Cats display many behaviors that confuse or worry their owners—licking, kneading, biting, excessive meowing or even aggression. Some of these behaviors are completely normal forms of communication. Others are signs of stress or underlying problems that need to be addressed. Knowing the difference helps you respond appropriately instead of accidentally making the situation worse.
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Common Cat Behaviors That Usually Don’t Need Fixing
Many common cat behaviors are simply ways cats communicate comfort, affection, or routine needs. These behaviors can look strange to humans, but are often normal.
Kneading, for example, is typically a sign of comfort and security, often rooted in kittenhood. Licking people can be a sign of affection or social bonding, and frequent meowing may simply reflect a cat that is more vocal by nature. My cat, Whiskers, always has a lot to say!
Understanding these behaviors helps prevent unnecessary correction or punishment, which can actually increase stress. Check out each of these posts to better understand some common cat behaviors. All include a video!
Why Do Cats Knead?
Why Do Cats Lick People?
Why Does My Cat Keep Meowing?
Cat Behaviors That Can Signal Stress or a Problem
Some behaviors are more likely to indicate stress, fear, frustration, or unmet needs. These behaviors often escalate if ignored or handled incorrectly.
Biting can be a warning sign of overstimulation, fear, or redirected aggression. Spraying is usually territorial or stress-related behavior, not a litter box issue. Aggression toward people or other pets often points to anxiety, lack of confidence, or environmental stressors.
These behaviors usually benefit from intervention rather than simple observation. To learn more about common behavior problems and how to solve them, check out these posts. All include a video!
Why Do Cats Bite Their Owners?
How to Stop a Cat from Spraying
Aggressive Cat Behavior
Understanding Your Cat’s Behavior Isn’t Always Enough
Understanding why certain cat behaviors happen is important—but it doesn’t always stop the behavior. Some cats need structured guidance, environmental changes, or gentle training techniques to reduce stress and improve communication.
Punishment and force-based methods often make behavior problems worse. Cats respond best to calm, consistent, and reward-based approaches that address the root cause rather than the symptom.
I can recommend a helpful eBook called, The Complete Cat training Guide, which covers 25 common cat behavior issues. You can read my full review called, Help With Cat Training (includes video).
When cat behavior issues are handled with patience and understanding, most cats can become calmer, more confident, and easier to live with—without changing who they are.
Understanding Your Cat’s Behavior is Essential for Their Well-Being
Not every behavior needs to be corrected, but some behaviors shouldn’t be ignored. Learning when a behavior is normal—and when it’s a sign of stress—allows you to respond in ways that support your cat’s well-being and strengthen your relationship.
I hope you found this post helpful. You should know I receive a small commission for some of the products and services I recommend on my website, and I donate 10% of my profits to animal charities.
Please pass this on to other cat lovers, and please take advantage of the Free Cat Lover’s Guide below! Thanks so much. Debra
💬 Did this help you? I’d love to hear your comments. If you have a question, helpful tips, or even a struggle related to this topic, please leave a comment below — it helps other readers more than you know.
Understanding Cat Language & Behavior
- How to Understand Cat Language
- Why Do Cats Knead?
- Why Do Cats Lick People?
- Why Does My Cat Keep Meowing?
- Why Do Cats Hiss?
Also check out this post from PawsChicago.org about understanding cat behavior and developing a strong relationship with your cat.
Check Out More of My Posts About Cat Behavior Issues Here
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