According to PDSA Vet Nurse Nina, cats tend to be very independent, especially when compared to other pets like dogs.

She told us that if a cat has access to a cat flap to get outside, this helps stimulate the pet’s sense of independence. Usually, cats sleep through the day, with “bursts of energy in between.”

“Many cats will want the company of their owners too, so avoid leaving your cats alone for long periods to stay in your cat’s good books!” she pointed out that even though cats might be considered to be more solitary creatures, they still prefer to socialize and receive affection from others from time to time. Here is the PDSA’s guide to understanding cat body language. You might find it useful whether you’re already a cat owner or you’re just thinking of getting a new best friend for life.

The vet nurse explained to Bored Panda that owners can’t focus just on a single set of their pets’ needs. For example, cats need not only physical exercise, they need mental stimulation as well.

“Otherwise, they can develop behavioral issues that their humans may find unwelcome. Puzzle feeders help to keep cats occupied at feeding times, and can be used to keep them entertained between meals,” she gave an example of what can help our pets have some fun when we’re at work or running errands.

“Indoor-only cats still need the mental stimulation, so recreate the outside world using cat shelving, vertical cat scratch poles, and hidey-holes so they can have adventures in their home,” the pet health expert explained to us that owners should be willing to put in the effort to give their cats the best possible lives. Love and affection are important, however, there are some more tangible choices that have to be made, too.

“Cats love high-up perches so they can survey their territory and they love toys that they can stalk, pounce and catch. Scratching is a natural behavior and this should be encouraged, just make sure that you provide satisfying and effective posts for your cat—they need to be strong and sturdy enough that your cat can get a good pull on them, otherwise they’ll use your furniture,” Nina detailed what owners should keep in mind when setting up the interactive ‘playground’ for their pets.

A while back, cat behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson shared with Bored Panda some of her insights about feline behavior.

"Each cat is no doubt an individual, but there are some basic signs to help you know that your cat is content," she said. “How your cat chooses to position themselves in the home while sleeping can illustrate that they are relaxed and feel safe.”

The feline behavior specialist continued: “Signs of this would be sleeping stretched out in a more vulnerable position, even exposing their belly as a sign of trust" She added that cats exposing their bellies doesn’t automatically mean that it’s an invitation for people to touch and rub them. Doing so might break the pet’s trust in some cases.

Meanwhile, cats that feel stressed out avoid playing and usually hide. "So if your cat is happy to chase a feather toy all around the house, they feel pretty confident! Even just sitting in the center of the room shows you that they feel safe, content, and confident. Timid cats and cats that are stressed are going to try to not be noticed, stay hidden, and focus on only meeting their basic needs. Happy cats are full of life and a part of the family!" Ingrid said.

“Just like with other animals, you can also see the joy in the cats' facial expressions, too, so keep an eye out as well. Plus, like most other species, you can see it in their facial expressions, you can observe joy, excitement, or fear just by looking at your cat and taking the time to know him/her,” the specialist told us earlier.

Cats acting silly or strange is nothing to worry about, so long as it's their usual behavior. However, if their behavior suddenly changes, that’s when you should start getting concerned. A visit to the vet might be in order.

“Behavior changes are often the first and only symptom that something is amiss because cats are so adept at hiding and masking pain,” Ingrid said.

"Are they suddenly sleeping in a new area of the home? Could be a seasonal change to chase the sunbeams, but it could also be a sign that they are not feeling well and trying to remove themselves from the household hubbub. Are they eating more or less all of a sudden? Have they suddenly become more vocal, or quieter? How about the litter box habits, are they eliminating more or less than is normal? All of this is really important information for pet parents to keep a close eye on and if they notice changes outside of what has been an established normal, they should contact their veterinarian."