Does your cat walk over you all the time?
That look is obviously deliberate, as if to step on you!
So, do you know the meaning behind this behavior? Is it just because it is naughty that it does such a “prank” with you?
Markers
From a behavioral point of view, the cat’s behavior of stepping on people is actually a kind of territory marking behavior.
There are a lot of odor glands distributed on the foot pads of cats, and when it steps on your body with its feet, it will naturally leave a unique smell on your body through these odor glands.
A study conducted by animal behaviorists over a long period of time has shown that cats in multi-cat households will step over their owners more frequently, which seems to declare a resource possession.
After all, in multi-cat homes, cats compete with each other for their owners.
Leaving their scent on their owner also lets other cats know that they belong.
Other studies have shown that this marking behavior helps cats establish a sense of security and order.
A cat stepping over you may also be trying to get your attention.
Cats are very intelligent and sensitive animals, and they will attract your attention through some special behavior, and stepping over you may be such a behavior.
Studies have shown that when a cat steps on a human, about 80 percent of the cats will respond by petting, calling, and so on.
This positive feedback will naturally reinforce this behavior in the cat, making it more frequently used in daily life.
In the experiment, the researchers divided the cats into two groups. One group paid attention when they stepped on people, while the other group ignored the cat’s behavior.
They found that the attenuated cats increased their trampling by 50 percent over the course of the week, while the neglected group significantly reduced their trampling.
This is a good indication that some cats stepping on people just want attention. If you don’t get attention, the corresponding behavior will decrease.
On the other hand, when a cat steps over you, it’s probably instinctive.
When wild cats survive in the wild, they need to find a soft, safe place to rest and sleep.
He will tread the ground with his PAWS first to test the texture and safety of the ground.
Domestic cats don’t have to do this anymore, but they still have this instinct.
When they step over you, they may be seeing your body as a “soft and safe” place.
According to a comparative analysis of the behavior of domestic cats and feral cats, when choosing a resting place, domestic cats are more inclined to rest in a soft place with the scent of their owners.
And the stampede behavior is actually a way to confirm their resting environment.
This behavior is more common in young cats, which have a higher need for environmental safety.
Cats stepping on people may also be a form of communication.
A cat can’t communicate with people through words, but it does communicate through the way it behaves.
When a cat gently steps over you, it may be showing friendliness and closeness to you, similar to a human hug or handshake.
Research has shown that the movement and force with which a cat steps on a person can actually reflect a cat’s mood.
When the cat steps over slowly and gently, accompanied by purring, it is often an expression of happy mood.
Now you know, the cat stepping over you, in fact, is not only naughty, may also hide other meaning oh!
So, does your cat walk over you, too? How do you feel about this behavior?
Leave a Reply