Sometimes our cats do curious things that may leave you wondering, why? Lisa Chelenza explains some common cat behaviors in this edition of Pet Pointers.

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It is estimated that there are as many as 90,000 domestic house cats in the United States so it’s important to understand more about some of their odd behaviors.

Many cat people have received unexpected gifts from their cats, like mice, moles, birds or even snakes, both alive and deceased. Why does your cat do that? There are a few theories about this behavior. One is that they are trying to show you how to hunt. Another is that they are sharing their catch with the others in their colony, which means you. Either way, consider it a compliment and set any live animals free and give kitty a treat for a job well done.

Finally one of the most frustrating behaviors to deal with is spraying and urination outside of their litter box. First, remember animals do not do things out of spite but because of instinct or learned behavior. Many times a spraying cat is suffering with a health issue like crystals in their urine, urinary tract infections or kidney issues. If they are not neutered or spayed they are marking their territory to encourage other cats to come around and make more kitties. It could also be simply they do not like the placement of their litter box. Make sure their box is in a quiet place with little or no foot traffic and away from the prying snout of any dogs in the home.

The next time you bring your cat to the vet, mention any odd behaviors. These could be symptoms of a health issue that may need treatment.