Why does my cat do this...?

Question

I have an almost 2 year old tortie who is very sweet. Unlike most torties and calicos I've owned, she has basically no attitude. But she's always done this thing where if I go to make food (normally around breakfast/lunch time) and I'm in the kitchen by the stove/microwave, Sadie will fluff herself out, stand on her toes and arch her back, rattle her tail, meow loudly while looking straight at me with wide eyes, and back herself in the corner of the counter. Even when she was a kitten, she'd do this.

Normally when she rattles her tail, it means you're screwed but there's so signs of hostility in this act. I know she most likely wants food but is there any reason she has to do this? Because after the food is done, she'll still sit in my lap at the table and purr and lick my hand/face and rub herself against my arm to try to get some.

Michele the Louis Wain cat · Accepted Answer

Does she do a little treading/dancing motion with her back feet (almost standing on tiptoe) whilst she's rattling her tail? This behaviour is sometimes referred to as "feather dancing" and is a sign that the cat is excited or happy. My female cat greeets me this way when I arrive home or sometimes when I'm dishing up her dinner. Sometimes she chirps whilst she's dancing and it's really cute.

You can read about the behaviour in this article on cat body language.

http://messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm

You can read about the behaviour in this article on cat body language.

http://messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm

Anonymous · Answer

If she gets angry or scared it's not really a learned behavior, she's scared or angry about something in the kitchen perhaps an object that makes a sound she dislikes or a smell, perhaps the only thing you could do is try to change this behavior by perhaps feeding her just before you start cooking, or you can place some food on a bowl to keep her busy, of course place this bowl in another room preferably with the door closed....I wish you the best of lucks ;)

? · Answer

It's a learned behavior, probably in response to the smell of the food.  She's learned that when she does this, she gets fed.  There may not be a cause and effect going on in real life, but in her little feline mind, this ritual is absolutely essential for her to get fed.  Pavlov would have approved, I'm sure.

FancyNan · Answer

Perhaps some appliance in the kitchen has a vibration or hum or high pitched sound that bothers your cat. Pay attention to which  "machine" you are using when she starts to act this way (my cat hates the sound of the water running in the sink, for example) and then you will know.  As long as she doesn't fling herself at your face, you are good. LOL  Aren't cats fun ?

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Why does my cat do this...?

4 Answers