Cat tails can be long or short, straight or bent or curled, and anywhere from nearly furless to luxuriously fluffy. A few cats have no tails at all! Cats use their tails to help them balance and to feel what’s going on behind them [3], but cats communicate with their tails, too. Because cats and dogs send very different signals with their tails, this part of cat body language is a common source of miscommunication between cats and both human and canine family members. So, here’s a guide to what your cat’s tail is telling you.
Your cat can hold their tail anywhere from straight up in the air to tucked all the way underneath their body, and the position they have their tail in gives you a lot of information about how they’re feeling [2-4]. A tail held straight up means that your cat feels confident and safe in their space [2-4]. A cat is more visible to potential predators or enemies with their tail held high, so they only do that if they are 100% certain that there is no danger here [3].
An even more relaxed cat holds their tail up with the tip curved, like a question mark [4, 3]. Cats will often pose their tails this way when they greet a trusted friend, including you [3, 4]! If a cat’s tail is up in your presence, there is a good chance that they’re interested in interacting with you [2].
If a cat is walking around with their tail held out to the back, roughly level with their spine, this is a fairly neutral message [3]. This is a cat who feels pretty comfortable, but they’re being a bit cautious, just in case [3]. When a cat is crouched down with the tail straight out back, that means they’re getting ready to pounce [4].
If a cat is keeping their tail down low, then they are scared or maybe in pain [3, 4]. When cats tuck their tails all the way underneath their bodies, they are terrified [2-4]. That’s their way of trying to get as small as possible to avoid being seen by something they expect to hurt them. If you see your cat’s tail going low, that’s a sign to you to find out what the problem is [3].
Bottlebrush Tail
Image by Kailey Whitman
A different way that cats communicate fear with their tails is by fluffing out their fur [2-4]. Every hair stands up on end, giving the tail a “bottlebrush” appearance [2-4]. This is meant to make the cat appear larger and more menacing to whatever has scared it [3]. It’s a startle response [3, 4], so it comes from a different flavor of fear than tucking the tail. A cat with its tail puffed out is primed to react aggressively, a reflex that helps cats survive in the wild [2], so make sure you give them their space to calm down [3].
How worried you need to be about a bottlebrush tail really depends on your cat. Joon is the perfect specimen of a scaredy-cat, and the slightest unexpected noise makes her fluff up. So if I see her running through the house with her hair on end, I don’t think much of it. But Wednesday has no fear. The first time I took her to the vet, she tried to start a fight with a German Shepherd. On the rare occasions that she gets startled, I go looking for the danger, because maybe I need to be worried about it, too.
Tail Movements
This is probably how the way that cats communicate with their tails causes people–and other pets–the most confusion. Cats may move their tails in similar ways to dogs, but the message is not the same. Let’s start with the tap: just a little, up-and-down motion of the very tip of the tail when your cat appears otherwise relaxed [4]. This means your cat is slightly irritated about something or perhaps lost in thought [4]. A side-to-side flick or swish of the tail indicates some kind of excitation [1-4]. What kind depends on the context. It could be frustration, annoyance, even pain, but it can also be playful, such as when your cat is focused on a bird outside the window [1-4]. Whatever the case, that is probably a cat that is too excited for you to bother right now [1, 2].
While dogs generally wag their tails when they are in a good mood, the exact opposite is true for cats, which can lead to some disastrous miscommunications. When a cat thrashes or wags their tail from side to side, they are telling you that they are most upset, and you need to back off before they have to become aggressive [1-4]. Dogs (and people who expect cats to act like dogs) tend to take it as an invitation to approach instead [2, 3]. If you have dogs or very dog-minded friends, you may have to keep an eye on them around your cat so you can intervene before a tense moment becomes bloodshed [3]. Don’t be afraid to educate your houseguests about feline body language, too, especially if you witness someone misinterpreting your cat’s signals. It will help not only them but any cats they meet in the future.
References
Bailey, A. and Cosgrove, N. (2023, November 23). Cat tail language: The meaning of your feline’s different tail wags. Catster. https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/cat-tail-language-movements-meanings/
Coates, J. (2021, November 21). What’s my cat’s tail telling me? The Spruce Pets. https://www.thesprucepets.com/cat-tail-body-language-554048
Galaxy, J. [Jackson Galaxy]. (2023, September 9). Quivering, wagging, puffed up: What is your cat’s tail trying to tell you? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLi3Z_Mlshk&ab_channel=JacksonGalaxy
Jordan, C. (2021, November 1). Why do cats wag their tails? Here’s what your feline is trying to tell you. Daily Paws. https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/behavior/common-cat-behaviors/why-do-cats-wag-their-tails
As our cats get older, they can show a variety of signs of aging. Some, like arthritis and a graying muzzle, you probably expect. But did you know that cats (and dogs) can get dementia, just like humans? Cognitive dysfunction in cats is not uncommon in old age [4]. About 30% of cats 11-14 years old and 50% of cats 15+ have changes in behavior unrelated to another health problem [4-6]. This is called Feline Cognitive Decline or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in veterinary terms.
What Does Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Look Like?
Sordo and Gunn-Moore use the acronym VISHDAAL to help explain the typical indications of cognitive dysfunction in cats. The letters are in order of how common the symptoms are. [5]
V is for Vocalization: excessive meowing or yowling, especially at night [1-5]
I is for Interactions: changes in the way your cat interacts with members of the household, such as an increased or decreased interest in petting and attention, irritability, aggression toward people/pets, or decreased responsiveness [1, 3, 5, 6]
S is for Sleep-wake cycle: changes in the cat’s sleep-wake cycle, particularly being awake during hours of the night when they used to sleep [1-6]
H is for House-soiling: that is, urinating and/or defecating outside the litterbox [1-6]
D is for Disorientation: being confused about place or time, e.g. getting lost in familiar locations, becoming somehow stuck in places they should be able to get out of easily, not remembering that they’ve just been fed, staring blankly into space [1-6]
A is for Activity levels: either decreased activity, e.g. less grooming, lack of interest in food or play, or increased activity in the form of restlessness [1-6]
A is for Anxiety: this can manifest in a variety of ways depending upon the individual cat and may contribute to other symptoms [1-6]
L is for Learning and memory: forgetting routines, commands, and familiar people, pets, or places [2-6]
Not every cat will exhibit every symptom, and CTS is a condition that changes and progresses over time [5, 6]. Some of the first signs of CTS may be subtle, and many cat parents mistake them for a normal part of aging that they can’t do anything about [1, 5, 6]. However, if you notice any of these symptoms in your senior cat, you absolutely should tell your veterinarian [1, 3]. The vet can confirm a diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan to make your cat’s last years as peaceful as possible.
