40 Weird and Funny Things Pets Do That Most People Would Find Hard To Believe
Some pets do the usual cute stuff, but others act like they are running the house. That is exactly why this AskReddit thread took off, because the stories sound so strange they almost feel made up.
From cats with strong opinions to dogs with oddly specific habits, the post pulled in a flood of replies from people sharing the funniest things their pets do. Some of them are sweet, some are chaotic, and a few are so weird they are hard to believe.
Here's the question as posted on AskReddit.
A human cat.
One of my cats legitimately sleeps in my bed. Head on my pillow, under the blanket, held to my chest like an actual baby.
He will spend all night like this and get mad if I stop cuddling him at any point. We sleep with our noses almost touching, and I know when he boops my nose with his that he wants me to cuddle him tighter.
It's bizarre but adorable.
"It's bedtime, Hooman!"
Every night at around 10 pm, my childhood dog would tell me it's time to go to bed. I could be in the living room watching TV and she would sit at the doorway and make little 'boofs' until I eventually got up and followed her to bed.
This happened every night from my high school years until the day she passed at 15 years old. I miss that old sassy girl.
Animal behavior often mirrors human traits, leading to humorous and endearing moments.
The quirky and amusing behaviors of pets often conceal deeper psychological layers that reveal their emotional lives. Many of these odd antics, from pretending to be sick to demanding attention, reflect not just a desire for affection but also a complex emotional landscape similar to that of humans. As pets express a wide array of feelings, their actions can be indicative of joy, anxiety, or even jealousy, showcasing their ability to communicate with their owners. For instance, a pet's sudden insistence on being near their human might signal a need for comfort or reassurance. These behaviors serve as a fascinating reminder that our furry companions are not just animals; they are sentient beings capable of expressing their emotional needs in ways that often mirror our own. This insight into pet psychology enhances our understanding of the bond we share with our pets and underscores the importance of recognizing their emotional cues.
The cat toilet-trained himself.
My cat is litter trained, but at some point he figured out the purpose of the toilet and decided to use it. It was just the two of us at the time, so I was confused by the tiny turds in my toilet until I actually caught him squatting on the seat and hanging his furry little butt over the bowl.
It was pretty freaking impressive, honestly.
Sweet cat kisses.
I'll just be laying around and yell for my cat when I haven't seen her in a while, "Mildred! Come give me a kiss!"
She will always come running into the room and jump on me, she will turn her head to the side and I'll kiss her cheek, then I turn my head to the side and she quickly pushes her nose into my cheek, she will jump back down and go back about her way after.
It's the sweetest, but I dont bother telling anyone, though. I don't need to be perceived as the crazy cat lady anymore than I already seem, lol.
Dog installs alarm systems.
My father's dog designs elaborate alarm systems with his toys. At night before bed he arranges toys that squeak inside of doorways and at the top and bottom of stairs.
If you move the toys he politely waits until you aren't looking and then places the toy back. They don't just end up in a spot they are placed there.
It also seems that the toys are chosen for each location based on ease of squeak and volume. The loudest toys are inside the door of the bedroom.
One final note on placement.
If the door swings inward the toy is placed outside of the door's arc. If it swings outward it's right in the middle.
The phenomenon of pets acting like humans can also be linked to anthropomorphism, the tendency to attribute human characteristics to animals.
While anthropomorphism can foster emotional bonds, it’s crucial to maintain a balanced perspective to avoid unrealistic expectations of animal behavior.
Understanding that pets are not just animals but companions with emotional lives can help owners respond more empathetically to their behaviors. This emotional connection can significantly enhance the bond between pets and their owners.
When owners recognize their pets' emotional states, they can better cater to their needs, leading to happier and healthier pets.
The disciplinarian dog.
We have a very unique dog that seems to have internalized a set of rules.
He is friendly with our 3 cats however if he observes them doing something that we(the humans) have corrected them for previously he will then take on the responsibility for future occurrences by sitting beside the misbehaving cat and barking at them until they stop.
The exercise guru.
Whenever I do push-ups, my dog crawls under me and pushes up off the floor against my torso, trying to help me up.
Static electric shock.
I had a kitty who once accidentally got a static electric shock touching her nose to the edge of my metal flat files. For the rest of her long life, she would touch her nose to the corners of things; doorways, furniture, etc looking for more.
When she did get shocked again she’d paw at the object and bite in its general direction. I used to “charge her up” in winter by roughing up her fur so she could play her strange game some more.
I’ve never heard of anyone else’s cat that did this. She was so unique with such a wonderful personality.
Rest In Peace, Corners, my dear friend.
