Why Does Your Cat Do That? 7 Odd Cat Behaviors Explained

After caring for cats across Westchester and Fairfield County for years, I’ve learned that almost every strange thing a cat does has a reason behind it. Owners often ask me the same question during meet-and-greets: “Why does my cat do that?” The truth is that most of these habits are your cat communicating in the only language it has. Let me walk you through seven of the most common ones and what they actually mean.

You’ve probably heard it—that rapid, stuttering “ek-ek-ek” sound your cat makes when a bird lands on the sill. This is a blend of predatory excitement and pure frustration. Your cat has spotted prey, its hunting instincts have lit up, and it desperately wants to pounce on something it simply can’t reach through the glass.

It’s not distress in the harmful sense. It’s an animal built to hunt, running into a window. Many of my in-home cat clients do this every morning, and it’s one of the more endearing quirks I get to catch on the photo updates I send after each visit.

Finding a toy mouse on your pillow—or something less pleasant a cat caught on its own—can be confusing. But this is a natural hunting and provisioning instinct, and it’s often shared as social behavior. Your cat is bringing prey back to a place it considers safe, sometimes to its group.

Please don’t read it as a critique of your abilities or a demand that you eat a bug. It’s closer to inclusion. Your cat sees you as part of its world and is doing something instinctual and, in its own way, generous.

The classic. Your cat calmly walks up to a pen, a glass, or your keys, makes eye contact, and pushes them straight off the edge. Why?

A few reasons stack up here. Cats are naturally curious and use their paws to investigate objects, tapping and batting the way they would test prey. When an object moves, falls, or makes a sound, that’s rewarding. And here’s the part most owners recognize: your cat quickly learns that this behavior reliably gets your attention. Even an exasperated “Hey!” is a response, and a bored cat will take it.

If your cat looks at you and slowly closes and opens its eyes, you’ve just been paid a real compliment. The slow blink is a sign of trust and affection—a relaxed cat telling you it feels safe.

There’s actual science here. A 2020 University of Sussex study found that cats slow-blink back at people who slow-blink at them, and they were more likely to approach a person who slow-blinked at them first. So try it: catch your cat’s eye and give a slow, soft blink. Many cats will answer. It’s one of the simplest ways to build a bond, and it’s a trick I use with nervous cats on our first visit.

When your cat bumps its head against you or rubs its cheek along your hand, furniture, or a doorframe, it’s doing something called bunting. Cats have scent glands in their faces, and they’re marking you as familiar and safe.

This is one of the friendliest, most affiliative gestures a cat has. Your cat is essentially claiming you as part of its trusted circle. When a cat I’m caring for starts bunting against my leg, I know we’ve turned a corner—that cat has decided I belong.

That rhythmic pushing of the paws into a blanket, a cushion, or your lap—sometimes called “making biscuits”—is a comforting behavior carried over from kittenhood. Nursing kittens knead to stimulate milk, and the motion stays linked to contentment for life.

So when your adult cat kneads, it’s feeling secure and happy. If the claws come out a little, a folded blanket on your lap saves your legs while letting your cat enjoy the moment.

Set an empty box on the floor and it becomes prime real estate within minutes. Enclosed spaces feel safe and secure to cats, and they’re often warm, too. A snug box lets a cat relax with fewer angles to watch and a cozy temperature to boot.

This is exactly why I encourage keeping cats in their own homes rather than boarding them elsewhere. Familiar boxes, favorite windowsills, and known hiding spots are a huge part of what keeps a cat calm and relaxed.

Understanding these behaviors makes life with a cat richer—and it makes for better care. When I look after a cat, I pay attention to its quirks so it gets a consistent caregiver who actually knows its habits. It’s the same reason 550+ families across Westchester and Fairfield County have trusted us since 2018, and part of why we’ve earned 4.9 stars on Google from more than 80 reviews and referrals from local veterinarians.

One honest note: these are normal behaviors. But a sudden change—a cat that stops kneading, hides constantly, or acts unlike itself—can signal a health issue. When that happens, call your veterinarian. You know your cat’s baseline, and a real change is worth checking.

Michael Ferraro

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