Why Do Some Cats Leave Poop Uncovered (Hint – it’s an insult)
First, we need to understand why cats bury poop in the first place. There are two reasons. First, burying poop prevents detection by their enemies, and second, to avoid challenging the dominant cat of the group. It kind of makes sense, if burying the poop is a sign that they fear another, larger animal, then leaving it uncovered would be a pretty aggressive act. "
So... what do you suppose it means when your cat doesn't bother to cover his poop?When a cat intentionally leaves their poop uncovered or in conspicuous locations (such as on a doormat or in your sister's bed), he is trying to communicate to us that he is the dominant member of the household, and that this territory is his.
In the wacky world of feline politics, feces act as little, smelly flags that clearly dictate the boundaries of each cat's domain. In the wild, these flags are intended to be seen, and smelled, by other cats, a sign that this is the stomping grounds of a badass kitty.
When it comes to the shared domain with humans that domesticated cats enjoy, the same territorial rules still apply, so a housecat who leaves his waste out in the open is sending the message to us that he is El Presidente, and that we should be covering up our poop, so as not to offend him.
And guess what? We do. We helpfully flush away our poop and your cat probably thinks it's done entirely to avoid offending him.
What’ Up With That Hisssssss?
Anyone who has ever witnessed a visceral deathmatch between two angry cats is intimately aware of the blood curdling noises the cute little animals are able to create. Besides the demonically drawn out "Mrrrroww" that emanates from the very bowels of Hell itself, when a cat feels threatened, they always turn to the tried and true hiss.Lots of animals make this noise when in the throes of battle, but why? Why is a sudden rush of moist air from such a small creature so frightening to other creatures that cats use it time and time again?
It turns out that when a cat pushes its ears down, bares its fangs, squints its slivered eyes and hisses, it closely resembles another animal that is naturally feared and avoided by most predators: the snake. And apparently the resemblance is completely intentional.
Cats, like many other animals, instinctively employ the art of mimicry in order to best defend themselves from attack., a cornered cat relies on deception and misdirection in order to avoid being destroyed, and since most animals have a natural fear of venomous snakes, a sudden hiss accompanied by a spray of saliva coming from a head that resembles the shape of a python's will cause even the most determined and bloodthirsty hunter to think twice.
Why Do Dogs Howl?Researchers admit that howling behavior in dogs is still largely a mystery. But if Fido goes wild at the sound of sirens or other dogs, it's not because his ears hurt. It's his ancestry that's partly to blame.
Your pooch shares his penchant for howling with his distant relation, the wolf. Much like barking or growling, howling is a deeply ingrained behavior that helps wolves communicate with one another.
In the wild, a howl usually relays one of two messages: either to tell a rival pack that they're encroaching on forbidden territory or to guide a wayward wolf back to his pack.
If your dog howls in response to another dog or a loud siren, he may be saying, "Get off my turf!" or just, "Where are you guys? I'm over here!"And if your dog howls when you leave the house, it might be because he thinks that this ruckus will trigger some response from you, his pack leader. Your pet probably hopes that his howl will guide you home in time for dinner and a game of fetch.
Why Do Dogs Go Around and Around and Around in Circles Before They Lay Down.
Before lying down, dogs often circle their beds or wherever they've chosen to settle in for a nap. This curious canine behavior dates back to prehistoric times, when dogs literally had to make their own beds.
Although domesticated dogs have adapted to living with humans and can easily be housetrained, they've still retained some of their wild ancestors ' survival instincts."This behavior was hard-wired into the dog's ancestors as a way to build a safe 'nest,'" Leslie Irvine, author of "If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connection With Animals," .
Doggy beds and pillows haven't always been around, so wild dogs had to pat down tall grass and underbrush to make a comfortable bed for themselves and their pups. The easiest way to prepare that night's sleeping area was by walking around in a circle.The rounding ritual may also have served as a safety precaution. "In the wild, the circling would flatten grasses or snow and would drive out any snakes or large insects," said Irvine, a sociologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder who specializes in the role of animals in society.
"I have also heard that circling the area and thus flattening it leaves a visible sign to other dogs that this territory has been claimed," Irvine said. "Even though our dogs now sleep on cushions, the behavior endures.
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