There are lots of fascinating and quirky pet behaviors that leave all us humans scratching our heads. Here at PetsRadar, we never get tired of learning more about our canine companions and feline friends, so we're thrilled to do a deep dive and find out exactly why they do the things they do.
From pups burying their favorite dog toys to cats knocking things off shelves, there's never a dull moment when you have a pet in the house. Cats and dogs are forever charming us with their quirky and endearing behaviors, but you may be surprised to learn why they do them in the first place.
Below, we explore those weird cat behaviors that leave you scratching your head and those funny things dogs do that have you laughing out loud. And trust us, a few of the reasons behind their antics may just surprise you! So, without further ado, here's what's going on in the mind of your four-legged friend...
20 quirky pet behaviors explained
1. Sitting in boxes
Why do cats like to be in boxes? It's a question you may well be asking if you have a feline friend in your life. Cats are funny creatures—you spend money investing in all sorts of different cat toys for them to play with, and they always choose the cardboard box you've left lying around! Perhaps the most amusing thing of all is how often they'll try to squeeze themselves into boxes that are clearly far too small for them.
But believe it or not, this fascination with boxes goes beyond them just being a fun play thing. Cats love to hide, so boxes can help them feel safe and protected. Many also enjoy the texture. Boxes are cool and smooth, which can feel good against their skin and the cardboard itself is fun to scratch and chew.
And then of course there's the fact that cats are territorial creatures and when they transfer their scent to the box, it's becomes theirs and is instantly more appealing.
2. Head tilt
If you know how to read dog body language, then chances are you may already be familiar with all the reasons our canine companions tilt their heads. Dogs have a much better sense of hearing than we do, but one area where we do tend to excel is with directional hearing—something that dogs aren't so great with.
Dogs will often cock their heads to one side when they hear a sound that interests them. Because their directional hearing isn't good, they rely on moving their head and ears to help them decipher where a sound is coming from.
They'll also tilt their head when trying to absorb and understand what their owners are saying to them. However, if you have a dog and they're tilting their head excessively, this could indicate an underlying health issue—like an ear infection—and warrants a trip to the vet.
3. Kneading
When it comes to why cats knead, the answer is rather sweet. This fascinating and adorable behavior can be traced back to when they were kittens and would knead their mothers to stimulate the release of milk. However, once cats reach adulthood, you'll tend to see this behavior when they're feeling happy and content.
Kneading also serves another important purpose. Because cats have scent glands in their paws, front paw kneading helps to transfer this scent onto whatever it is that they're kneading. Sometimes that's a blanket, and sometimes it may well be your lap! Either way, this is a cat's way of marking their territory and letting the world know that this particular item or person belongs to them.
4. Wagging tail
Why do dogs have tails? Well, for starters, it helps with their balance and movement, but tails serve another important function too—they help dogs to communicate. There's nothing more joyful than seeing a dog happily wagging its tail back and forth—it's hard not to smile when you're in the presence of all that enthusiasm!
Believe it or not, you won't see young puppies wagging their tails. That waggy tail is actually a learned behavior that they don't pick up until they're slightly older and are really starting to interact with one another. If you see a broad, sweeping tail accompanied by relaxed body posture, that's a good sign your dog is happy.
5. Presenting you with their butt
If you have a feline friend in your life, you may have been presented with their butt on more than one occasion—especially when you've given their back a good scratch. Cat communication can range from the weird to the wonderful and having them put their butt on full display while in your presence probably leans more towards the former than the latter!
But while it may not be your favorite thing, this fascinating behavior is actually high praise from your cat. You see, when a cat raises their tail in the presence of another cat, it's actually an invitation to sniff their butt and say hello.
Now, we certainly don't encourage you to do that, but showing you their butt is their way of greeting you—in much the same way you might give a friend a hug—so you can acknowledge it by giving them a scratch on their head or back.
6. Eating poop
There are few things grosser in this world than watching a dog eat poop, so why on earth do they do it? Known as coprophagia, this behavior is common in young puppies who use their mouths to explore the world around them. But it can also occur in older dogs, too.
While it doesn't typically pose a danger to dogs, it's worth getting your pup looked over by a vet if they're still engaging in this behavior in adulthood. Sometimes it stems from a nutritional deficiency, and other times it may have a behavioral cause—such as boredom. If no underlying cause is found, training your dog not to eat poop is often very successful.
