Cats are undeniably adorable yet often unpredictable creatures. One moment, they are social, playful, and caring, and the other, they let all havoc loose, destroying everything in their way. Owners of these feline companions are proven this time and time again when they find piles of toilet paper or soil scattered around the house.
Luckily, they often manage to see the bright side of these mildly infuriating moments and share them with the rest of us so we can laugh and share their pain together. We at Bored Panda have collected some of the most mischievous cat crimes, and honestly, it’s pretty impressive what they can do when left to their own devices.
While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with Mustafa Tshash, a pet behavior specialist and co-founder of How To Pets, and Joey Lusvardi, a certified cat behavior consultant.
#1 My Cat Broke Into A 5 Lb Bag Of Catnip. I Came Home To This
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#2 He’s On A Diet. It’s Not Going Great
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#3 Typical
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Pet behavior specialist Mustafa Tshash tells Bored Panda that cats aren't out to destroy our homes. "Their "destructive" behaviors are often misinterpreted and can be managed with a better understanding of their instincts and needs. Patience, coupled with the right tools and techniques, goes a long way in creating a harmonious living environment for both you and your feline friend."
According to Tshash, understanding why your furry companion engages in these behaviors is the first step to finding a solution that works for the owner and their pet.
Scratching, specifically, is an instinct that allowed their predecessors to survive and thrive in the wild. It can start as early as 8 weeks of age and lets felines mark their territory by leaving visual and chemical cues as a pheromone is released from the scent gland in their feet. This odor contains information about the animal’s health, sex, and breeding status, all of which other cats can detect.
#4 My Cat Messed Up A Single Part Of My Window Shades. Never Realized Why Until Just Now
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#5 Tried To Make My Own Paper. Failed Successfully
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#6 Egg Thief
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Felines also scratch surfaces to sharpen their nails, removing the old layers of the nail to expose a new, sharp part underneath. Honed claws allow cats to be better hunters and defend themselves from predators or threats.
Additionally, it lets a cat stretch out its muscles fully, relieving tension. Moreover, the action releases calming chemicals in the brain that help to lessen anxiety and overexcitement.
#7 He Threw My House Slipper In The Toilet
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#8 Princess Pamela Knocked Over Two Plants. All Because I Didn’t Feed Her The Moment I Came Home From Work
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#9 My Cat Didn’t Like Her Trip To The Vet, So She Chewed A Hole Under The Futon And Has Been Hiding In It Since We Got Back
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In the wild, cats often scratch against tree trunks, which leaves a visual and chemical cue at eye level for other felines. For this reason, the arms of couches and the legs of unvarnished wooden furniture are usually the most common targets for territorial scratching of house companions.
Tshash also tells us that kitties are curious by nature. They explore the world with their paws and mouths, chewing on objects and investigating their surroundings. And it so happens that they mistake furniture or other items for toys.
If a person has a young kitten, he additionally warns that teething is often a culprit. "Just like human babies, kittens go through a phase where chewing helps soothe the discomfort of emerging teeth."
#10 They Want To Go To The Beach
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#11 The Amount Of Guilt On That Cat's Face Is Hilarious
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#12 My Jerk Cat Knocks Over A Lamp And Then Yells At Me About It
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Joey Lusvardi certified cat behavior consultant, notes that chewing can be a consequence of boredom. Meanwhile, other destructive behaviors could be the result of stress.
"If you look at the context in which the behavior is occurring, it will give you information about the underlying reason for it. In some cases, destructive behaviors may stem from accidental training.
If your cat is doing something you don’t want them to do and, as an example, you yell at them or use a squirt bottle on them, the attention you’re giving them may encourage them to do the behavior more. Even if it seems like it is “bad” attention, your cat may not see it that way. They may enjoy the attention or think you’re trying to play with them. Your cat’s perspective is what matters."
#13 Your Homework? Never Heard About It
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#14 There Are No Thoughts Behind Those Eyes
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#15 Locked My Cat In The Bathroom While I Made A Meal Because He Was Being Annoying. Revenge Was Had
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Because these actions are innate in cats, they can be hard to stop when they become undesirable. The best way to solve this issue is to provide environmental enrichment. "Cats can get bored easily, and boredom often leads to destructive behavior. Provide a variety of toys, climbing trees, and scratching posts to keep them entertained. Puzzle feeders and interactive toys can also work wonders!" says Tshash.
Meanwhile, Lusvardi mentions, "Make sure your cat has an abundance of resources like scratching posts and cat trees spread out in prominent, easy-to-access locations. You likely need more stuff for your cat than you’d think, so a single scratching post isn’t going to cut it. A well-made, sturdy scratching post is better than a cheap, flimsy one."
