Why does my pet...?
Short answers with sources, the wild relative that does the same thing, and one thing to try. Not veterinary advice.
- Why does my rabbit freeze or thump?Rabbits are prey animals. Freezing makes them harder to spot, and a thump of the back feet can be a warning. A rabbit that freezes or thumps may feel...
- Why does my hamster stuff his cheeks?Hamsters are hoarders. Stretchy cheek pouches, reaching back toward the shoulders, let them carry food to a safe store. The German word hamstern even...
- Why does my dog wait by the door when I'm out?Dogs form strong attachment bonds with their people, and many learn the sounds and routines that come before you get home. In one study, dogs greeted...
- Why does my dog sniff everything on walks?Your dog is reading. Scent marks on a lamp post carry information about who passed, and dogs are very good at following it: trained dogs could tell...
- Why does my dog circle before lying down?Nobody knows for sure. Proposed ideas include flattening a bed, a last check of the surroundings, and settling into a warm curl. In a small informal...
- Why does my cat hunt even when she's well fed?In cats, hunting and hunger are partly separate. In a classic study, cats left their food to hunt and then came back to the meal. The hunting sequence...
- Why does my cat get the zoomies at night?Cats are most active around dusk and dawn, and an indoor cat may store up energy during a quiet day. A short burst of running, pouncing and chasing at...
- Why does my bearded dragon bask all morning?Lizards are ectotherms: they warm up from their surroundings, not from their own body heat. Basking is how a bearded dragon powers up. Wild bearded...
- Why do my cat's eyes glow in the dark?Behind the retina, cats have a mirror-like layer called the tapetum lucidum. It reflects light back through the eye for a second chance to catch it...