Cara’s Story
Cara was one of my childhood cats. She was born under our front porch when I was five or six years old, along with two sisters and a brother. We kept her and her brother, Milo, and they were with us into my college years. Cara was always sort of an odd duck. She wanted attention only rarely, stuck her head in shoes, and stared down into the floor vents for extended periods of time. But when she got to be maybe eight or nine years old, she started getting weirder.
The garage was the cats’ home base, and when they wanted out there they would stand at the door and meow. But Cara started going up to any closed door in the house and meowing to go out. She started actually rubbing against us and demanding attention. She started peeing in the bathtub. Cara had kidney problems, as many old cats do, but we never could figure out why it was just the bathtub. She became much more vocal, as well, although if she was meowing in the middle of night, we never heard it since they slept in the garage. No one in my family knew that pets could get dementia until we saw it with Cara.
Diagnosing Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
CDS is a diagnosis of exclusion because many of the symptoms can also be caused by medical problems that are common in senior cats [1-3, 5, 6]. For example, pain from arthritis might cause irritability or decreased activity [1, 2, 5]. Vision or hearing loss might cause a cat to become disoriented [1, 2]. It’s important to rule out other medical causes through testing [5]. Only then can your veterinarian be sure that CDS is the culprit.
What Causes Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats?
No one knows for sure what causes CDS. Just like Alzheimer’s disease in humans, it is still somewhat of a mystery. Veterinarians have a few ideas, however. As cats get older, their brains accumulate certain kinds of age-related damage [4-6]. Their brains eventually shrink and lose neural connections, just like ours do [5]. Toxic beta-amyloid plaques and abnormal tau proteins build up in the brain over time [4-6]. Impaired blood flow and oxidative damage are also age-related changes that contribute to cognitive dysfunction in cats [4-6]. The brain is expected to deteriorate with age, just like the rest of the body [3]. However, handling dementia in your elderly pet isn’t as straightforward as some of the other conditions common in senior cats because it isn’t one-size-fits all.
There is no cure for CDS, but there are things you can do to make things easier for your cat if they are diagnosed with it [3, 5, 6]. A lot of it has to do with adjusting your cat’s environment to make things easier for them [1, 3]. Keeping to a strict routine makes everything easier to remember and less stressful [1, 5]. Avoid major changes, such as introducing a new pet, if at all possible [2, 3]. If your cat is up all night, you can make a point to keep them active during the day and play with them in the evening hours [1]. Cats that are soiling outside the litterbox may be forgetting where the litter box is or how they’re supposed to use it [1]. Add more litterboxes in easy-to-see places [1-3].
Anxiety may be helped by giving your cat more attention, playing the radio at night/when you’re not home, or using a calming pheromone diffuser like Feliway [1, 3, 5]. Every cat is different, though, so expect some trial-and-error. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations based upon your cats specific symptoms [1, 5]. It may help to consult a cat behaviorist, too [1].
A special diet can sometimes help with CDS [2, 3, 5, 6]. Vitamin E and antioxidants are believed to aid an aging cat’s brain [2, 3, 5]. There are cat foods available that are high in these nutrients [5]. Ask your veterinarian or local pet store for a recommendation. You can also buy supplements, but be careful, because they are usually formulated for dogs and may not be safe for cats [5]. Only use a supplement that is clearly labeled as safe for cats!
Medication
There aren’t any medications specifically for cognitive dysfunction in cats yet; nonetheless, there are some that your veterinarian may prescribe. Anti-anxiety medication is one option [1-3, 5]. The drug selegiline/Anipryl is approved for CDS in dogs and is sometimes prescribed for cats [1, 2, 5, 6]. Not all cats with CDS require medication, however, and their needs can change over time. Take your senior kitty into the vet for regular appointments to reassess what their needs are [6].
Kornreich, B. (2022, September 27). Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CTS). Cornell Feline Health Center Monthly Health Tips. [Email Newsletter]
Sordo, L. and Gunn-Moore, D. A. (2021). Cognitive dysfunction in cats: Update on neuropathological and behavioural changes plus clinical management. VetRecord, 188(1), e3. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.3
Whether you find it annoying or cute, it is a universal truth that cats rub legs–and pretty much everything else, including each other. This quirky behavior is unique to cats [8]. Why do they do it? What’s so interesting about our legs? And our shoes? And that one corner of the sofa?
Showing Affection
As I discussed in my article about how our cats show that they love us, cats communicate their affection with their humans in the only ways they know how: like they would with another cat. A friendly nuzzle or head butt is one way that cats express affection for each other [1, 3, 4, 8]. It may be a greeting or just a reminder that they love you [3, 6].
When cats rub our legs, they put their faces and eyes in a vulnerable position, so it’s a clear sign that kitty trusts you and feels comfortable around you [5]. As animals that are in the middle of the food chain, cats need to be extremely vigilant to survive, so they only let their guard down if they feel completely safe.
Cats are also naturally territorial animals, and rubbing both objects and family members is a healthy territorial behavior. Cats have a lot of scent glands on their faces [1-3, 5-8]. They use the pheromones produced by these scent glands to mark their territory by rubbing against objects [1-6]. Cats also create a group scent within their colony by rubbing their pheromones onto each other [2, 4, 5]. Since we are part of our cats’ social groups, our cats rub our legs to create a group scent [2, 4, 5]. Although we can’t smell it, it’s important to our pets [1].
When cats scent mark each other, they usually nuzzle their heads together [5, 7]. But humans are just too tall [7]! So instead, cats rub their faces against whatever part of us they can reach, and that’s usually our legs or feet [5, 7].
Trying to Tell You Something
Does your cat suddenly start twining around your legs when it’s time for their dinner, or when they think it’s time for their dinner? Mine do, and I nearly fall on my face about once a week. Why are they rubbing us then? Because they’re trying to get our attention and give us a message [3, 4, 6, 8]. In this case, the message is clearly, “Feed me.” Sometimes, though, cats might rub our legs because they want to play or to be pet [3, 4, 6, 8].
So if your cat keeps nuzzling you over and over, they may be trying to ask you for something. Unless you were recently visiting with another cat. Then they may just be trying to make you smell right again.