#16 An Entrance To The Void Has Opened In My Living Room
The cat opened the vent by herself. I didn't ask for this.
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#17 The Crime, The Criminal, The Evidence
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#18 My Wife Couldn’t Figure Out Why The Plants In Her Flower Box Were Dying. I Think I Found The Problem
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"Rather than focusing on stopping or suppressing a behavior, you’ll get better results if you try to address the root cause of the problem and encourage an alternative behavior that you’re okay with," further explains Lusvardi.
"Creating fear or stress in your cat often just makes the behavior worse or only temporarily stops it. Redirect your cat to an acceptable outlet for the behavior."
In the case of scratching, he recommends luring felines with catnip or silver vine to the scratching post itself or offering a reward after they use it. "You don’t want to take your cat's paws and place them on the scratcher, as that will only cause them stress and may cause an aversion to the scratching post," he says.
#19 My Daughter Decided To Give Captain Beans Some Catnip. She Forgot To Put The Bag Away. I Came Home To This
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#20 I Caught My Cat In The Act Of Attacking A Roll Of Toilet Paper
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#21 He Had A Mission
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To encourage the use of such an alternative, the owner might want to model how it’s done for the cat by running their nails over the post. This creates an intriguing demonstration that might entice the feline to come and try it.
If that doesn't help solve the issue, Lusvardi advises covering the object with something the cat can scratch. "An over-the-couch scratcher will protect your furniture and give your cat an outlet for scratching.
This will prevent them from going to a different location to scratch instead. If your cat is chewing, cover the object so they can’t chew it, and give them something they can chew. Cat grass or silver vine sticks are great options."
#22 Caught Red-Handed. Tony The Toilet Paper Bandit
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#23 Admiring Her Handiwork
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#24 Another Reason To Put The Lid Down
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He concludes by saying, "Make sure they get plenty of interactive play with you where they get to hunt, chase, and catch the toy. If the behavior is a sudden change, set up an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out medical causes. If nothing is found, your veterinarian or a cat behavior specialist can help you figure out what to do if you’re stumped."
#25 Luna Eats My Live Succulents, So I Got LEGO Ones. I Can't Have Nice Things
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#26 Someone Knocked Over The Toy Basket But Left No Trace! It's The Perfect Crime
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#27 Using Her Tree To Redecorate. I Wondered Why These 2 Were Always Crooked
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Tshash even suggests that destructive behavior might mean that the owner should consider a companion for their furry friend. "Sometimes, solo cats get into trouble simply because they’re lonely. If it’s feasible, consider getting a second kitty. Of course, make sure to introduce them properly to avoid any interpersonal kitty drama!"
#28 Get Cats They Said, It’ll Be Fun They Said
No cats were harmed and no plants were seriously injured.
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#29 Ah Yes, The Classic Feline Adage: "If I Fits, I Sits"
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#30 Left The New Package Of Toilet Paper On The Table
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#31 Gardeners Doing Their Job
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#32 My Cat Decided To Ruin This Batch Of Bread. At Least She Was Comfortable
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#33 Finally Found The Problem With Our Flattened Flowers
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#34 I Guess I’ll Take My Knitting Projects To Another Room
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#35 He Also Stole A Hot Dog
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#36 Left My Office Door Open For One Minute
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#37 The Cat Was Mad We Weren't Home To Feed Her Dinner, And Got Back At Us By Ripping Apart A Pack Of Bagels And Taking A Tiny Bite Out Of Each One
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#38 What A Lovely Little Garden! Would Be A Shame If Someone Were To Lay Down On It
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#39 The Face Of Someone Who Is Proud Of Ripping Up My Sofa
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#40 I Think It’s Safe To Say That My Lemon Thyme Is Dead
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#41 My Coffee Is His Coffee
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#42 I Mean, Shrimp Is Cute, But She Cannot Afford To Replace My Blinds As She Is Currently Unemployed
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#43 My Cat Just Bit The Corner Of My MacBook
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#44 "What?"
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#45 Caught Him Stealing A Slice Of Beef Cheek This Taco Night
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#46 Tortilla Devil
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#47 This Cat Broke Into My House And Knocked Over My Monitor
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#48 "Mom, I Don't Like It" Proceeds To Knock It Over Three Times
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#49 Look What She Has Done To My Seat
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#50 Was Finishing Up A 1000 Piece Puzzle Before My Cat Ran And Jumped Up On The Table To Slide The Whole Thing Off
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