Pets can provide significant emotional support, acting as a buffer against stress and anxiety.
This emotional connection serves as a protective factor against various mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Understanding the psychological benefits of pet ownership can help individuals recognize the value of their pets as companions and support systems.
Pets often learn from their environments, including their human companions. Observational learning is a significant aspect of how pets develop behaviors, mirroring what they see in their owners.
Research indicates that pets can pick up on cues from their owners, such as vocal tones and body language, which influences their responses.
Studies in the National Institutes of Health underline the importance of consistent training and socialization in shaping desirable behaviors.
Snoopy loves lettuce.
I got my dog Snoopy when I was 10 years and ever since he was a puppy he had this weird love for lettuce. He would go absolutely nuts for it and so whenever I had a sandwich or a burger I would give him some of my lettuce.
Over the years it became a ritual that whenever I prepared any food that involved lettuce for myself, I would grab extra lettuce for him so I could toss it to him as I ate.
He passed away almost 5 years ago after nearly 17 years together, but I still find myself grabbing that bit of extra lettuce for him. It's kind of funny that his little quirk has still stuck with me for all these years and I honestly never want it to go it away, because it's a little way I remember him.
Buster loves to play hide-and-seek.
Mine is that our cat that passed away last year use to play hide and seek with my husband Curtis. Curtis would hide and our cat Buster would run around everywhere until he found him.
He would even try to sneak up on him. If he was hiding on the other side of our TV console, Buster would crawl under the console just so he could jump out and “scare” him.
If ever Curtis hid so well that Buster couldn’t find him, my husband would jump from his hiding spot and say boo. This would make Buster pout that he had not found him on his own and he would go sit on the couch staring at my husband with a “You son of a bitch” face.
Buster even got to where he would hide while playing the game. Cats are hard to find sometimes anyway without one intentionally playing hide and seek and playing with the dedication that Buster would play with.
We would both look for him until we gave up and sat on the couch. He would then stroll out a few minutes later with a smug smile on his face.
This rabbit is a drama queen.
My rabbit feigned illness to get attention.
There were so many times throughout her life that my pet rabbit would pretend to be dying that I'd stay home from work or trips, shower her with love and treats, etc. that my boyfriend began to notice a pattern: She was "deathly ill" each time we'd start packing for a weekend away.
Not eating, lethargic, refused her favorite treats, when I shook the bag when normally she'd come running, etc. I'm panicking and stop packing, getting ready to call the vet when my boyfriend pointed out, "she always does this.
Just leave the room for a bit"
So I left the room and nervously kept getting ready when I hear a shuffle from her cage. She sprinted to her food dish where I dumped the treats and ate them in 2 seconds, sprinted over to her fresh pile of hay and started shoveling that into her mouth.
I called out her name from the door frame and she greeted me with a thump of her foot while still eating.
Another time, once the "oh you're leaving? I'm sick" trick wasn't working anymore, I noticed she wasn't hopping at all.
She... walked, with her back legs. She walked across her whole play pen, walked into the litter box, walked out, then settled awkwardly in her bed.
I tried picking her up and she was just dead weight. I panicked because here was my 6 year old rabbit with a dislocated hip or something so I shook her treat bag because that's all I thought of doing and she sprinted normally over to me, stood up on her back legs with her front legs in the air, bright eyed and bushy tailed waiting for those sweet, sweet dried peas and carrots.
She actually just passed away last weekend at the age of 9 1/2. She suddenly stopped eating and it took half a day of me syringe feeding her for my now fiance to actually believe something was seriously wrong.
It's the reason I always allowed myself to believe her tricks because there'd come a day when it wasn't a trick. Unfortunately she was just old, and even syringe feeding wasn't enough to keep her going.
Rest in peace you little trickster. I sometimes think you were more dog than a rabbit
Additionally, the routines associated with pet care can provide structure and purpose in daily life.
Moreover, humor in pet behaviors can also serve as a stress-relief mechanism for owners. Engaging with pets through play and laughter can foster emotional well-being, reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.
The cat got addicted to playing with the NERF gun.
With my old cat, who died a year or 2 ago, we had a game. We called it Gun.
The game involved shooting him, in the face, at point-blank range, with a NERF gun. Now this on the surface sounds cruel... but he loved this game.
If I cocked that NERF gun he would literally come running from anywhere in the house. He'd then hunker down directly in front of me... bracing for impact.
Then he would give a short meow. I (And others who played with him) specifically waited for the meow. That was his "go" signal.
And we'd let fly, aiming directly at his nose, usually from around 3 feet away. Sometimes he would then bound after the dart, sometimes even fetching it.