7. Covering poop
While some dogs are intent on eating poop, our feline friends are just as determined to cover theirs over. Even if they use a litter box, most cats choose to cover their poop—a behavior that's rooted in their DNA. Because their poop contains their scent, cats bury it to hide this and therefore protect themselves from predators.
Cats learn their litter box etiquette from their mother, so the majority will use litter or dirt to hide their poop. However, dominant males may sometimes leave their poop uncovered as a way of marking their territory.
8. Chasing their tail
There are lots of weird things that dogs do that are completely normal, and chasing their tail is one of them. There are several reasons why dogs chase their tails, with play being the most common amongst puppies. However, once dogs reach adulthood, there are typically other reasons they may chase their tails, which are worth being aware of.
Dogs need a lot of physical and mental stimulation each day to keep them happy and healthy, and if they're not getting that, they may turn to chasing their tails as a way to amuse themselves. Compulsive behavior, irritation, and injury are other potential causes of tail chasing. If you're unsure of the reason, it's worth having your pup checked over by a vet.
9. Cats eating grass and plants
Have you ever caught your cat nibbling on the leaves of your favorite plant? Or perhaps you've noticed them eating grass in the garden? While cats are carnivores, they'll often nibble on other things to get different nutrients or simply because they're bored and looking to create some fun for themselves.
Grass is absolutely fine for your feline friend to eat and won't cause them any harm. But you'll want to know how to stop a cat from eating plants unless you're sure that the flowers and foliage are 100% safe and non-toxic for cats.
10. Licking people
Is your dog licking you? The most common reason a dog will choose to lick their humans is to show affection—basically these doggy kisses are your canine companion's way of letting you know just how much you mean to them. Dogs may also lick to get attention. If you respond positively to this behavior, they'll keep doing it because it gets them what they want.
If your dog is licking excessively, it's worth getting them checked over by a vet as this can sometimes indicate an issue, such as canine dementia, stress, or anxiety. However, if the licking isn't excessive but it bothers you and you want to get your dog to stop, the best way to do that is to ignore the licking and reward your pup when they stop by giving them a few dog treats, praise, and a stroke. That way, they'll learn to associate not licking with getting what they want.
11. Drinking from faucets
If you've ever caught your feline friend drinking from one of the faucets in your home, you may be wondering why cats like running water so much. Cats are super clean creatures, so the first reason they do this is that they like their food and water sources to be kept separate. The faucet is likely well away from their food bowl, which is why they're probably so keen to drink from it.
Another reason is that cats know that running water is safer than stagnant water. Free-flowing water is typically free from bacteria and parasites, and it may be fresher and cleaner than the water in their bowl. Cats are also very curious and naturally drawn to movement, so running water tends to grab their attention. Plus, it's also fun to play with, which some cats really enjoy.
However, if you'd prefer your kitty doesn't drink from the faucet, why not purchase one of the best pet water fountains? These mimic the flowing water that comes out of a faucet, plus they have built-in filters to keep the water clean.
12. Humping
There's nothing more embarrassing than having friends over only for your dog to greet them a little too enthusiastically by humping their leg! Dogs hump for a variety of reasons including overstimulation, boredom, stress, a desire to assert dominance, and various medical issues. It's also a very common behavior in young, sexually mature dogs who have not been spayed or neutered.
Dogs may hump other dogs, people, or objects, and while most of the time it's not a cause for concern, some owners do find it problematic, particularly when it's excessive. The best way to put a stop to this behavior is to figure out the underlying cause. For example, if your dog is bored, giving them lots of mental and physical stimulation in the form of exercise and play time with the best dog puzzle toys is a great way to channel their attention and energy elsewhere.
13. Sleeping on your laptop
When it comes to achieving optimal work-life balance, there's no greater way to tick that box than working from home with your cat—they'll make sure you take regular breaks by choosing to fall asleep on your laptop!
It's one of those funny things cats do that's both frustrating when you have a deadline to meet and downright adorable at the same time. But aside from looking after our wellbeing, why else do cats do this?
Some people think that cats are drawn to laptops because they're warm, so it makes sense that they'd love curling up on their very own hot water bottle, especially in the colder months. However, it's more likely that they're drawn to your laptop because it contains your scent. Your cat then sleeps on it, transferring their scent onto the laptop alongside yours, which communicates to the world that both you (and your laptop!) belong to your feline friend. Which, when you think about it, is pretty darn cute.
14. Rolling in stinky things
It's both fascinating and horrifying to watch your dog decide that a really great way to spend their time is rolling around in another animals poop! Given that their sense of smell is so much stronger than ours, you'd think they'd be even less inclined than we are to roll around in stinky things, but for our canine companions, the smell of poop is attractive for a reason.