Works Cited
Becker, M. and Spadafori, G. (2006). Do cats always land on their feet? 101 of the most perplexing questions answered about feline unfathomables, medical mysteries & befuddling behaviors. Health Communications, Inc. Deerfield Beach, FL.
Gormly, K.B. (2020, September 15). Why do cats rub against you? Catster. https://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/why-do-cats-rub-against-you-a-weird-cat-behavior-explained
You are sitting on the sofa with your cat snuggled up in your lap. You are stroking your kitty’s fur and thinking this is one of those perfect moments having a pet is all about. Then your cat whips around and clamps their teeth down on your hand. For many people, this is one of the most baffling things their cat does. It may seem sudden, unprovoked, or even just mean, but cats don’t do anything without cause. In fact, there are a few reasons why cats bite when we pet them.
Biting during petting is called petting-induced aggression or “love bites” [3, 6, 7]. While it may be cute to call them love bites, they are not a sign of affection. Cats usually bite when pet to tell the person touching them that they’ve had enough [1-4, 6, 7]. Most cats will give non-aggressive warnings first, but if those go unnoticed or ignored, a cat only has so many ways to say “Hey, stop that!”
Why would they want you to stop showering them in love and attention? Cats are extremely sensitive to touch, and too much petting causes them to become overstimulated [1, 4, 6, 7]. When a cat is overstimulated, their senses are overloaded, and they just can’t stand any more.
Cats may also bite when pet if they are in pain. Conditions such as arthritis, injuries, toothaches, and ear infections can cause cats to bite or scratch if you pet them on or near the sore spot [5-7]. My childhood cat, Milo, was a 24/7 love bug until he got arthritis in his old age. Then petting his lower back earned you a swipe. If your cat suddenly exhibits petting-induced aggression for the first time or in a new way, have the veterinarian check for a medical reason.
If your cat licks you before biting, they may be “grooming” you and getting carried away [3]. And some cats just think it’s playtime. Young cats and kittens are especially likely to mistake petting hands for toys [2, 5].
How to Tell If Your Cat is About to Bite
If you’re observant, you should be able to spot the signs that your cat is no longer loving your attention. You have to learn how your own cat communicates, but here are some things to look out for [2, 4-7].
Dilated pupils
Fur standing on end
Ears flattening or turning sideways or backward
Low growling or other vocalization
Quick head turns
Licking, rubbing, or other affection that gets too enthusiastic
Tail twitches
Skin rippling along the back
Claws unsheathing
Stiffening muscles
Whiskers tilting forward
Looking pointedly at your hand
Use toys that keep your hands away from the action – Photo by cottonbro at Pexels
Some cats provide more warnings than others [1]. As soon as you notice any sign of irritation, stop touching your cat [1-4, 6]. If your cat wants to leave, let them, but don’t try to pick them up and move them, as that is just more contact they don’t want [6]. If you listen when your cat first tells you to stop, they won’t need to escalate to biting or scratching. Remember, we can’t expect cats to respect our boundaries if we don’t respect theirs.
NEVER punish your cat for petting-induced aggression [1, 3-6]. They are trying to communicate, and you will damage their trust by punishing them for it [1, 4].
More Ways to Prevent Petting-Induced Aggression
If your cat is very easily overstimulated, take the time to figure out where their sensitivity threshold is [1, 2, 4, 6, 7]. Settle down to pet your cat without any distractions, and see how many strokes they tolerate before the first signs of discomfort [1, 4, 7]. You can also try changing the way you pet your cat. Short scratches or strokes to the head, cheeks, and chin are usually easier for reactive cats to handle [1-3, 6].
If you think your playful cat or kitten may be using your fingers as toys, start by making sure you are providing plenty of interactive playtime to get out that energy [1, 6]. Never play rough with your cat or kitten, as they will instinctively fight back [4, 5]. Finally, always use nice, long toys like wands when playing with your cat so they don’t learn that your hand is the toy [4, 5].
Works Cited
Becker, M. & Spadafori, G. (2006). Do cats always land on their feet? 101 of the most perplexing questions answered about feline unfathomables, medical mysteries, & befuddling behaviors. Health Communications, Inc.: Deerfield Beach, FL.
Galaxy, J. & Delgado, M. (2017). Total cat mojo: The ultimate guide to life with your cat. Tarcher Perigee: New York.
Moore, A. (2001). The kitten owner’s manual: Solutions to all your kitten quandaries in an easy-to-follow question & answer format. Storey Publishing: North Adams, MA.
Some people say that cats do not care about their humans, or that cats are cold and heartless. Both of these ideas are totally wrong and usually based on an assumption that cats should communicate with us the way dogs do (2, 3). But of course, they are not dogs, and cats show love in their own ways. Every cat has their personality and will communicate a little differently. That being said, here are some of the love letters your cat may be sending you.
Slow Blinks
One of the most important ways cats show love is with the slow blink, sometimes called the “cat kiss” or the “cat I love you” (1-5). This is when a cat looks at someone with half-lidded eyes and leisurely blinks at them (1, 2, 4, 5). The gesture conveys comfort, trust, and affection (1-5). That is because to cats, who are both predatory and prey animals, keeping their senses alert is imperative to staying alive in the wild (2). Therefore, slowly closing the eyes to another creature, a potential aggressor, is a signal of willing vulnerability (2). It says, “You make me feel safe.”
This is a form of cat communication that you can easily reciprocate. Soften your gaze, half-close your eyes, and slowly blink at your cat. Make sure not to stare–sleepy eyes only. Cats will sometimes return your slow blink.
Bunting
Also known as head butting or head bonking, bunting is when cats push the tops of their heads against that of a friend, be that friend cat, human, dog, or anything else (2-5). Cats have scent glands in their foreheads (2, 4). When your cat bunts you, they are mixing their scent with yours (2, 3, 4). This is a common social interaction among cats (2, 3). Cats build relationships by commingling scents, so this is a way they display affection (2-5).
Friendly Tail
Cats communicate a lot with their tails. A cat who is happy to see you will have their tail held high with a slight curve at the tip (1-3, 5). Flicking just the tip of the tail is a quick, friendly greeting (3, 5). This is a likely result of domestic cats’ ancestors living in dry grassland habitats where a tail held high to say hello would be visible above the tall grass (2).
Another way cats show their love is through allogrooming, or grooming one another. Cats that have a bond use allogrooming to create a community scent and to relieve stress (3, 4). Your cat may groom you for the same reasons (3, 4). That sandpaper tongue may feel strange, but just remember that it’s a sign your cat cares about you.
