25 Bizarre “Cat Logic” Tips That Actually Work
Cat hacks that are strange, smart and unexpectedly feline-proof.
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Cats are often portrayed as mysterious, enigmatic, and proud creatures. They bend to no one’s will, reigning supreme as the masters of their universe, applying their own brand of “cat logic” to every situation. Pet owners who have studied, observed, and come to understand this unique species have begun sharing their most reliable cat hacks on Reddit. While some of these tips may sound strange and unexpected, people swear they’re truly feline-proof.
Image source: saltedkumihimo, HAMZA YAICH/Pexels
If your smoke detector goes off, call your cat to you and give them a treat. That way if the detector goes off in a fire, you have trained the cat where to go so you can find them easily.
Image source: SweetnessBaby, TIVASEE/Pexels
I have only ever done this with one cat so probably can't really call it a "hack" but it definitely worked:
My kitty used to bite a lot, and she would just do it randomly. You could be petting her, she'd be leaning into it purring and enjoying and suddenly she would just flip and bite you.
Well one day she bit my finger, and instead of pulling away and being hurt, I just shoved my finger further into her mouth lol. She gagged and then looked at me with a face I will never forget ? she was in absolute shock like what kind of a freak does something like that lol
She has never bitten me or another person since! She still snaps at you as if she's going to, but she won't actually do it. It's crazy, solved her biting problem practically overnight.
Anyway, success may vary lol.
Image source: One-Method-4373, ffölja/Pexels
When I’m eating something I know my cat doesn’t actually want but they are sniffing at it like they do I pretend to offer it to them. Then they smell closer and decide no they don’t want it, but they appreciate the offer.
Also pine pellets are a billion times better than litter and less expensive.
Image source: Rumple-_-Goocher, Diana ✨/Pexels
I adopted an adult cat, who was terrified of me and hid behind furniture for months. Very slowly, over time he would come out of hiding and we could both be in the same room without him running to hide so I would turn my back to him and shuffle past, that way he would know that I am not trying to mess with him at all because I’m not even facing him. I talked in a calm tone (no baby voice) and said “it’s okay bud, I’m not gonna mess with you”. I also made it a point to not look at him when I was moving about the apartment, again to let him know that he’s not even on my radar and I’m not trying to mess with him. Remember, when cats feel threatened, their eyes are wide, they don’t blink, and they keep their eyes on whatever they think is threatening them. If you keep making eye contact with the cat and staring back at it, it may interpret that as you actually being a threat. Over time it worked and he realized that he is allowed to be up and milling about, and I won’t mess with him. Now he is a very happy and well adjusted man.
Image source: tiny_purple_Alfador, RDNE Stock project/Pexels
I routinely pretend to chase them, and sometimes clumsily pretend to grab them, but I do a bad job, missing them by miles, pretending to be winded after taking five steps. Now, when I do need to actually grab them, they underestimate me and assume I am much slower and clumsier than I actually am.
Image source: bobbimorses, Meruyert Gonullu/Pexels
Explain to your cat what is happening like they are a person, especially if it's something that will upset their routine or going to the vet. They won't "understand," but cats pick up a lot more from tone than we realize. Always seems to calm my cats.
Image source: KittensHurrah, Maria Luiza Melo/Pexels
One of my cats needs more moisture in her diet. So I got some cat bone broth and I mix that with churu and every few nights we have kitty cocktail hour. She laps it up as long as I don’t overdo it on the bone broth lol. I am going to try to find some little shallow cocktail glasses for this purpose so kitty cocktail hour can be a bit more luxurious. There may also be photos and bow ties….
Image source: yuricat16, Pexels User/Pexels
My cat LOVES it when I slide the dry food across the floor, once piece at a time. We started out doing this with treats, and now it’s all dry edible things. It’s like a very short chase with an immediate reward. She loves it ridiculously much.
When I cat-sit for my neighbors, I do the same for their evening feeding, which is dry food. They also LOVE it, so it’s not just my (ahem, orange) cat.
Image source: DigiMagic, Tường Chopper/Pexels
My cats used to think that one corner of one room in our house is a toilet, even though we never kept a sand box there. It's just plain floor tiles. They do have several large sand boxes elsewhere, all cleaned every day and sand replenished regularly. Yet for some reason, that corner was a toilet too.
I've cleaned it many times (including scrubbing it with soap and disinfectant), perfumed it, left bits of fruit that cats allegedly don't like, nothing helped.
