They are capable of showing affection, but are equally at home giving you the cold shoulder for some perceived transgression or other – coming back from being away is a sure-fire way to make them sulk, and behave like they couldn’t care less if you are there or not.

Lip Curl!

You may love your cat, but you may not be fully aware of just how cool they really are. For example, did you know they have an extra organ that allows them to taste scents? You may have seen them almost sneer at you, they curl back the upper lip exposing the front teeth, and somehow inhale with closed nostrils, holding this position for several seconds.

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This is known as the ‘flehmen response’ in cats (also seen in bigger ‘wild game’ cats and even in horses), and is a fascinating behaviour rooted in their enhanced sense of smell. They process pheromones and gather detailed information about their surroundings through this weird response (from German flehmen, to bare the upper teeth, and Upper Saxon German flemmen, to look spiteful) which is also called – amongst others – ‘the flehmen’ grimace or just ‘flehmening’. It may also be performed with the neck stretched and the head held high in the air. This allows the transfer of pheromones and other scents into the vomeronasal organ (VNO, or Jacobson's organ) located above the roof of the mouth via a duct which exits just behind the front teeth of the animal.

What’s with the catnip?

Catnip contains several chemical compounds, including one called nepetalactone. Most cats become euphoric by smelling it or eating it, before eventually becoming chilled out and ‘zen’, but the effects are short term and it’s not addictive. Other cats become hyperactive or downright aggressive. Usually these sessions last about 10 minutes, after which your cat loses interest.

More than half of the world’s felines don’t respond to catnip. Scientists still don’t know quite why some go crazy for the aromatic herb and others don’t, but they have worked out that catnip sensitivity is hereditary – if a kitten has one catnip-sensitive parent, there’s a one-in-two chance that it will also grow up to crave the plant. And if both parents react, the odds increase to at least three in four.

Cat Tails

Cats use their tails to help maintain balance when walking along a narrow perch. Of course, if a pet loses his or her tail or is born without a tail, they will adapt – the Manx cat, for instance, is born with little or no tail but manages perfectly well. Tails help with communication - a calm cat with a straight-up tail with a hooked tip is a friendly greeting, while an aggressive cat may just have its tail straight up. A fearful cat will have an arched back with its tail up and puffed out.

Your cat seemingly asleep with a tapping tail, for example, is probably relaxed overall, but paying attention to something happening around him, so not asleep on the job at all. A whippy tale on an alert cat can mean nervousness, and potential aggression, and is in ‘do not touch mode’, so consider it a warning to watch out for. It might be accompanied by flattened ears and fur standing on end.

When dogs wag their tails, they may be expressing happiness. But this isn’t the case for cats! When a cat wags their tail, it’s their way of warning you that you are probably getting on their very last nerve.

Cat Tales

In Japan, cats are thought to have the power to turn into super spirits when they die. This may stem from the Buddhist belief that cats are temporary resting places for powerful and very spiritual people, and - believe it or not - according to a Hebrew legend, God created cats after Noah prayed for help in protecting the food stores on the Ark from being eaten by rats. In return, God made a lion sneeze and out came a pair of cats!

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan