cat communication Archives

How to Use Your Scratching Post Like a Boss

11/03/2018
Chirpy Cats
23 Comments
Caturday Voodles
anti-declaw, cat behavior, cat communication, funny cat video, scratching post, talking cats

Last updated July 29th, 2020

Why do cats scratch?

Scratching is always one of the first topics that pop up in cat forums and more often than not, seen in a negative light. We ask questions like “Why is my cat scratching my couch?” or “My cat is not using his new scratching post!” But that’s because we view it from our human perspective, and not from the cat’s purrspective if you will. Your cat is not a “jerk” or scratching out of spite, as is commonly thought. In the world of cats scratching is very much linked to everyday cat rituals and is a behavior that carries positive associations for the cat.

In our post about Declawing, and why it needs to stop we mention that scratching is a vital part of a cat’s well-being. Providing cats with many different types of scratching posts contributes to a cat’s enrichment needs. Cats do not scratch your couch to get back at you but it’s an innate feline behavior necessary for cats to feel confident and happy in their environment.

cats write love text messages on their scratching posts

12/02/2018
Chirpy Cats
11 Comments
Caturday Doodles
bonded cats, cat communication, cuddle buddies, old cats, scratching post

Last updated March 12th, 2018

They couldn’t be more different. She with her slim athletic build and long Bengal limbs, agile light-footed paws and non-stop chatter, Sarabi has no mute button. Earl Grey, on the other hand, will charm you with his almost silent meow, sometimes manifesting as a raspy croak or squeak, one of his most endearing traits. While she would flit about like a paper kite, he is never in any hurry to go anywhere, even in his youth.

Earl Grey and Sarabi have known each other all their lives and are longtime cuddle buddies. You will not see the one sleeping without the other. Whether they are spooning, lying in yin-yang position or just grooming, these two oldies will make their space on the couch each evening. But for a couple that is so bonded they have always had their ‘arguments.’ I don’t think he likes it when she screams her head off while running up and down the stairs playing fetch with her mouse. In fact, he would often intercept her game by biting her on her neck as if to say “Be quiet or I stop your game!” Funnily she would heed his request and continue the game without a peep. Read More

Scratching Post Secrets Revealed week #3

Last updated January 17th, 2018

Pixie, Please let sleeping cats lie!

There is nothing more annoying than that overzealous friend wanting you to join her for Zumba at the crack of dawn and all you want to do is sleep in. And what about that roommate who oversteps the boundaries and helps himself to your week’s supply of yogurt in one sitting? When it comes to our cats, their relationships with each other are no different. So what’s a cat to do when his housemate wants to play and he wants to sleep? Well, you scratch a sticky note text on your scratching post, of course! Read More

Caturday Voodle: The Paw Confrontation

15/10/2017
Chirpy Cats
9 Comments
Caturday Voodles
cat communication, cat video, catworld problems, multi-cat household

Last updated February 19th, 2021

If you’ve been following our series Scratc hing Post Secrets Revealed, perhaps you will remember our debut episode about Ollie’s scratching post sticky note he left for Charlie. He wasn’t happy about Charlie supposedly stealing his treats. Well, this week we interrupt our Caturday Doodle series and follow up with a quick Voodle about Ollie’s expression of displeasure at Charlie’s pilfering ways. Ollie felt his sticky note message fell on deaf ears so he decided to confront the issue, paw on. Read More

Scratching Post Secrets Revealed Week #2

Lola sneezes in Lexy's face while she is being groomed.

07/10/2017
Chirpy Cats
19 Comments
Caturday Doodles
cat behavior, cat communication, multi-cat household

Last updated January 14th, 2018

Cats Scratch Their Sticky Note Texts

Cat siblings have an awful lot to say to each other. In last week’s Caturday Doodle, Ollie made it known that he was not happy with Charlie taking all the treats so he left a kitty sticky note text on the scratching post, as cats do. We thought it would be fun to gather some sticky notes from other cats too and we were happy to see the sticky notes from all sorts of opinionated and disgruntled kitties pouring in.

01/10/2017
The Lady Cat
17 Comments
Caturday Doodles
cat behavior, cat communication, cat scratching, multi-cat household

Last updated February 18th, 2018

A scratching post is a vital communication tool used by cats and is also their podium for leaving little scent messages for their fellow feline housemates.

Cat communicating text messages on his scratching post

“Charlie, stop stealing my treats” signed, Ollie

The Silent Treatment

Cats display an array of vocalizations for cat-human communication but when it comes to communicating with other cats, they give each other the silent treatment. In the world of cats this is not a bad thing, in fact, their world is rich with scent messages and stimuli which they are busy decoding every second. Imagine how rich their scent vocabulary must be to be able to establish their little cat hierarchies and time-sharing schedules in their multi-cat homes. Cats will generally avoid confrontation and would rather just leave a little scent message to their housemates to get a point across. They certainly do have lots to say to each other and in order to live happy and enriched lives with their feline housemates and people, they need a platform to communicate their feelings, viewpoints, and grievances.