Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 8 year old cat Tommy has developed a funny looking little 'dance'. He doesn't do it often, and when he does it's always while standing under the kitchen counter. There is an old unused empty fishtank and he goes there, sniffs around a little and then looks with a happy face at me and starts walking on the spot with his back legs. It looks similar to when cats sometimes dig with their front paws when they're very happy, only it's with the back feet and it's while standing. It looks really funny, and he looks very sweet and happy when he does that.

Anybody has seen this before and has an idea what's it all about?

I've never heard of such a thing - cats are quirky creatures though and they will learn some strange behaviors! Perhaps he is remembering something good that happened in that area when he did a simular motion.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Yes, that could be. Maybe a piece of meat dropped down there while cooking and found its way into his little greedy mouth Still, it's funny he should have waited 8 years to develop this behaviour.

Recently, he came up with another addition to his cuddle behaviour too: ear massage! He literally screams in delight when I gently massage them. Never seen that before either.

I guess middle age brings out different sides in him!

Or maybe our move last year and his subsequent change from outdoor to indoor cat made him inventive?

>>Or maybe our move last year and his subsequent change from outdoor to indoor cat made him inventive?

Could be - he has been learning a whole new enviroment and behaviors to match!
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

My cat does the funny little dance. But he only does it on top of stuffed animals and with a toy in his mouth. I always thought it was sexual, although he's not humping. He is doing the "paw thing" (as we call it) with his back feet on the stuffed animal, and purrs very loudly.

I totally thought it looks sexual too, but thought I must be wrong because he's neutered. Haha, I'm trying to picture yours on a stuffed toy with a toy in his mouth! What a picture

Another thing he has just recently invented is "the kick". He lies on his stomach, putting himself in position, and waits for us to gently slap him on his behind. Then he puts his bum up and kicks like a horse! He looks very pleased while playing this game, and it usually ends with him getting really wild with his favourite stuffed dog.

Yeah, he's definitely been inventive since he became an indoor cat! Love him!

Mine is neutered too! (Since a young age) yet I have no idea why he does this.

Neutering doesn't always turn off all sexual behaviors - or pleasures. Both kitties may be getting some good feelings doing these odd things.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

All three of my cats dance. Nala is the great dancer in the family. I adopted her when she was 7 years old. After she warmed up to me I noticed this dance that she did. Her back legs move up and down actually coming off of the floor and her tail squiggles from the base to the top. I called the woman from whom I adopted her and asked her if she knew that Nala danced. She said, oh yes, we called it her tail dance. A year after I adopted Nala, I adopted her niece Mina, and 6 months after that I adopted Mina's daughter Gizzy. Both of them do the tail dance but don't lift their legs like Nala does. Now I can get Nala to dance on command for me. I think she knows it really amuses me. My digital camera has a streaming video function on it and I'm trying to capture it. Once I get something good I'll post it.

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Renée
owned by Abycats: BunnyNala, Mina, and Gizzy

I would like to see the video. I would like to see if it's what Simon does.

I would also like to see it!

I didn't know there are so many dancing cats