If you own a cat, you undoubtedly see yourself as a substitute for the animal's mother. You provide it with food and entertainment and may even lick its hair in an effort to keep it clean (though we hope this isn't the case).
According to the new book Cat Sense written by English scientist Dr. John Bradshaw, your cat has a very different perspective on the connection that you have with it as a companion and owner.
According to Bradshaw, who has been researching the behavior of domesticated animals for more than 30 years, there are some intriguing possibilities for why cats behave the way that they do with people.
Because cats have never been developed for a particular purpose other than to look lovely, they are, in the end, less domesticated than the canine breeds that humans have devised for hunting down game and assisting around the home.
For one thing, cats have never been bred for a specific function other than to look nice. According to the book, the species has also maintained a large amount of its wild characteristics due to the fact that 85 percent of cats mate with feral tomcats.
The animals' relationships with their owners are driven more by their innate tendencies than by any acquired behavior the owners may have taught them.
When a kitten kneads your body or the fabric of a bed, it is sending a signal to its mother's tummy to continue producing milk. This behavior may also be seen in adult cats.
According to Bradshaw, rubbing up against a human leg or hand is a way that cats demonstrate their appreciation for humans by considering them as another cat.