If you have a pet, you have probably seen your companion do something weird at some point. If you’ve ever wondered why they do the things they do, this information should help.
Sure, not everything has a reason behind it, but animal researchers have theories as to why animals exhibit behaviors that seems strange to us.
1. Why do animals twitch in their sleep?
Researchers have determined that baby animals twitch in their sleep because their brains are still firing off neurons that are linked to motor skills.
2. Why do dogs bury things?
Dogs typically bury things — namely bits of food — to protect them. If you see your dog burying toys, just know that Fido wants to protect what’s his.
3. Why do snakes yawn?
Snakes yawn in order to keep the ligaments in their mouths limber so that when they need to swallow their prey whole, they’re fully prepared.
4. Why do dogs tilt their heads?
Tilting their heads is a way for dogs to hear you better and get more in tune with how you’re feeling.
5. Why do parrots talk?
In the wild, parrots have their own unique dialects that they use to communicate with members of their communities. These smart animals learn our speech patterns so that they fit in!
6. Why do dogs circle before lying down?
Early descendants of our pups circled around their bedding spots in order to ward off other critters and squish any vegetation that lived below. It doesn’t make much sense for house dogs to do that, but you can’t fight instincts.
7. Why do cats purr?
Cats purr when they are content, sick, or injured. So it could either be a very good sign, or an extremely bad sign. Felines are basically walking enigmas.
8. Why do hamsters run on wheels?
It is believed that hamsters and other rodents run on wheels because they have a ton of energy. Even in a natural environment, if you set up a wheel for a rodent, they will run on that wheel for at least a few minutes a day.
9. Why do cats meow?
Kittens meow to their mothers in order to get their attention, and when they grow out of that, they meow at their humans for the same reason. They’ll never let you forget when it’s dinner time!
10. Why do rabbits chew on things?
Rabbits need to chew on things to wear down their teeth because they grow constantly.
11. Why do horses hate the wind?
Even though they’re huge, horses are prey animals. They always have to be aware of any changes happening around them. The wind makes it harder for them to hear, so they are afraid of it because it lowers their defenses.
12. Why do cats wind around your legs?
There are two theories about this. One is that they rub on you as a greeting because that’s what they do with other cats. The second theory is that they do this to mark you as their territory. I’m going to go with the latter.
13. Why do fish jump out of their tanks?
It’s in their nature to leap out of water. In the wild, fish leap out of the water in order to make their way to a different environment to find more suitable mates.
14. Why do cats hate cucumbers?
Cats hate strange objects, and cucumbers are foreign to them. They could also freak out because cucumbers remind them of snakes.
15. Why do dogs play fetch?
Most dogs have been bred to help hunters retrieve game, and if your dog falls in line with any of those breeds, they will love playing fetch. They also just love running around and spending time with their favorite people!
(via Mental Floss)
Hopefully that cleared some things up for you. Having this knowledge will help you understand your favorite animals a little bit better, which is an important part of sharing a bond with your pet.