A Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of instinct: “a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity”.
I have observed that cats are simply born with certain “habits”. Whether we view some or all of these “habits” as good or bad is for each of us to decide. For the most part, I chose to view them as good, even if it required adaptations on my part.
I have marveled at a cat scratching on a scratching post as if this was something the kitty was absolutely compelled to do. I have been amazed and alarmed when observing a cat scale the side of a very tall bookcase in order to get to a high place. Living with cats offers us a chance for new experiences on a daily basis. We just need to be ready.
Knowing what to expect will make life easier for us, and might even allow us to get out ahead of them and redirect their activities in a positive way. So let us here look at a few of these instincts, so they will not come as a complete surprise when our cats inevitably act on them.
You may also want to visit my blog post Learn About Cats to find out even more about these animals we invite to come live with us.
Why Cats Naturally Seek High Locations
It is difficult to know for sure, but perhaps they do this to:
- get a better view of their surroundings
- have a safe place to sleep
- experience that special “on top of the world” feeling
- get away from it all, notably if there are other pets in the house
- participate in an extreme sport such as climbing and jumping
Whatever their reason, this instinct even extends to the big cats. Although their ventures into the heights may be rare, even tigers and lions will on occasion relax in a tree.
Tigers would seem to be too big and heavy to climb, yet here we have a tiger lounging on a low hanging tree branch and seeming to be thoroughly enjoying it:
Lions are also a little large to be messing around in trees, yet here we have the King of Beasts:
Whatever those jungle cats can do, our kittycats can do too:
So what are we to do about this climbing instinct? Some of the places our cats want to climb up to around the house are just not safe.
Remember, this is an instinct. You will not be able to talk them out of it, so you may want to try providing an alternative. Your best solution may be one or more cat trees that will hopefully be more interesting to your kitty than the bookshelves and kitchen counters.
Visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Tree to get some really good information about this.
Do Cats Have a Litter Box Instinct?
In other posts of mine I have related how amazed I was to observe a very young and very small kitten get in the litter box and attempt to poop. I could not imagine that the kitty had somehow figured that out.
Certainly I have experienced aged or unwell cats urinate or poop outside the litter box. However, this was unusual behavior by pets who had previously been quite conscientious in their bathroom habits.
For the most part our cats seemed to have an inherent understanding of what the litter box was for, and were happy to use it as long as we kept it clean.
I personally believe this can at least partially be explained by the cat’s instinct to pee and poop in loose dirt or sandy soil, and the litter in that box is the only place in the house that resembles those conditions.
Since they also have a natural tendency to explore their environment, they find the litter box and we are all happy with the outcome.
7 Tips to Choose a Litter Box is my blog post that will help you provide “clean restrooms” for your cat.
Is Post Scratching a Cat Instinct?
Have you ever observed your cat casually strolling along and then suddenly start scratching on something with wild enthusiasm? This activity is a primal urge that cats seem to love to do.
It is not just your pet cat that likes to scratch. Look at this tiger:
This kitty will not be outdone by cousin tiger:
The important thing you want to do here is to redirect this urge away from the furniture. Multiple scratching posts in your home is a very good idea. That cat tree blog post I mentioned earlier can help you find good scratching posts.
Do Cats Sleep Instinctively?
Sleep is a big part of the lives of lions, tigers, kittycats, and all the cat family.
Cats in the wild sleep to conserve energy for the all important task of hunting for food. Household cats sleep because they have retained that wild instinct.
According to the San Diego Zoo website, lions may spend up to 21 hours a day laying around and sleeping. Here is a very big boy doing just that:
Our kittycats also like to sleep:
Why this kitty chose such a hard surface to nap on I do not know. You can find much more comfortable places for your pet to sleep when you visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Bed
Are Cats Instinctively Curious?
One aspect of instinct is that it prompts behavior that is common among a particular species. I have lived with multiple cats, and every time something new was brought into the house, it certainly was common behavior amongst all the cats to investigate the new object of their curiosity.
I always viewed their curious nature as an aspect of their intelligence. After all, curiosity has driven humankind to many great discoveries. Would we not welcome that asset in our cats?
I would think our cat’s curiosity might be borne out of the instinctive need to know what is happening in the environment they live in, so as to determine whether something should be considered a threat or not.
Because they have such keen senses, it is no surprise that their curiosity should be stimulated by any change in their household.
Anyway, it is good to know that whenever we receive a delivery package, we will have our cats there to check it out and make sure it is okay.
Let Instincts Rule
You will probably observe other instinctive behaviors in your kitty. Instinct is a powerful force that may be impossible for your pet to resist. That being the case, perhaps we should just do our best to let them act upon those instincts in a safe and harmless way.
Let cats be cats, and leave us to wonder at the special gifts they possess.