Answer Your Cat’s Questions 2020

Last Updated on January 13, 2026 by Holly Anne Dustin

January 22 is National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. Imagine your kitty suddenly acquired the ability to speak your human language for a day, what would he ask you? Pretend you can understand his cat language today. Put yourself in his paws so to speak. He is talking – you just have to listen. Maybe you won’t have to pretend, maybe you understand more than you think you do. 

Here are a few questions we came up with at my house. For some other cat questions, here’s our #answeryourcatsquestions post from last year.

Why do you keep petting me when I tell you to stop?

Because we love you, Kitty! We want to snuggle you and kiss your face and be with you because you mean the world to us.

The thing is, cats have personal space issues, the same as we do. And just like some people are more touchy-feely than others, some cats are a lot more tolerant of petting than others.

Pay attention to Kitty’s body language when you’re petting him. Is he giving you the airplane ears look? Lashing his tail? Was he purring and now he’s stopped? 

If he’s struggling at all, let him go. Enforced cuddles aren’t fun. (Would you like it?)

Why do you insist on rubbing my belly?

Cats do have preferences about where and how they are petted. A lot of the belly rub stuff comes from people who are used to dogs. If Kitty is showing his belly to you it is likely NOT an invitation to rub it. But it is a sign of trust and love. 

Bellies are sensitive and vulnerable areas. Kitty is showing you he feels safe and comfortable with you. Your cat might be ok with you touching his belly. Treeno is. But most aren’t. Pet his head instead to show you appreciate his love and share it.

Plush would really like to rephrase this into why do you try to scratch the base of my tail! All the memes say it’s great. But he really hates it, and there’s a cat show judge that going to get bit if she doesn’t knock it off. 

Watch your cat as you pet him. Do you have multiple cats? Watch how your cats interact with each other. Are they rubbing around each other’s heads? Grooming each other around the head and neck? That’s probably the areas they’d enjoy being petted the most. Usually, cheeks, around the ears, the back of the head and under the chin are prime petting spots.

If Kitty has always enjoyed being petted and starts reacting badly it might be time for a vet check to see if there’s a medical issue, especially for an older cat that might have arthritis.

How come the dog gets to go out and I don’t?

Well, Kitty, you have a private toilet and he doesn’t. The dog has to go outside to pee even in the worst kinds of weather. But you’re smart enough to learn leash skills and come out to play if you want to go out like the dog.

Leash and harness training is an awesome enrichment activity for cats that want to get outdoors. And it is pretty fun for us humans too. Yes, it is easiest if you start with kittens but I taught my 13-year-old last year almost accidentally and he’s a natural. 

Try it with your kitty and see what they say. And don’t give up if he falls over and acts like his paws don’t work the first time. I’d be rich if I had a dollar for everyone who tells me they tried leash training their cat and he wouldn’t cooperate. It takes practice.

Why can’t I get on the counter?

We cats love to get up high you know. And be where the action is. You, humans, spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I just know something is tempting I’m missing out on up there on that counter! Plus, I’m safely out of the dog’s (or toddler’s) reach up here? 

Cats like to be up high monitoring their territory. And they want to be with you. The counter is almost irresistibly tempting. This is a battle I don’t want to fight with my cats. 

You have to work with Kitty if you don’t want your furball up on the counters. Spray bottles and aversives won’t work. Guarantee all it does is keep him down when he can see you. If you’re asleep or at work, safe bet Kitty is on the counter.

But cats cat be trained. It is all about giving Kitty a better alternative. Bar stools, wall shelving, cat trees can all meet Kitty’s need for high space and keeps him in the action with you. Use your clicker and target skills to teach him to place in his target spot. Then he can hang out. And do respect his need to have dog-free/kid-free spaces.

You know, I get bored a lot. Why don’t we play the way you do with the dog or your kids? I’m not an ornament.