What did finally help was, after cleaning it yet again, putting there a small cat bed. Apparently, cat logic is, if a place is for sleeping, it's not for pooping (which does make sense).
Image source: Bluedieselshepherd, furkanfdemir/Pexels
Greeting my cats with an extended finger and letting them nose-boop it. It’s a low impact way to mimic a natural cat greeting and builds trust.
Image source: Reddit_Befuddles_Me, Sam Lion/Pexels
Blow on their nose when you give a pill so they swallow. Seriously a game changer!
Image source: fuschiafawn, Ирина Сороколетова/Pexels
If you address them only by their name they will know and respond to it, and can eventually come when called. I see owners say they refer to their cat by multiple pet names but they don't respond or care about being called. it's not that, they just don't know how their name truly sounds, when they know they respond.
you can determine a cats attention by watching where their eyes, ears, and feet are pointed. from the bottom up are ascending order of attention. where they might need to move, where a threat might be coming from, what they notice but don't need to address.
Image source: Grand_Elderberry_564, Anonymous Magician/Pexels
I use their natural fastidious nature against them if they need meds. I always ask the vet if there's a liquid option then use a dropper to administer the medication on their paws. They can't help but lick it off. Game changer with cranky cats.
Image source: PavicaMalic, schyler/Wikimedia Commons
Training cats to come by shaking an Altoids tin full of treats. The sound is louder and distinctive, and if they ever get outside accidentally in my city neighborhood, they hear the sound over traffic noises. We have an Altoids tin full of Temptations by each door for emergencies.
Image source: Speedracer_64, Şeyda Nur Uğur/Pexels
If I can’t find either of my roomies, I will play Instagram videos of meowing cats. They come out of hiding to see who is in their home.
Image source: Fit_Usual_4652, Lucas Pezeta/Pexels
Whenever my boy cat that is only a year old and wasnt socialized properly before he met me play bites i pretend he just ripped me open and hurt me so bad and he gets very concerned and runs off. HIGHLY recommend.
Image source: butterflygirl1980, Muffin Land/Pexels
If they like to get up on the table/desk when you're trying to work there, give them a shoebox to sit in. Might not work for every cat but it worked for mine -- she would sit in her box and out of my stuff!
Image source: TassandraArcticFox, Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
If I want them to do something, I have to do it first. Clipping nails is one example. I pretend to clip my nails and then they all want what I'm having.
Image source: ToeInternational3417, Nacho Posse/Pexels
I guess this isn't strange, but because I love cats, and I have kids, I very rarely buy new furniture, at least nothing expensive. It really is a lot easier tolerating zoomies and occasional scratching if nothing expensive is getting destroyed.
Rugs are small and light enough to wash in the shower, or simply put in the washing machine. Keep plants away from the cats, a lot less hassle.
First and foremost, just relax. Forget a totally spotless home (goes for having kids as well, lol), and just enjoy.
Image source: loquat, Karin Chantanaprayura/Pexels
When bathing your cat in the tub, place a nonslip mat or something they can step on. It’s bad enough they are getting wet, but not having purchase adds to the anxiety.
I have bathed many cats in my lifetime and short of getting into the tub with clothes on and letting them cling to me in desperation, I found that secure footing makes a huge difference. Instead of “I’m going to drown!!”, it’s more “I’m wet and severely unhappy.”.
Image source: Icy-Spirit-5892, Tomáš Jíra/Pexels
Don't know if this counts as a hack but I had a dog. Then I got a cat. Dog taught cat what was and wasn't acceptable behavior. Several generations of cats later and long after my dog has passed, they still know the rules.
TL;DR: have a well-trained dog to train your cats. ?
#1
Image source: saltedkumihimo, HAMZA YAICH/Pexels
If your smoke detector goes off, call your cat to you and give them a treat. That way if the detector goes off in a fire, you have trained the cat where to go so you can find them easily.
#2
Image source: SweetnessBaby, TIVASEE/Pexels
I have only ever done this with one cat so probably can't really call it a "hack" but it definitely worked:
My kitty used to bite a lot, and she would just do it randomly. You could be petting her, she'd be leaning into it purring and enjoying and suddenly she would just flip and bite you.