Cheek Rubbing
You have probably seen your cat rub their cheeks against all manner of things in your home, including you. This is a scent-marking behavior, as another place cats have scent glands is in their cheeks (2, 3). Cheek rubbing declares ownership (2, 3, 4). Unlike more aggressive territorial behaviors, however, the cheek rub is a confident, friendly form of scent-marking that invites socialization (2, 3, 4).
Kneading
Kneading involves the rhythmic flexing and relaxing of a cat’s paws. Kittens knead against their mothers to stimulate the flow of milk. Adult cats often exhibit this behavior as well when they feel very content (1, 3). If a cat is making biscuits on your lap, you know they feel comfortable around you (1, 3).
Talking
Cats can make up to 100 different sounds, and they use some of them exclusively to communicate with humans (2). Chirps, trills, and meows are common sounds cats use to talk to their people (2, 3, 4). Some cats are more talkative than others, but almost all appreciate being spoken to (5). It makes them feel included (5). Another kind of kitty talk is purring. Cats purr for a variety of reasons, but one of them is to express security and contentment (1-5).
When cats completely trust those around them, they are willing to exhibit vulnerable body language (2, 3, 5). Like the slow blink, these postures would put a cat at risk in the presence of predators or assailants. A cat that is stretched out is leaving themself exposed, thus showing that they trust you (3). An even greater display of trust is for a cat to roll over on their back and show their belly (2, 3, 5). Don’t take it as an invitation to a tummy rub–that’s a bridge too far for most cats (2). But it does mean that your cat feels very safe with you.
What could bring more joy than a purring kitty curled up in your lap? And there are so many different kinds of purrs. Some cats purr like a lawn mower engine, and some are so quiet you could barely hear them with your ear on their chest. Purring is a uniquely feline behavior. We associate it with happy kitties, but cats actually purr under a lot of different circumstances. This rather odd sound must serve a purpose besides being adorable. So why do cats purr?
Anatomy of the Purr
First things first: what even is purring? As someone who used to try it for myself as a child, I promise it doesn’t come naturally if you aren’t a cat. There was a lot of debate about how cats purred for a long time. One prominent theory was that the purring sound came from a change in the cat’s blood flow [1, 4, 6]. Now, biologists are generally agreed that cats purr using the muscles of their larynx and diaphragm [1, 3-5, 7]. By vibrating their larynx, which in turn vibrates their hyoid bone [5], a cat causes the air in their throat to vibrate as well, creating the sound we know as purring [1, 6].
Most vocalizations can only be made when exhaling. It just makes sense. You need air in your lungs to push through your larynx to talk, sing, laugh, etc. The same is true of other animals. However, cats can purr on the exhale and the inhale, which is what enables them to purr constantly [1-5, 7]. This is due to the continual vibration of the larynx as they breathe in and out through it [1].
Cats Purr to Communicate
Cats first start to purr by the time they are a week old [1, 2, 4]. The purring of her newborns may signal to a queen their location and wellbeing [1, 2, 4]. It is thought that each kitten has a unique purr their mother can recognize so that she can tell which of her babies is communicating with her [2].
Queens will also purr for their kittens [5, 6]. One reason may be to provide a tactile cue to help blind and deaf newborn kittens locate the milk supply [6]. Even though very young kittens can’t hear the purring yet, they can feel the vibrations because they are, ideally, never far away. Alternatively, the mother’s purring may disguise the soft mews of the kittens from the ears of predators [5]. Whatever the evolutionary reason, purring cements the bond between queen and kittens [5].
Some adult cats purr when feeding, possibly a throwback to that kittenhood behavior [1]. Cats may also purr to inform their person that they want their food, now please [1]! The purr of solicitation sounds different from the snuggly purr [1]. What’s the difference? It’s hard to say for sure. Our lack of knowledge about how cats communicate with each other makes it harder to understand the nuances of how they communicate with us.
One thing that’s certain is cats in the wild purr when they groom each other [1]. Grooming is an important part of a cat’s daily life and a positive social interaction between cats who have a bond. Perhaps this comes closest to the contended purring of a cat that is lying in a warm lap or being petted.
Queens and their kittens purr to communicate – Image by Franz W. from Pixabay
Healing Vibrations
Cats don’t just purr for happy reasons. They sometimes purr when they’re stressed, scared, injured, or dying [1, 3-5, 7, 8]. Cats have sometimes been seen lying alongside another, injured cat, both purring [7]. This is called “purr therapy” because the purring is believed to be a way of comforting the injured cat [7]. In stressful situations, purring can serve as a method of self-soothing [7]. However, it may be an even more powerful tool than that.
Cats purr at a frequency of 20-150 Hertz [1, 3]. These low-frequency vibrations have demonstrated healing benefits [1, 3, 4, 7, 8]. 25 and 50 Hz frequencies promote bone growth and fracture healing [8]. 100 Hz has therapeutic use for pain, wound healing, swelling, and difficulty breathing [8]. It may seem far-fetched, but bones do respond to pressure by hardening [1, 7]. And there is a good evolutionary reason why cats might vibrate their way to good health.
Cats are ambush predators. This means they spend a lot of their time resting and waiting in-between hunts. Purring could have evolved as a low-energy way to stimulate their muscles and bones while stationary [3, 7]. Then their bones wouldn’t weaken or become brittle over time from lack of use [7]. Interestingly, researchers have proposed just such a fix for astronauts. Muscle atrophy and bone density loss are a big problem on long space missions where the lack of gravity prevents normal exercise. Vibrating foot plates have been suggested to stimulate astronauts’ bones and prevent them from losing density [7]. It seems the cats had that figured out a long time ago.
Do All Cats Purr?
Probably not, but it kind of depends upon how you define purring, apparently. Once upon a time in the early 1800s, biologists believed that cats could either roar or purr, but it was impossible to do both [7]. This is how cats came to be divided into the “big cats,” or subfamily Pantherinae, and the “small cats,” subfamily Felinae [6, 7]. Although most big cats are larger than most small cats, those names are actually a misnomer, since the smallest of the “big cats,” the clouded leopard, is smaller than the biggest of the small cats, the puma [7]. The basis of the division on roaring vs. purring is also probably inaccurate.
