If you’re a cat owner, you’ve probably seen your feline friend do some weird things! From biting her nails to sprinting through the living room at full speed for 10 minutes. Whatever it was, you likely thought to yourself: yep, my cat’s officially lost it, that is the most random thing I’ve ever seen.

Turns out, most of your cat’s weird behaviors are actually, well, not-so-random.

Every cat has a unique personality that they will express in various ways. Some cats enjoy sleeping more than playing, others enjoy attacking your feet as you walk by or randomly biting you if you pet them for too long. No matter what your cat’s personality is like--cuddly or crazy foot hunter--there are a few things you should look out for in your kitty’s behavior. 

Below is a list of the top three weird cat behaviors that owners have shared with us and some tips on how to respond to them.

1. Randomly sprinting around the house at full speed

So, you’re sitting on the couch watching your favorite Netflix show when all of a sudden your cat comes bolting into the room, jumps on the couch, and springs back out of the room. She does this several times over the course of ten minutes, so of course, you pull out your phone to take a cute and funny Instagram video of your weirdo cat.

What does this mean?

It means that you have one furry friend who is full of energy--I mean, having a cat is like having a toddler. Your cat’s random sprints are simply a way for her to release built-up energy. This is especially true for indoor cats, who don’t have the luxury of running outside, climbing trees, or hunting small rodents. Here are a few suggestions to help kitty exert some energy!

• Purchase Interactive cat toys including puzzles, lasers, and wands
• Build a catio
• Make a nice spot next to the window for your cat to watch birds outside to keep them entertained
• Invest in a treadmill or wheel

2. Biting nails

There are a variety of reasons as to why your feline friend could be biting her nails. It’s important to properly assess this behavior to determine whether it’s a harmless behavior, or part of an underlying problem.

If your cat only bites her nails when she’s giving herself a bath, or does it very rarely, then it’s safe to make the assumption that she’s just keeping up on her personal hygiene. Much like clawing at furniture to keep their nails nice and filed, cats also “trim” their nails by biting them. Think of it as the cat form of a manicure—a “caticure!”

If you happen to notice that your cat bites her nails often, especially for long periods of time, the culprit could be behavioral or medical and include: 

• Anxiousness or boredom—in this case, you can help by supplying her with stimulating activities, keeping to a routine so she knows what to expect and when, and investing in a cat enclosure

• Skin condition or infection such as ringworm or pemphigus 
• Paw or pad injury
• Abnormally thick or brittle nails, most commonly seen in senior cats

Regardless, excessive nail biting should always be brought up to your vet to diagnose the problem and find a solution.

3. Constantly rubbing up against you 

This is probably the weird cat behavior we hear most about. Whether it’s rubbing against your legs, head butting you while you’re watching TV on the couch, or rolling across your chest when you’re sleeping, our cats love to just rub against us.

Turns out, this behavior isn’t so weird because it simply means that our beloved feline friends just want to let the world know that they belong to us. When your cat rubs against you, she’s letting off pheromones each time that leave a scent on you—a scent that is specific to each particular cat. She’s proud you’re her owner and wants to meow it from the mountain tops. How cute is that?!

What are some other weird cat behaviors you’ve seen your feline friend does? Leave a comment below—we’d love to hear from you!