Cats are truly fascinating creatures. They have a variety of interesting habits, which some people find baffling, but there is a reason for just about everything a cat does.
Purring
Why do cats make that strange sound? Purring is a form of feline communication. A mother cat and kittens purr as a sign of comfort and cats will continue this behavior throughout their lives. A cat normally purrs when it is happy about something or feeling contented and relaxed but it might also purr when anxious or even close to death. Nobody is completely sure how purring happens. Some people think it is caused by blood moving turbulently through the blood vessels. Others think it is because of soft palate vibrations. Purring in cats has been examined by electromyographic tests to indicate a level of electrical activity in the cat's muscles. This might mean that purring is caused by the larynx muscles being activated. The vocal chords are in the larynx. Partial closure of the larynx, or glottis, might be responsible for the purring sounds.
Face rubbing
Have you ever wondered why your cat likes to rub his face on everything? Cats like to rub their cheeks, chins and bodies on nearly anything. Whether or not it feels nice to them, this is not the main reason for doing it. Around their mouths, foreheads, lips and chins, cats have scent glands. When a cat rubs itself on a person, it might be taken as a form of greeting. Cats living in a group frequently rub up against each other to exchange scents. In this way a 'colony scent' is created. This is a quick way of identifying any intruders. A cat coming back from the veterinarian might make the other cats hiss and be unfriendly because of the strange scents it brings back from there. Recognition between cats has a lot to do with smell and their sense of smell is very strong.
Scratching things
Scratching is mainly to sharpen and condition a cat's claws. It removes loose parts of the nail sheath which covers the growing nail. Cats also have scent glands in their paws and scratching leaves the cat's scent on the item being scratched. This marks it as the cat's territory. Cats continue to try and scratch even if declawed, showing that scratching is part of their integral behavior, whether or not they have claws to sharpen. It is either habit or the cat wanting to leave its scent on the item it is trying to scratch. Cat furniture can be a great way to allow your cat to scratch but not destroy your furniture.
Kneading
Cats often knead your lap before they will lie down. In fact, they often knead any surface they plan to lie down on. Kneading is when a cat extends the claws on its front two paws and digs them into the surface which an alternating rhythmic motion. Kneading (also known as milk tread) is first used in kittenhood. When a kitten is sucking at its mother's teats, it extends its legs and kneads the area around the teat. This makes the milk flow out faster. Perhaps as adults, a cat continues this behavior because it feels happy and safe and associates the comfort and joy of lying on your lap with the happiness he shared with his mother.
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