Housecats aren’t the only ones that purr! – Image by Amber Stevens from Pixabay
The Pantherinae cats have a rope of tough, flexible cartilage where the Felinae have only the hyoid bone [5, 6]. This gives the larynx greater flexibility so that roaring is possible, although lions are the only ones to make regular use of this ability [5, 6]. Does this mean they can’t purr, though? These days, biologists tend to believe than most cats can purr, or at least something like it [3, 7]. Some call it a purr-like vocalization or a hum rather than a true purr [3, 4, 6].
Even granting that most cats can actually purr, some of the Pantherinae are usually believed to be exceptions: lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers, snow leopards, and clouded leopards [7]. But that may yet prove untrue. The anthropologist and animal behaviorist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas suggests that big cats may reserve purring for their cubs and that is why people think they don’t purr at all [6]. We simply aren’t around when they do.
von Muggenthaler, E. (2001). The felid purr: A healing mechanism? The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 110(5), 2666. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4777098
You are probably familiar with the feline behavior amusingly termed “elevator butt.” Stroke a cat along the length of their spine or scratch them at the base of their tail, and they are likely to stick that posterior up in the air. My parents’ cat, Rosenberg, actually stands all the way up. It’s a foolproof way to get her out of your spot on the couch. But, why? It’s a pretty weird thing to do. When my friend asked me to find the answer for her, I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to. I mean, yeah, I wanted to know, too, but would there really be any behaviorists out there devoting their brains to the mystery of why cats raise their butts when you pet them? Sometimes I’m thrilled to be wrong. Not only did I find answers, but they’re really quite interesting.
The Importance of Body Language
Cats can’t just tell us how they feel, but they communicate a lot without words. One reason your cat might lift their hindquarters in response to petting is to tell you “oh yeah, that’s the spot–more of that please” (3-5). They’re leaning into the pleasurable sensation (1, 2). The hips and base of the tail have lots of nerve endings, so many cats really enjoy being pet or scratched there and want to tell you to keep going (1, 2). It’s also difficult for cats to reach those spots when grooming, so you may be scratching an itch kitty just can’t reach on their own (1, 2).
In addition, cats present their rears as a friendly greeting (1, 4, 5). Another cat would sniff the scents coming from their anal glands to learn more about them (1). Your cat probably knows from experience that you won’t put your nose under their tail, but their instincts still tell them that a raised butt communicates trust and friendliness (1).
By the same token, cats may exhibit this behavior as a way to mark the person petting them with their scent from their anal glands (1, 2, 5). That may sound gross, but it’s similar to when cats rub you with their cheeks, another place where they have scent glands. They just want to lay claim to a favorite person or someone who is making them happy by petting them in just the right spot (1, 2, 5). The pheromones from a cat’s scent glands are undetectable to the human nose, but other cats can smell them and tell whose human you are (2).
Are You My Mommy?
There is a theory that cats raise their butts in response to petting as a holdover from when they were young kittens (1, 2, 4, 5). Kittens aren’t able to do much for themselves at first. That includes grooming, which they rely on their mothers for until they get the hang of it. Young kittens stick their posteriors in the air so their mothers can clean them (1, 2, 4).
Our pet cats have a complex relationship with us in which they view us partly as surrogate parents (1, 2, 4, 6). When they feel their person stroking their back the way their mother’s tongue once ran down their fur, they may react the same way they did as kittens.
But What If…
…My Cat Doesn’t Do This?
If your cat doesn’t put their rear end to the sky when you pet their back, it doesn’t mean they hate you. If you just got your cat, it could be because they haven’t quite warmed up to you yet (2). But some cats just don’t enjoy being pet around the base of the tail like others do. The concentration of nerves endings that makes it feel so good to a lot of cats can actually make it unpleasant for others (1, 2). Other cats may like a little petting in that sweet spot but quickly become overstimulated (1, 3).
If your cat used to get elevator butt and really seem to enjoy those back scratches, but suddenly they don’t, or your cat seems to react with pain when touched around the hips/tail base, this could be cause for concern (1, 2). Skin allergies, impacted anal glands, spinal problems, and kidney disease can cause pain in that area (1, 2). Take your cat to the veterinarian if you notice any signs of pain in their lower back.
…My Cat Does This Without Being Pet?
If you have an intact (un-spayed) she-cat, you may notice that sometimes she gets elevator butt not only when you pet her, but apparently out of the blue. This is called lordosis and is an indication that a she-cat is in estrus, or heat (2, 3). Lordosis looks slightly different from regular elevator butt because it’s actually the she-cat presenting herself to a tom for mating–whether a tom is present or not (2, 3). She turns her tail to the side and may tread her hind paws (3). She cats in heat will usually do this a lot, including almost any time they are pet.
If you celebrate Christmas, there’s a good chance you put up some kind of Christmas tree. If you read this blog, there’s a good chance you have at least one cat or are thinking about getting one. So if you celebrate Christmas and read this blog, then you probably have reason to keep a cat out of a Christmas tree. Me too, my friend. The two cats we had growing up actually showed very little interest in the Christmas tree, except as a new thing to sleep under. But in recent years, I have lived with cats that had a lot more holiday cheer, shall we say.
So this article is for Sven, my roommate’s cat who thought a two-foot plastic tree would somehow stand up to 10+ pounds of tomcat flinging himself into its branches. And for Joon, whose teeth marks are forever left in my shiny foil Christmas present ornament. This will be her first Christmas in a house with a Christmas tree that’s actually large enough for a cat to climb, and I am panicking more than a little. But my research says all hope is not lost.
Choose Your Tree Wisely
I have never once had a live Christmas tree. I was probably eight years old before I found out that was a thing people did. Now I know that for many people, the live tree is a big part of their holiday tradition. And the first people to put up Christmas trees certainly weren’t using plastic ones, so tradition really is on your side if that’s your preference. However, live trees are much more attractive to cats than artificial ones.
Climbing is hardwired into the feline brain, and one of the most readily accessible climbing surfaces in nature is trees (1, 2, 3). In addition to climbing trees to hide, hunt, and survey their domain, cats also use trees to mark territory (1, 2). Marking can include rubbing and scratching or really quite unpleasant urine and fecal scent deposits. Artificial trees can look similar to real trees, but they don’t smell like them. Scent is very important to cats–hence the marking–so when you bring in a real, live tree, they know it’s a tree (2, 3). And their feline mind has very different ideas about what a tree in the living room is for than you do.
If it’s really important to you to have a live tree, it can be done, but it’s easier (and often safer) to have an artificial one. Whichever flavor of tree you choose, keep in mind that smaller trees are less likely to become kitty jungle gyms (2). Plus, if your cat does climb the tree and manage to knock it over, the smaller the tree is, the less likely your cat is to get injured in the fall (4). Slimmer trees also make less appealing targets, so consider a pencil tree if you’re going artificial or a live tree with a similar profile (5).