Well one day she bit my finger, and instead of pulling away and being hurt, I just shoved my finger further into her mouth lol. She gagged and then looked at me with a face I will never forget ? she was in absolute shock like what kind of a freak does something like that lol
She has never bitten me or another person since! She still snaps at you as if she's going to, but she won't actually do it. It's crazy, solved her biting problem practically overnight.
Anyway, success may vary lol.
#3
Image source: One-Method-4373, ffölja/Pexels
When I’m eating something I know my cat doesn’t actually want but they are sniffing at it like they do I pretend to offer it to them. Then they smell closer and decide no they don’t want it, but they appreciate the offer.
Also pine pellets are a billion times better than litter and less expensive.
#4
Image source: Rumple-_-Goocher, Diana ✨/Pexels
I adopted an adult cat, who was terrified of me and hid behind furniture for months. Very slowly, over time he would come out of hiding and we could both be in the same room without him running to hide so I would turn my back to him and shuffle past, that way he would know that I am not trying to mess with him at all because I’m not even facing him. I talked in a calm tone (no baby voice) and said “it’s okay bud, I’m not gonna mess with you”. I also made it a point to not look at him when I was moving about the apartment, again to let him know that he’s not even on my radar and I’m not trying to mess with him. Remember, when cats feel threatened, their eyes are wide, they don’t blink, and they keep their eyes on whatever they think is threatening them. If you keep making eye contact with the cat and staring back at it, it may interpret that as you actually being a threat. Over time it worked and he realized that he is allowed to be up and milling about, and I won’t mess with him. Now he is a very happy and well adjusted man.
#5
Image source: tiny_purple_Alfador, RDNE Stock project/Pexels
I routinely pretend to chase them, and sometimes clumsily pretend to grab them, but I do a bad job, missing them by miles, pretending to be winded after taking five steps. Now, when I do need to actually grab them, they underestimate me and assume I am much slower and clumsier than I actually am.
#6
Image source: bobbimorses, Meruyert Gonullu/Pexels
Explain to your cat what is happening like they are a person, especially if it's something that will upset their routine or going to the vet. They won't "understand," but cats pick up a lot more from tone than we realize. Always seems to calm my cats.
#7
Image source: KittensHurrah, Maria Luiza Melo/Pexels
One of my cats needs more moisture in her diet. So I got some cat bone broth and I mix that with churu and every few nights we have kitty cocktail hour. She laps it up as long as I don’t overdo it on the bone broth lol. I am going to try to find some little shallow cocktail glasses for this purpose so kitty cocktail hour can be a bit more luxurious. There may also be photos and bow ties….
#8
Image source: yuricat16, Pexels User/Pexels
My cat LOVES it when I slide the dry food across the floor, once piece at a time. We started out doing this with treats, and now it’s all dry edible things. It’s like a very short chase with an immediate reward. She loves it ridiculously much.
When I cat-sit for my neighbors, I do the same for their evening feeding, which is dry food. They also LOVE it, so it’s not just my (ahem, orange) cat.
#9
Image source: DigiMagic, Tường Chopper/Pexels
My cats used to think that one corner of one room in our house is a toilet, even though we never kept a sand box there. It's just plain floor tiles. They do have several large sand boxes elsewhere, all cleaned every day and sand replenished regularly. Yet for some reason, that corner was a toilet too.
I've cleaned it many times (including scrubbing it with soap and disinfectant), perfumed it, left bits of fruit that cats allegedly don't like, nothing helped.
What did finally help was, after cleaning it yet again, putting there a small cat bed. Apparently, cat logic is, if a place is for sleeping, it's not for pooping (which does make sense).
#10
Image source: Bluedieselshepherd, furkanfdemir/Pexels
Greeting my cats with an extended finger and letting them nose-boop it. It’s a low impact way to mimic a natural cat greeting and builds trust.
#11
Image source: Reddit_Befuddles_Me, Sam Lion/Pexels
Blow on their nose when you give a pill so they swallow. Seriously a game changer!
#12
When my boy was a tiny kitten… brought to us by an old tom cat…to get him ready to go to sleep alone in his private (big) closet I would sing Lullaby by Billy Joel every night after he had his kitten milk. Then I started playing it on YouTube. He is now about 9 months old and he still comes flying if I play Lullaby by Billy Joel. I think each cat should have their own theme song. Image source: InterestOverall2539#13
Image source: fuschiafawn, Ирина Сороколетова/Pexels
If you address them only by their name they will know and respond to it, and can eventually come when called. I see owners say they refer to their cat by multiple pet names but they don't respond or care about being called. it's not that, they just don't know how their name truly sounds, when they know they respond.
you can determine a cats attention by watching where their eyes, ears, and feet are pointed. from the bottom up are ascending order of attention. where they might need to move, where a threat might be coming from, what they notice but don't need to address.
