Cat Behavior Questions

Cats are harder to read than dogs — their signals are subtler, and the popular interpretations of them are more often wrong. The slow blink isn't "I love you" in human-language terms. Hiding under the bed isn't always concerning. Sitting with the back to you isn't rude — it's a compliment. Kneading isn't territory marking. Meowing at night isn't always demanding.

This tag collects the articles that decode the cat behavior questions owners actually search. Each one is grounded in John Bradshaw's ethology research, Karen Overall's clinical reference, Sarah Ellis's training science, and the AAFP/ISFM feline behavior guidelines.

What each article gives you: the most likely answer in a 60-word TL;DR; the predator-prey framework that explains it; the popular interpretations to discard; an action plan that respects the cat's solitary-species nature; and explicit guidance on when the behavior is medical. Especially in cats over eight, behavior change is often the first sign of hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, pain, or cognitive dysfunction. For cats, when in doubt, the first call is always the vet.