Location, Location, Location
Once you have your tree picked out, you need to set it up. Depending upon the tree, that can be an ordeal in itself, but with a cat extra care needs to be taken. First of all, make sure that you have a heavy-duty base to secure your tree with (1, 2, 4-6). The hope is that the cat won’t climb the tree at all, but you want to do your best to keep the tree from toppling if they do.
Next, look for a place where there would be plenty of open space around the tree: no furniture, cat trees, or other launching pads your cat might jump into the tree from (1, 2, 4-6). Ideally, the amount of empty space around the tree will be equal to the height of the tree (2). So a six foot tree would have a furniture-free zone extending six feet from it in all directions.
Of course, having that much free space around the tree isn’t always practical. Fortunately, you can work around the need for so much space in a number of ways. We’ll get to the more complicated ones later. The simplest ways are to 1) have a shorter and/or slimmer tree that doesn’t need such a big zone around it, or 2) put the tree in a corner (6). That completely eliminates two directions from which a cat could come flying. It’s also safer for your cat–and your decorations–because it eliminates two directions in which the tree could fall, too.
If your home is amenable to it, it’s a good idea to secure the Christmas tree to a wall or the ceiling. Screw an eyebolt into the wall or ceiling and tie the tree to it with clear fishing line. It’s a nearly invisible fix that might prevent a disaster. Just make sure your cat doesn’t get ahold of the fishing line and decide to eat it! (1-3, 5, 6)
If you really want to keep the cat out of the Christmas tree completely, you may want to put the tree in a room that you can close off and restrict the cat’s access to (1, 7). Before you decide to shove your beautiful, festive tree of holiday cheer into a back room somewhere, though, wait until we’ve gone over all the options. There are lots of tricks you can try yet.
Ornaments Hung by the Greenery with Care
Decorating the tree is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I love the beauty of the ornaments and remembering the history of each one as we go through them. Unfortunately, to cats, ornaments look an awful lot like toys. To avoid broken ornaments and possibly trips to the vet, we have to be careful about how we decorate our trees.
You may want to start decorating the second you get the tree put up. I know I do. But hold off for a while. If you leave the tree bare for a few days, it gives your cat a chance to investigate it and hopefully get bored of it before you start hanging any tempting baubles (4).
When it is time to decorate, first things first: if you decorate with tinsel, don’t. This is one thing that is non-negotiable. I know, tinsel is shiny and awesome, but cats think so, too. And they respond to shiny, awesome things very differently than we do. Cats infamously like to eat tinsel, and when they do the tinsel can choke them or get caught in their digestive systems (2, 4-6, 8). These are life-threatening emergencies. The digestive blockages caused by tinsel usually require surgery to repair. So, no tinsel.
Garlands may also be a chewing hazard, but it depends upon what they’re made of. Food garlands might seem safe, but some human foods are toxic to cats, not to mention that they tempt your pets to get into the tree (6). Anything tinsel-like has the same risks as tinsel. Paper garlands can be a good idea (8). They aren’t very attractive to cats, and if kitty does nibble them, it’s no big deal. Wood also doesn’t grab a cat’s attention the way shiny things do (3, 5).
Now, for the main event–the ornaments. Perhaps the simplest thing to do is not decorate the bottom of the tree at all (2, 4-6). How much of the tree you leave plain is up to you and the reach of your cat. Pet Health Network suggests not decorating the bottom fifth (2). Alternatively, decorate only with unbreakable ornaments at the bottom–wood, plastic, felt, burlap, etc. (5). That may still be too tempting and get your cat too interested in the tree, though. You can always try and see how it goes, if you’re feeling brave.
It’s best to only decorate with unbreakable ornaments, really. They’re typically less shiny, so they don’t attract cats as much (3, 5). And those fragile glass ornaments, while beautiful and often sentimental, can be very dangerous for your cat if they break them (1, 6). They might ingest small pieces or cut themselves on the sharp, broken edges (1, 6). And even if no one gets hurt, who likes broken ornaments? No one, that’s who. But most of us have some fragile favorites that we like to see on the tree every year. So make sure to put them toward the very top of the tree and secure them well. In fact, secure all your ornaments well.
The more ornaments sway, the more enticing they will be (3). Metal ornament hooks can hurt your cat’s paws if swatted or stepped on, and they aren’t very secure anyway (4, 5). Instead of hooks, consider tying your ornaments to the branches with twist ties, wire, or twine (2-6, 8).
The Art of Deterrence
Now we get to the more creative approaches. If you just can’t keep your cat out of the Christmas tree in any of the above ways, try the following. Remember, however, that wherever you say “no,” you must also provide a “yes” (3). If the only climbing/scratching/perching surface in the living room is the Christmas tree, there may be no amount of deterrence that will keep your cat from trying to get into it. The Christmas tree is usually in a socially significant area of the house, so your cat will want to hang out in that area with you (3). Therefore, make sure that you have a tall, quality cat tree in the room with the Christmas tree as an appropriate alternative to the tree itself (3). Just don’t put it too close to the tree, or your cat will be tempted to jump between the two (3)!
Started from the Bottom
If your cat is climbing the Christmas tree from the base, there are several ways you can discourage them from this point of entry. Wrap the bottom of the tree trunk with aluminum foil (2, 4, 5). Cats usually don’t like the sensation or sound of foil. A circle of foil under the tree skirt may also work (4, 7).
The Christmas Tree Defender – Photo from company website
A more heavy-duty solution for the problem is the Christmas Tree Defender, a circular grate made of green plastic that clips around your tree. It can also be used for potted plants year-round. It is treated with a flame retardant, though, so it may not be suitable if you have a cat that likes to chew hard plastics.
Trees Are Not for Eating
Speaking of chewing, Christmas trees and their strings of lights can be tempting targets for chewers. Cats are known for investigating new and interesting things with their mouths, but when it comes to Christmas decorations, this is not just destructive but very dangerous. Pine needles are sharp and toxic to cats (3, 4, 6). Artificial needles can be dangerous if eaten, too, as plastic doesn’t really digest (1). Then there’s the lights. Some cats just can’t resist chewing on cords, but if they reach live wires within, burns on their mouths are a best-case scenario.
