Cats have a highly ritualized grooming sequence. First, they lick the inside of a front paw and then sweep the saliva-moistened paw first in small and then in ever-increasing circles from back to front around one ear. They then groom the other side of the face in like manner. Next, comes body grooming, limb grooming and, finally, tail grooming. In the process of cleaning and conditioning their limbs and feet, cats may pay some attention to their nails. Cats' nails are also conditioned by their scratching hard surfaces to shuck off old nail husks. Some cats, like some people, develop the "bad" habit of constantly chewing or biting their nails for no apparent reason. The expression "nail biting experience" goes hand-in-glove with anxiety and conflict. The same connection seems to hold true for cats, too. While cats are not normally seriously dedicated nail groomers, some do seem to bite their nails more or less continuously.
Collecting useful things, like food and bedding material, is something that many animals practice and is a normal, largely innate behavior.
It is possible to cater to shy cats, coexist with the middle-of-the-road variety, and work around the more demanding types, but this isn’t the way things have to be. Training cats can help to improve the...
Cats love to scratch, and the things they love to scratch are often the legs of your antique table, your upholstered sofa, or your expensive stereo speakers. But don’t despair; there are some things you...
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