My Sister And Brother Inlaw Outside Without Him ?
Image credits: Dodder1992
#144 He's Got A Case Of The Mondays
Image credits: paintingcatlady
#145 Sus
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
#146 My Cat Fuego's First Vet Visit
Image credits: Brava812
#147 My Cat Looks Insane
Image credits: stizdizzle
#148 Last Thing You See If You Forgot To Fill The Food Bowl
Image credits: Gordon_Freeman_TJ
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