What to do? For the lights, apply a pet-safe bitter spray or cream to them before you string them on the tree (2, 3, 5, 6). If using a spray, it’s best to spray a cloth and then wipe the cords with the cloth (5). Make sure to wear gloves! If you have a pre-lit tree, this will obviously be a rather difficult endeavor. Just do your best and tuck away any dangling wires once you’ve coated them. You can also spray the whole tree with bitter spray, which works for cats that want to chew the branches (6).
Unplug the lights when not in use to minimize the chances that the wires will be live if the cat bites into them. It’s also a good idea to use a cord cover on the unlighted length between tree and wall socket so that the cat is unlikely to chew through to the wires at all (1, 3-6, 8).
Prevention is Scent-sational
There are certain smells that cats do not like. There are exceptions to almost every rule, but most likely your cat won’t be a fan of citrus, citronella, menthol, and apple cider vinegar (1, 3-5, 8). You can buy cat repellant, usually citrus-based sprays to spritz the Christmas tree with (1, 5), or you can use a variety of homemade solutions.
Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy suggests putting citrus zest, whatever kind strikes your fancy, into plastic bags, poking a few holes in the top, twisting them up, and hanging them inside the tree (3). He says that from a distance nobody will think anything of it (3). I trust Jackson Galaxy to the moon and back when it comes to cats, but I do wonder about his aesthetic sensibilities. You could maybe do the same with cheap plastic Christmas balls with holes poked in the top, but I haven’t tried it. I might, though, so watch this space. Other possibilities include:
Placing lemon or orange peels around the base of the tree (4, 8)
Including orange slices or strips of orange peel in the tree decorations (5)
Spray pinecones with apple cider vinegar and place them at the base of the tree (8); if using pinecones from outside, bake them in the oven at at low heat to kill any bugs first
Mix a little citronella oil into a spray bottle of water and spritz the tree with it (8)
Not-So-Holy Water
One of the big problems with cats and live trees is that cats want to drink the tree water. This isn’t just weird. It’s unsafe. The water may contain pine sap, fire retardants, pesticides, and fertilizers, all of which are toxic to your cat (1, 2, 5, 6, 8). Not adding anything to the water yourself, i.e. Aspirin, can prevent further toxicity, but it’s best to keep the cat out of it any way you can. Some tree stands include a cover for the water bowl, so if you can find a sturdy stand with a cat-proof cover, you’re in luck (1, 6)! But if not, aluminum foil or plastic wrap can be your friend here just like on the tree trunk (1, 2, 8). Netting or Sticky Paws for Plants, a kind of double-sided tape for deterring cats, are other good choices (6).
Creative cat-proof Christmas trees with Cole and Marmalade
“You know who would love this? My human!” – Image by Kurt Bouda from Pixabay
One summer morning when I was in high school, I opened the front door of my parents’ house to go get the mail. Fortunately, I’m in the habit of looking down when I walk, so I managed to avoid planting my bare foot directly into the present that our outdoor cat, Rosenberg, or Rosie, had left on the doormat for us. It was a baby rabbit, or most of one, that is. She had eaten a hole in the side of the head and consumed the brain, but left the rest for us to enjoy. We still call Rosie a zombie cat.
This was not the only time Rosie left us a gift. She’s never brought anything more indoors than the garage, but many people are not so lucky. Sometimes, cats bring gifts that are not so decidedly deceased, either, and cat owners may find themselves chasing rather lively birds, rodents, or reptiles around their homes. We humans generally regard this behavior as disgusting, but our cats seem to think we appreciate it. Why? Just, why?
Humans and cats are obviously very different animals, and we think differently. Cats are hard-wired to hunt, and a lot of their emotional lives revolve around hunting. It’s what they would spend most of their waking hours doing in the wild. Cats simply enjoy hunting. If prey is available, cats will hunt even if they are well-fed. A study found that cats would stop eating in order to kill a rat that was presented to them, only to set the rat beside their food bowl and keep eating what they had been eating before (1).
Cats may have evolved this high prey drive because prey can be scarce and difficult to catch, so stopping whatever they’re doing to hunt available prey, even when not hungry, would have boosted their chances of survival (1). The feline drive to hunt is why cats with access to the outdoors will inevitably at least attempt to. There are a few theories as to why they want to bring some of their prey to their people, however.
One school of thought is that they simply want to bring their prey back to a safe place to consume it, their den as it were, the way they would in the wild (2). But their den is your home or front stoop. Some experts believe that cats may want to show off their good work, but veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Liff points out that pride for their catch may be too human a motivation to ascribe to cats (3).
Kittens have to practice hunting – Image by Ivo Zahradníček from Pixabay
Although cats are usually thought of as solitary and independent animals, they are actually fairly social and often live in colonies or with family members (4). As such, feral cats may bring prey back to the group to ensure the survival of everyone (5, 6). Cats also hunt cooperatively with members of their social group–Elizabeth Marshall Thomas suggests in her book The Tribe of Tiger that a possible explanation for bringing home live prey, at least for some cats, might be the joy of joining in a group hunt with the humans as they frantically chase down the injured animal (4). Domestic cats may be thinking in these terms when they bring prey to us, their family members of another species. Or, they may be thinking of us as family in a filial sense.
Perhaps the greatest consensus for why cats bring their humans prey is that they are treating us like their kittens. Mother cats bring prey to the den to feed their offspring. They also bring home dead, dying, or wounded prey to teach their kittens how to hunt. So our cats may be trying to feed us or teach us, or both. Really, who could blame them? In their world, hunting is everything. But we are clumsy, ungainly things that clearly cannot hunt for ourselves. Who knows where they think we get our food from, but I imagine they pity us sometimes. So perhaps they want to do what they can to help.
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas shares a story about how she and her husband had a she-cat that began to bring home dead mice all the time after she had a kitten (4). She would bring mice for the kitten, even after the kitten became an adult, but she would also bring them to Thomas, her husband, and their dog, the most appreciative of the bunch (4). It was as though motherhood made her suddenly feel responsible for all of these terrible hunters with whom she shared her home. However, even sterilized cats and toms can show this behavior. Maybe they all feel sorry for us.
Even indoor-only cats will bring gifts. They may manage to catch prey that sneaks indoors to present to you, but more often their gifts are inedible. The prey caught by indoor cats is mostly their toys, or whatever other objects they use as a toy, and these are the things they are likely to leave as gifts (5). Joon does this occasionally at night. I’ll wake up in the morning and find one of her toys, most often her beloved plush, pink-and-white sock, lying right beside me on the bed. If I wanted to have someone teach me how to hunt, it wouldn’t be Joon. I think her lifetime achievements are a spider and some flies. But I appreciate the sentiment.