Dogs roll in poop because it helps them mark their territory, communicate with their pack, and it also hides their own scent. Territory marking is common because some dogs don't like the idea that there's another alpha on the scene. They may also roll in it as a way to mask their own scent, something that is often seen in dogs that were bred to hunt.
15. Knocking things over
Have you ever looked at your cat sitting on a shelf with their paw hovering over an object, uttered the words 'don't do it', and then have them stare at you, move their paw, and push said object off the shelf? If so, you're not alone! Cats are smart creatures who know full well what they're doing, and their mischievous antics can be both frustrating and hilarious.
There are lots of theories as to why cats do this. Some people say it's down to boredom and attention-seeking, while others think they're tapping into their natural hunting instincts or simply being playful. Dogs tend to explore their environment with their mouths, whereas cats like to use their paws, and when they move something and it rolls, they'll often respond by giving chase.
If you want to avoid your valuables from ending up broken, there are two things you can do. First, purchase a few of the best interactive cat toys and spend time each day playing with your kitty. Second, if your cat is doing it to get your attention, don't reward the behavior. Ignoring them is more likely to put a stop to this in the long run.
16. Sniffing crotches
It's rather mortifying to sit down at a social gathering and find that your dog is suddenly obsessed with sniffing your grandmother's crotch. While not an acceptable behavior amongst us humans, to our canine companions, this is a perfectly normal and polite way to say hello to someone—it's sort of the canine equivalent of shaking hands!
Dogs get a lot of their information about people and other animals through their scent, and because the most concentrated source of pheromones is in the crotch, that's where dogs head to find out more about the two and four-legged friends around them. So, try not to be embarrassed, this is perfectly normal doggy behavior.
17. Bringing you dead animals
One of the worst things about owning a cat is waking up to find your feline friend has brought you a mouse, a bird, or, heaven forbid, a large rat. Most of the time, they're sitting there looking proud as punch as they present you with their gift, but most of us cat parents likely wish they'd express their love through a snuggle session instead!
There are various reasons your cat may bring their catch into your home. Some people think it's because the house is their territory, so they're doing exactly what they'd do in the wild—bringing their kill back to their den.
Others think they're presenting you with what they've caught because in the wild, they'd share their kill with their family. So while we don't suppose you're very keen to eat that dead rodent in your kitchen, it's kind of sweet that your feline friend wants to ensure you're well nourished!
18. Hiding things
There are lots of weird things dogs do that are completely normal, and one of those is hiding treasured items. It may be food, treats, toys, or even something that belongs to you, basically anything your pup has decided is important to them, and they want to keep safe.
Most of the time, when dogs hide things, it's because they have a natural instinct to protect and guard their resources. Just like you might see a squirrel stashing nuts away during the fall, dogs will often put things in a secure location so they can return to them later.
It's a behavior that's deeply embedded in their DNA because, in the wild, they would have had to have hidden surplus food in a safe spot to prevent it from being found and eaten by competitors. Hiding things is more common in some breeds than others, with hunting dogs, like terriers and hounds, most likely to engage in this behavior.
19. Heat butting
If you're a cat parent, then you're probably familiar with something known as a head bunt, that adorable moment when your feline friend decides to headbutt you. Cats have glands on their cheeks, forehead, and chin that contain pheromones, and when they headbutt you, these pheromones get transferred onto you. Basically, it's your cat's way of letting the world know you belong to them!
Headbutting is one of the signs your cat is happy. You'll likely notice that your kitty appears relaxed both before and after engaging in this behavior. Many will purr, roll over, or simply seem very content—that's because facial pheromones have a calming effect.
20. Picking up stuff during a walk
No walk for a dog would be complete without finding the world's most perfect stick. Most of the time, that stick will be far larger than your canine companion and make it difficult for them to squeeze through small spaces, but this isn't a concern for your dog, what matters is they've found the stick of all sticks.
Most dogs are curious about any environment they find themselves in, and because they use their mouths to explore, picking things up—whether that's a stick, a discarded shoe or toy, or an item of clothing—is very normal behavior. Dogs have the same sort of inquisitive nature as toddlers, so they love to carry things for a while and then abruptly drop them and move on to something else.
Picking things up is particularly common amongst sporting and retrieving dog breeds who have this trait baked into their DNA.
Read next: 32 things your pet is trying to tell you
Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis De Leaver.
Last updated in June 2025.
