Why do cats meow?

Different Cat Meows And Their Meanings

1) Demanding, loud meows

It usually doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what Kitty means when she issues a loud meow. It can usually be translated as "I want my dinner / a treat / let outside etc. etc. NOW!" Her body language and where she's standing will confirm the verbal demand.

2) Quiet, almost inaudible or even silent meows

There's usually no mistaking this one, either. Kitty is either saying "I'm really cute, give me immediate attention," or she's asking for something that she knows she shouldn't get - like some of your dinner while you're still eating it, for example. And heck, it works. She knows that you'll become putty in her paws the instant she pulls this little stunt.

3) Howls

A really loud howl may indicate Kitty is in pain, injured or seriously upset. You should always investigate when she howls loudly, to make sure she's OK.

Some clever cats learn that howling like a banshee gets them attention, so they'll do it solely for this reason. If yours falls into this category, still check up on her when she howls, but if she's just doing it for attention, don't give her any at that point. For advice on curbing excessive cat meowing, click here.

4) Screeching associated with fighting

Cat fighting screeches are frightening and unmistakable. Why do cats meow before and during a fight? Sometimes, if a cat screeches loud enough, he will frighten the other cat off before a fight has even begun. If not, screeching usually continues through the fight as it's adding to the cat's general aggressive behavior.

5) Hissing

Cat hissing is also unmistakable. It may be associated with cat fighting, or it may be telling a human, dog or other animal to back off in no uncertain terms. It is best to back off if a cat is hissing at you, unless you're trying to set an unusual new fashion trend in cat bites and cat scratches. You're best to let her calm down, and approach her later when she's in a less aggressive frame of mind.

6) Other meows

There are lots of meows that don't fall into the above categories. They can mean all sorts of things. By listening to Kitty's meows in different circumstances, and watching her behavior at the same time, you'll eventually be able to work out what many of them mean.

The answer to the question "why do cats meow?" isn't at all straightforward. Kitty is an intelligent, complex little creature, and you can have a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable time trying to figure her out.

Why do cats lick people?

When a cat licks you, it can serve several purposes. Grooming, affection (which grooming is a part of), tasting, and leaving their scent on you.

Especially kittens use licking to taste new things. Even if their sense of taste isn't as developed as that of humans, they still behave like human children and learn about new things by tasting them.

If you meet other cats while you're away, your cat will smell them on you -- even if you didn't really cuddle the other cat, since a cat's sense of smell is about ten times as acute as ours -- and will "mark" you as HER (or his) human, so the other cats don't think you're a stray and try to adopt you ;p If you did pet the other cats, your cat will cover their scent with her (or his) own, and at the same time learn as much as possible about the other cat.

Cats groom their kittens to care for them, to keep them healthy and to show them they are loved. A cat will do the same to you, of course, since she likes you and wants to show you that she cares about you. =)

I don't know that much about dogs and why they lick people though ^^ So I can't say if they have different reasons or not (well, slightly different, I guess).

Why do cats sleep so much?

There's no doubt about it: cats sure know how to sleep. Although the amount of time spent napping varies from cat to cat, and depends on the cat's age and personality, felines spend an average of 13 to 16 hours each day curled up in slumber. Only the opossum and the bat sleep more – napping away almost 20 hours a day.

Nobody is sure why cats sleep so much. Cats evolved from a long line of hunters and predators – and their sleep patterns reflect that. For one thing, they are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), since most of their prey is active at these times. This gives them plenty of time to sleep during the middle of the day.

The cat's diet may play an important role in its sleep patterns. Large grazing herbivores must graze for hours to supply their bodies with enough food. But the protein-rich diet of the cat does not require such an investment of time, and allows him plenty of time for napping.

Of course, today's modern indoor cat sometimes sleeps out of boredom. You can help your kitty by providing plenty of stimulation during the day – this can be in the form of toys, a companion, or by spending quality playtime with you. If he has plenty to do during the day, he may prefer to stay awake then, and sleep more during the night when you do.

What Happens During Sleep

Sleep consists of two basic phases: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when dreams occur, and Non-REM (NREM) or deep sleep. If a cat is deprived of either sort of sleep, it becomes confused and irritable.

During NREM sleep, your cat's body repairs and regenerates itself. Kittens build their muscles and bones. The immune system strengthens and revitalizes. Kittens need more NREM sleep than adults and with advancing years the amount of NREM sleep diminishes.

During REM sleep, your cat's eyes move behind the eyelids, limbs twitch, and whiskers move around. Up to 60 percent of your cat's sleep is REM sleep, three times more than we have when we are asleep.

Cats Really Catnap

Newborn kittens sleep most of the time, but this keeps them safe in the nest and also keeps them quiet so that they don't attract predators. As they mature, young cats sleep patterns begin to conform to those of adults, with them tending to sleep in naps rather than having one long rest. Again this has to do with their predatory nature.

Cats in the wild must be on the alert in order to survive. When your domestic cat sleeps, his finely tuned senses are still active and ready to spring into action. Watch your cat while he's napping. His ears rotate as he stays in touch with his environment, and if he hears a noise or senses that someone is approaching, he will open his eyes to assess the situation before falling back to sleep. If you try to wake a sleeping cat, he can transform from deeply sleeping cat to one that's fully alert in a matter of seconds – and then back again.

*Cats Sleep...Anywhere

...any table...any chair...top of piano...window ledge...in the middle...on the edge...

Your cat looks for a place that feels comfortable and safe and has the right temperature. When the weather is warm, he seeks high shaded sleeping nooks, where he can stretch out. During the cool winter months he'll find a place bathed in the warm sunshine or sidle up to heat source, and there he'll curl up with face between paws to reduce body heat loss.

You can make a comfortable bed for your kitty or choose from the variety of plush feline beds at your pet store. However, if you are so inclined, you can let your cat sleep in his favorite place – your bed. In a recent poll, 60 percent of cat owners admitted that they share their beds with a cat. Advocates of this method say it strengthens the human-feline bond – not to mention the warmth and comfort your cat provides you.

Why do cookies have flour?

The flour creates gluten, which helps the cookies have structure. In some cases, it even adds to the flavor. Basically it holds it all together.