Cats are wonderful house pets; they provide companionship, know how to wash, and go potty in a convenient, easy-to-clean box. They come in all sizes, from the large Savannah which is a mix between a domestic cat and a wild African Serval which can reach up to 20 pounds (or over 9 kilos), to the Singapura cat which weighs approximately 7 pounds, or just over 3 kilos.
The behavior of cats has been studied for years; researchers have tried to ascertain why they do certain things such as butting their owners with their heads or chewing on plastic. One such behavior that researchers have studied extensively is why cats purr. One interesting thing to note about this is the connection with purring during times of stress. I find this particularly interesting because in all the years I have had the companionship of a cat, which at this point is 40-ish years (and a few different cats) I have never heard my felines purr during times of stress. They have either gone completely silent or started yowling their little hearts out, but never a purr.
Purring usually occurs when a cat is nursing kittens, or when the cat or kitten is being stroked or petted. The diaphragmatic and laryngeal muscles will signal intermittently, causing the purring noise to emit while both inhaling and exhaling. There is also evidence that points to the purring noise promoting self-healing in cats.
As an experienced cat owner knows, felines can be very independent which can sometimes make it hard to determine when something is wrong with them. This can be unfortunate - because they are so small in size, a sickness can become serious rather quickly. If your cat has changed behavior chances are there is something wrong that needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. For example, my elderly cat suddenly started urinating in front of her litter box; as she had never before exhibited that behavior I immediately knew something was wrong, and off to the vet we went. Turned out she had developed kidney disease and had to be put on a special diet.
Changes such as sudden weight loss or gain, sudden decrease in activity, time spent sleeping, or just odd behavior, in general, should be a red flag. However, there are some behaviors that are not a cause for alarm such as munching a bit of grass from time to time.
A patch of edible grass grown in a container is a great treat for your cat; they love catnip, oat grass, and wheatgrass to nibble on. If you grow some in a small container you can be assured that your pet is not ingesting pesticides or other harmful chemicals from the wild grass outdoors. Cats seem to gravitate towards grass when they’ve got an upset stomach; they are carnivores and lack the ability to digest plant materials. Thus eating the grass causes the cat to regurgitate whatever it is that is making their tummy upset (usually a hairball). I grow wheatgrass for my cats - it's very easy and they love munching on it.
Cats have been living with us for thousands of years; some Egyptian paintings show domestic house cats that are approximately 3,600 years old. Many religions around the world hold cats as special, from the Egyptian goddess Bastet to the Japanese Maneki Neko which is a symbol of good fortune. Keep an eye on your little bundle of fur and ensure she or he stays healthy; they may be your spirit guide!
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