Understanding Cat Behavior

Before ever opening a Ragdoll cattery, I spent 10 years understanding cat behavior. Not because I wanted to open a Ragdoll cattery, but because of my regret over the two cats I had when I was younger—the regret of not understanding them, which could have made their lives better. I thought that if I was ever going to have a cat again, I was going to do it right.

Even after 10 years, the learning never stops. I love being asked questions about cat behavior, by the way. Don’t feel embarrassed about not knowing—learning is what makes us better.

I often watched Jackson Galaxy videos and other cat behavior videos, observing their actions and trying to understand why. Even with my current cats, I am still learning and using these observations to understand cats even further.

Cats need their own personal space, and they need you to be able to read their emotions—they don’t have the ability to say what is going on. When a cat starts hiding or sitting in the litter box, which they usually don’t do, it is a sign to pay attention, because there is a reason for that behavior: safety, not feeling well, unhappiness, etc.

I am very in tune with my cats’ behavior because breeding is my main job. I am always very observant of what is going on, and something unusual will immediately catch my eye. I have always had the ability to sense something wrong or unfamiliar quickly. I am so in tune with my cats’ emotions that I can suddenly look in their direction and tell if they are lonely or sad. At that point, I either start asking them what is wrong—which they can understand by my caring tone—then I give them Inaba Churu or a treat, pet them, and put them in the most comfortable spot in the house. I can see immediately their expression becomes happier, and they feel that someone is caring about them. I treat all my cats and kittens as inseparable parts of me, and their emotions are mine. It is the nature of myself, and perhaps a toxic trait of mine.

It is really hard to mention everything about cat behavior in this piece because it is knowledge slowly accumulated over time. But always look at your cat’s face, get used to seeing their expressions, and eventually you will start noticing the signs and emotions they are signaling to you. I am always open to answering questions, even if you are not interested in getting a Ragdoll from me. Since I mainly just run a Ragdoll cattery, I get bored and enjoy educating about things.