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Last updated: October 22, 2026. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links, which means this site may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before you buy. Key takeaways Pick the scratcher for how your cat scratches: tall sisal posts for stretching, cardboard for lounging and scratching, sisal mats for wall or carpet scratchers. Reviewers of the most popular posts agree that stability matters most. A tall post that wobbles gets ignored, and a heavy base wins praise from owners of large cats. Cardboard and twine wear out. Expect to replace budget scratchers, and expect to pay more for a tall, heavy-duty post. Behavior experts say to offer more than one scratcher near the places your cat already scratches, and to reward use instead of punishing mistakes. This guide is based on reading customer reviews on Amazon and expert advice. We did not test any of th...

Last updated: October 22, 2026. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links, which means this site may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before you buy. Key takeaways A cat that brings home a mouse is not giving you a gift or teaching you to hunt. Cats Protection says the usual reason is that home feels safe, so they bring prey where they can eat or store it undisturbed. Hunting is a natural instinct and is not driven by hunger, so even well-fed cats do it. Do not punish your cat. Remove dead prey with gloves, double bag it and wash your hands. Keep your cat away from live animals. Daily play, keeping cats indoors at dusk and dawn and feeding a complete, high-quality diet can reduce hunting. Few things are more startling than a proud cat dropping a mouse at your feet. Many owners are told it is a gift of love or a hunting lesson. Cat charities and ve...

Last updated: October 22, 2026. Key takeaways Cat headbutting (also called bunting) is usually friendly. Your cat is rubbing scent from glands on the face onto you. Common reasons are marking, bonding, greeting, self-soothing and asking for attention. Headbutting is not the same as head pressing. If your cat presses its head into a wall and does not look relaxed, call a vet right away. Not every cat headbutts, and a cat that stops may deserve a closer look if other signs appear. Have you ever felt the gentle nudge of your cat’s head against your cheek or hand? According to veterinarians at PetMD, headbutting is a form of communication that cats use to mark territory, greet others and show affection. Here are four main reasons your cat does it. Photo: “Cat headbumping my hat = I love you in Cat body language” by MolokaiT, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cat_headbumping_my_hat_%3D_I_love_you_in_Cat_body_language.jpg). Infographic crea...

Last updated: October 22, 2026. Key takeaways A tail pointing straight up usually means a happy, confident cat. A puffed tail means scared or threatened, and a tucked tail means scared or stressed. A twitching or flicking tail suggests agitation. Slow side-to-side wagging can mean indecision or a coming pounce. Cats mainly communicate with body language, so read the tail together with ears, eyes, posture and the situation. Rapid or unusual tail movements together with behavior changes can signal pain, so talk to your vet. Have you ever noticed your cat wagging its tail and wondered what it means? Cats mainly communicate their mood through body language, and the tail is a key tool. Cats Protection and International Cat Care explain what the main tail signals mean. Infographic created by Pet Story, October 22, 2026, based on Cats Protection, “Why do cats have tails? Cat tail meanings” (June 6, 2024). Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this ...