Not all mice are created equal – Image by isaikina13 from Pixabay
If your cat is leaving gifts more like Rosie’s than Joon’s, and you wish they wouldn’t, there are a couple things you can do, but keep in mind that you may not be able to stop this behavior completely. Cats will always find something to hunt, and there’s always a chance that if they catch something, they will bring it to you.
That being said, one thing you can do is engage your cat in interactive play to satisfy their prey drive and diminish some of that need to hunt live animals. The live prey drive will never go away, but you can redirect some of it. Another tactic is to make sure that any cats with access to the outdoors wear a breakaway collar with a bell, so that their hunts are less likely to be successful. That’s good for the local ecosystem and you’ll get much fewer unwanted gifts.
When your cat does bring you a present you didn’t ask for, you may want to scold them, but don’t. They won’t understand. Whatever the reason your cat is doing this, they see it as at least a neutral and probably a beneficial thing that they are doing for you. How would you feel if you did something really nice for somebody, and they yelled at you and called you a bad person for your good deed? It’s usually recommended that you actually praise your cat and then discreetly dispose of their gift, assuming it isn’t still very much alive and you have other things to worry about at the moment. Your cat is, after all, only doing what is natural to them.
By the way, if you have a cat with access to the outdoors, and they don’t bring you gifts, don’t feel insulted or worried. Not all cats have the same prey drive. Yours may just not feel as compelled to hunt when provided with sufficient food. Or they may not be very good at it. (7) Rest assured, they are still finding ways to be a cat, as cats always do.
Works Cited
Adamec, R.E. (1976). The interaction of hunger and preying in the domestic cat (Felis catus): An adaptive hierarchy? Behavioral Biology, 18(2), 263-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-6773(76)92166-0
A catnipped cat is a sight to behold. They lick and chew the wondrous herb, rub their faces in it, and roll around on the ground. Sometimes they drool or run screaming through the house. Some cats, on the other hand, don’t seem to care for catnip at all. Cats are truly a never-ending source of entertainment and mystery. Scientists of many stripes have been investigating the relationship between cats and catnip since at least the 1960s, so many questions have been answered, although some still remain.
Catnip, also called catmint or catwort, usually refers to the species Nepeta cataria, but can include any of the 250 or so species in the genus Nepeta. Cats react to quite a few of these species, not only Nepeta cataria, the most well-known catnip. Catnips are members of the mint family. Most of the species are perennials. They have opposite leaves, grey-green foliage, and small flowers in a variety of colors. N. cataria has pink or white flowers. Catnip is aromatic even to humans, smelling minty and perhaps lemony. It is the scent of catnip that attracts felines to the plant so strongly.
Not all cats care for catnip, but it does seem to be the case that all species of cats have the catnip reaction, or at least a lot of them. Wild cats large and small have been observed reacting to catnip in the same way that domestic cats do, although just like housecats, not all of their wild brethren are fond of the stuff, either. The chemical in catnip that causes this more-or-less universal reaction is nepetalactone, a volatile oil produced in glands on the underside of the leaves (1). Nepetalactone repels insects, so it is thought that the plant produces the oil in order to repel herbivorous bugs (2), but the chemical appears to mimic a natural cat pheremone. At least, that’s the theory, given that the behaviors exhibited during the catnip reaction bear a striking resemblance to some of those of a she-cat in heat (3).
Wild cats big and small playing with catnip
When a cat inhales nepetalactone, the volatile oil binds sensory receptors which trigger neurons in the olfactory bulb of the brain (4). These neurons, in turn, relate the message to brain regions that cause an emotional and sexual response to the stimulus (4). Catnip is sometimes called an “euphoriant” for cats, although in truth we can only guess at what they are feeling.
Inhaling the scent of catnip is usually stimulating while eating catnip mellows cats out, although individual cats can react to catnip differently. Some may even become aggressive toward other cats or people, so keep an eye on kitty until you know how they are going to behave under the influence, so to speak. The entire reaction lasts about ten minutes, after which the cat cannot react again for up to two hours. Catnip is considered non-addictive and safe. Too much catnip at once can cause a cat to get sick, like anything else. You might want to store your catnip well out of reach if you buy a large amount. Nepetalactone loses potency over time, so it’s a good idea to keep dried catnip in the freezer to avoid this anyway.
What about cats who are indifferent to catnip? There are two possible reasons. First, kittens, with possibly some rare exceptions, do not react to catnip and may even avoid it (5). Cats begin to experience the excitement of catnip around six months of age, when they reach sexual maturity. Interestingly, this occurs even when cats are spayed or neutered (5). But some cats never do become interested in the herb, and this is due to genetics. There is a dominant allele which confers the catnip reaction on cats who inherit at least one copy of it at that gene (5). Anywhere from 20-50% of cats are estimated not to react to catnip and therefore to have two recessive alleles for that trait. What that means for their biology otherwise is hard to say, as the reason for cats reacting as they do remains a matter of speculation.
If you have a cat that likes catnip, you might consider growing a pot of it yourself. Mint species tend to be sprawling and invasive–catnip has already become weedy and invasive outside its native Eurasia and Africa–so I would recommend confining it to a pot. But then you would always have fresh catnip available for your kitty and, for that matter, yourself. Catnip has been used medicinally for hundreds if not thousands of years. In addition to its repute as a natural bug repellent (albeit only for a few hours at a time), it has a mild sedative effect on the human brain similar to chamomile. Herbal teas of catnip may be good for anxiety or insomnia, or just good for relaxing after a hard day.
Native Americans once used catnip to treat infant colic, and the herb is reputed to be good for migraines, digestive complaints, and as a paste for arthritis (4). I cannot personally vouch for these healing properties, but I can say that I kill every plant I try to grow, and even I managed to grow a nice, healthy catnip plant for several months, which is probably a record for me. The cats loved the fresh catnip, but I did have to move the plant outside to prevent them from just munching the whole thing to the dirt. At least I knew they liked it.
Fun fact: other plants, such as valerian and silver vine, affect cats the same way as catnip!
Catnip bubbles!
Works Cited
John Innes Centre. (2018, December 11). How catnip makes the chemical that causes cats to go crazy. ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181211103125.htm
Eisner, T. (1964). Catnip: Its raison d’être. Science, 146(3649), 1318-1320. DOI: 10.1126/science.146.3649.1318
