Do cats fake limping for sympathy? Explaining feline behavior

Cats are mysterious creatures. Most of the time, we have no idea what's going on in their heads. We assume that 90% of the time they're judging us, and frankly, that's not outrageous.

But occasionally, cats will be very obvious. They have their own funny way of telling us what they want. Most cats will pat you with their paws or meow at you when they want to play. Some cats will walk all over you, lie on your computer keyboard, or run around the house like a crazy cat.

Some cats will even pretend to limp to get your attention. Yes, you read that right! Cats will pretend to be injured just to spend some quality time with you. It's both sweet and hilarious. But why is this happening? Let's delve into the science behind this behavior. But first, we've got something really hilarious to show you.

This Viral TikTok Answers Our Questions

This was just a thought, but now we know it is true. This cat proves our point that some cats will pretend to limp to get attention.

In this viral video, you'll see an adorable orange tabby cat named Edward, who picks up his left paw as if it's injured. The owner is on the hook, showering Edward with all kinds of affection. Edward enjoys the attention but hilariously forgets that he's pretending to be injured and starts walking normally.

Edward switched back and forth between these feints, often forgetting which paw was supposed to be "lame."

The owner made it clear in the comments that Edward is perfectly healthy and happy. He just wants a few minutes in the spotlight – don’t worry! The owner also captioned the video perfectly, saying, “He’s such a comedy queen.”

It probably won’t surprise you that this TikTok has received over 10.5 million views and 2 million likes.

Healthy cats pretend to be sick to get attention

No matter what we say about cats, the fact is that they actually want to spend time with us. They truly love their owners and are willing to do anything for attention, especially to tell us that something is wrong.

A 2011 study confirmed that healthy cats can feign sickness when they are unhappy. The study evaluated two groups of cats: one healthy group and one group with feline interstitial cystitis (FIC). The study found that both groups of cats exhibited the same sickness behaviors depending on their environment.

Both groups of cats were able to reduce their stress levels with a strict schedule of grooming, play, and cleaning. Ultimately, the study suggests that cats show their stress and dissatisfaction by feigning illness. It is one of their ways of getting our attention.

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How to know if your cat is sick or just faking it?

If your cat suddenly starts limping and was fine a second ago, your cat may be signaling you to fix something. However, it's still worth checking to make sure.

Hold your cat's paw gently and rub it gently. Your cat should show you signs of pain, such as biting you lightly, retracting, or licking its paw excessively. This is a good sign to take your cat to the veterinarian.

If your cat is not showing any of these signs, then it is likely that your cat just wants attention. Give your cat some love and see how it responds. If you are unsure if your cat is okay, talk to your veterinarian.

Enrich your cat's environment

Enriching your cat's environment is the best way to help him get through tough times. You can do this in a few different ways.

First, start a daily routine for your cat. Cats are creatures of habit, and they feel calm when they know what to expect. The best daily routines include feeding, cleaning, and playtime.

Play with your cat's favorite games. This is a great way to spend time with your cat and your cat can show off its hunting skills! Game time only takes about 15 minutes of intense play. You can add cat trees and stands for your cat to get vertical. No doubt your cat will appreciate a place to climb and scratch.

Why not add a cat garden while you're at it? A small cat garden is a huge benefit to your cat's life. Cats love to chew and smell plants, and there are many plants and herbs your cat can safely chew, besides cat mint.

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Conclusion

We all know cats are elusive, but who knew they would pretend to be sick just to get attention? To be honest, it's not surprising. But it makes sense why they do this. They understand how mysterious they can be, so they use different forms of communication to get our attention.

When you think about it, this is genius!