#14
Image source: Grand_Elderberry_564, Anonymous Magician/Pexels
I use their natural fastidious nature against them if they need meds. I always ask the vet if there's a liquid option then use a dropper to administer the medication on their paws. They can't help but lick it off. Game changer with cranky cats.
#15
Image source: PavicaMalic, schyler/Wikimedia Commons
Training cats to come by shaking an Altoids tin full of treats. The sound is louder and distinctive, and if they ever get outside accidentally in my city neighborhood, they hear the sound over traffic noises. We have an Altoids tin full of Temptations by each door for emergencies.
#16
If you want Cat A to come to you, call Cat B. Or call the dog over. Their jealous hearts will be there in a second. Image source: PerspectiveKookie16#17
Image source: Speedracer_64, Şeyda Nur Uğur/Pexels
If I can’t find either of my roomies, I will play Instagram videos of meowing cats. They come out of hiding to see who is in their home.
#18
Image source: Fit_Usual_4652, Lucas Pezeta/Pexels
Whenever my boy cat that is only a year old and wasnt socialized properly before he met me play bites i pretend he just ripped me open and hurt me so bad and he gets very concerned and runs off. HIGHLY recommend.
#19
Image source: butterflygirl1980, Muffin Land/Pexels
If they like to get up on the table/desk when you're trying to work there, give them a shoebox to sit in. Might not work for every cat but it worked for mine -- she would sit in her box and out of my stuff!
#20
Image source: TassandraArcticFox, Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
If I want them to do something, I have to do it first. Clipping nails is one example. I pretend to clip my nails and then they all want what I'm having.
#21
This was sort of an accident, but I bathe our dog in the shower ~once a week (she gets dirty at the park). Because she's very nervous, I started making an ordeal out of it with a lot of praise, a whole routine, and me and my fiancé gather around her when she's out of the shower and towel her off and tell her she's the cleanest dog in the whole world, etc. Obviously, the cat is very interested in this and also loves towels. Once I'm finished with the dog, she walks herself into the shower and I'm able to either pretend to wash her or actually wash her (useful if she's got a stinky butt) and then we repeat the ordeal with the praise and the towels and the attention and announce we have "the cleanest pets on planet Earth.". Image source: bagthebossup#22
In the morning my dog wants to go out, we have this little ritual where he sits and stares at me until I get up, then he cavorts a bit, we head to the door. When he's done he barks to come in and heads for the cupboard where his treats are. I always ask if he wants a treat and he says yes. The cat comes over because she's jealous. So one day, I respond to her meow and give her a cat treat. She stands on the arm of the arm of the couch, I put the treat in front of her feet. I did this ONE time. Now every morning when the dog gets his treat, she gets in her same spot to get her treat. Never tell me cats can't be trained. Or maybe the owners are the ones being trained. Image source: Goge97#23
Image source: ToeInternational3417, Nacho Posse/Pexels
I guess this isn't strange, but because I love cats, and I have kids, I very rarely buy new furniture, at least nothing expensive. It really is a lot easier tolerating zoomies and occasional scratching if nothing expensive is getting destroyed.
Rugs are small and light enough to wash in the shower, or simply put in the washing machine. Keep plants away from the cats, a lot less hassle.
First and foremost, just relax. Forget a totally spotless home (goes for having kids as well, lol), and just enjoy.
#24
Image source: loquat, Karin Chantanaprayura/Pexels
When bathing your cat in the tub, place a nonslip mat or something they can step on. It’s bad enough they are getting wet, but not having purchase adds to the anxiety.
I have bathed many cats in my lifetime and short of getting into the tub with clothes on and letting them cling to me in desperation, I found that secure footing makes a huge difference. Instead of “I’m going to drown!!”, it’s more “I’m wet and severely unhappy.”.
#25
Image source: Icy-Spirit-5892, Tomáš Jíra/Pexels
Don't know if this counts as a hack but I had a dog. Then I got a cat. Dog taught cat what was and wasn't acceptable behavior. Several generations of cats later and long after my dog has passed, they still know the rules.
TL;DR: have a well-trained dog to train your cats. ?DE
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