Cats have a reputation for being low maintenance pets that don’t need a lot of engagement. Typically, people think that cats just sleep all day and are all independent and don’t need our interaction. They’re wrong. Kitty wants and needs our attention. Probably a lot more than you think.

Watch him. His behavior is his attempt to communicate with you. Is he rolling around on the floor while you’re on the phone? Does he flop down on your homework? Do you see a certain behavior when you are going to leave for work? He’s not being annoying or just asking for food. He’s talking to us.

Try a play session before you settle in if it always happens when you are working, reading or using your computer. Talk to him while you’re preparing his dinner (or yours.) Include him in your activities the way you would a dog. He’ll love you for it. You’re his whole world.

What is that loud scary THING you push around the house?

I swear it is going to gobble up my tail!

Not all kitties hate the vacuum but it is pretty universal anxiety. Loud sounds and the movement terrifies them. He sees a monster chasing him. And he’ll feel trapped if he happens to be sleeping in that room when you start cleaning.

Clicker training can help you win this one too. Gradually desensitizing your furbaby will reduce the terror. He doesn’t need to be free of the fear, just to not have a panic attack every time you clean. 

Start by just leaving the vacuum where they can see it. Reward Kitty for hanging out in the same room with it, for walking by it, for walking close to it. When you clean, put the vacuum in the room you’re going to work in and let it sit before you turn it on. Kitty will have time to leave first. Run the vacuum away from him. Toss treats if he stays in the room.

Why do you push me off your laptop? I’m just trying to keep it warm for you.

Cats are like heat-seeking missiles sometimes, aren’t they? The laptop, router, DVD player, video game consoles. But it’s not all about the extra warmth.

Kitty wants your attention. You probably spend a lot of time using your computer or video game console. So your furbaby knows it’s important to you. What do you do if he hangs out on your computer? If you’re like me you respond by petting him and cuddling him. Maybe share my snacks. Bam, instant payoff, I’ve just reinforced his choice to sit on my laptop.

Setting up space where he can hang out beside you without being in the middle of your equipment can help. Reinforce him in that space and not on the computer.

Why is my litterbox way down in the dark basement?

Don’t underestimate the power of an appropriate litter box. Kitty is going to be pretty picky about having the right litter and the right box. And sending him to “Siberia” to pee isn’t going to work. Especially for a kitten. Or a senior. Having a litter box is part of the responsibility of living with your furry friends.

OK, it is not in the basement – but why do you want me to poop in a spaceship? It’s a little freaky.

Yes, the Litter Robot and other high tech, self-cleaning, litter boxes make life easier. For you, the human, the pet parent. But what about your furbaby? 

Some cats are ok with them. Others are terrified. And some of them get even gross-er than a regular litter box if your kitty has any sort of soft poop issues. Eventually, you’ll have to clean the box no matter how high tech it is. 

Also, if we, the cat guardians, aren’t regularly scooping the box we miss a valuable tool in monitoring our furbabies’ health.

What is wrong with your friends? They call you crazy, and put you down for spending time with me?

The myth of the crazy cat lady just won’t end. People see cats as anti-social, independent, “jerks.” Cats beg to differ. We don’t behave like dogs but we’re really happy social critters if you treat us right. 

Humans that love cats are not lonely, pathetic, anxious people. The New York Post recently published an article that concluded that UCLA was right when they determined that there was “no evidence to support the ‘cat lady’ stereotype: cat-owners did not differ from others on self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety or their experiences in close relationships. Our findings, therefore, do not fit with the notion of cat-owners as more depressed, anxious or alone.”

So no, you’re not crazy for wanting to spend time with your cats. In another comment from the Post article, the author defines cats as our animal equal. I often call my cats my feline friends. And yes, sometimes, I’d just rather spend time with them than my human friends. But I’m not crazy and neither are you!

So, what questions would your cats be asking you today? Drop a comment or share it on our Facebook page. For more ideas, follow the #answeryourcatsquestions hashtag on social media.