Sometimes he would hunker down again and meow, asking for more. If you were willing, he would play this game for as long as you'd keep playing... although I usually stopped after unloading all 6 rounds.
In the end we buried him with a NERF dart.
This cat is a therapist.
My old cat Star could tell when I was suicidal and would lay on my chest and go limp so if I tried to move her, she wouldn't be able to be moved without making me feel worse. She would purr and purr while giving me kisses until the moment passed.
I miss her more than anything.
My 9month old kitten will treat me like a playmate and not like a regular cuddly person. She will wait around corners to jump out and play.
She will run at me sideways all POOFED up to initiate a chase. High fives with no treats and sitting when asked to do so.
Torties are the best!
The cat knows well about proper oral hygiene.
My cat loves having her teeth brushed and will cry if I don't brush her teeth.
Social media has transformed how we view and interact with pets, often showcasing their amusing behaviors.
To promote positive behaviors in pets, owners can implement structured routines that include play, training, and social interaction. Consistency is key in helping pets feel secure and understood.
Veterinarians often advise owners to engage in regular exercise and mental stimulation, which can curb undesirable behaviors stemming from boredom or anxiety.
Reading is this dog's thing.
My dog demands I read to him. Whenever I'm sitting reading something he'll come over, put his head on pages, and paw at me until I start reading to him.
A very territorial cat!
My cat is extremely territorial.
My new boyfriend didn't believe me until while we were making out on my couch, my big ol' main coon went behind him and when he went to look to see what my cat was doing, my cat sucker-punched my boyfriend on the face three times with his paw, ran away to my kitchen, started opening and slamming shut the lower kitchen cupboards, and then ran to his litter box to take a massive s**t.
He also would get in between us in bed, put his back to me, stretch all four legs out and slowly put his claws into my boyfriends back and then retract them again. When my boyfriend told him to stop and turned over to go back to sleep, five minutes later my cat did the same thing with all four of his paws, but would only put *1* claw into his back.
They are bffs now because my boyfriend is a morning person and I am not, which is something very useful to my cat.
The cat was faking a limp.
Ultimately, embracing the quirks of pets can lead to deeper emotional connections and greater appreciation for their companionship.
Furthermore, understanding individual pet personalities is crucial in tailoring care. Each pet has unique needs that should be addressed to ensure their well-being.
Owners should observe their pets closely to recognize their preferences and behaviors, leading to a more harmonious relationship.
This cat is a Klepto!
My childhood cat burglarized our neighbors.
We found swimsuits, sporting equipment, and even one time caught him dragging a kids backpack through the kitty door. What happened to the kid, I wonder.
Dogs hand-standing while peeing.
My childhood dog had a weak rear right leg, so anytime he wanted to hike his leg on something off to the left he would just do a handstand rather than try to support his weight in the bad leg.
But wait... there's more. When he started getting older we brought home a puppy who absolutely idolized his big brother.
Within about a month he had worked his way up to also doing handstands when he peed, but for this dog it was EVERY SINGLE TIME. I guess he thought that was just how you were supposed to do it.
Nothing like having two dogs pissing down their own chest several times per day.
The roofer dog.
My husband is a roofer and our first dog would climb the ladder and sit beside him. Almost caused 3 cars to crash and a runner to jump in a ditched when she barked at him we've had great dogs since but she was special.
Bird loves to sit this way.
My birb likes to sit in my cupped hand (like really gets floofy/smushed up and comfortable in it like it's his couch) and make this face (◕ᴗ◕✿) while I give him scritches.
He bites my hand when I stop, so this has to happen until he falls asleep or something. When he is ready to poop (birbs poop every half hour or so) he walks out of my cupped hand and onto my leg, staring at me bobbing his head up and down so I could bring him to his cage.
If I'm spaced out watching TV, he will walk to the edge of my foot and poop off the side. He's so polite like that.
Bird says "good night" whenever she's ready for bed.
Fetch is her game.
I have a cat that plays fetch with his stuffed animals.
He also gets annoyed when I don't throw the stuffed animal far enough, and loves to chase it down the stairs into the basement.
Dog loves her private spaces.
I have a Pomeranian who is a total introvert. She's super laid back and chill and that kind of throws people off anyway.
No matter where I live she claims some space in the house as her "bedroom" and goes there to be alone.
One time it was a cabinet in my kitchen.
She claimed one of the lower unused cabinets and took soft stuff and snacks and toys in there and could open the cabinet all by herself. She would chill in there for hours.
Currently it's the corner of the sectional against the wall, she has all her favorite things under there and my other dog NEVER goes under there. It's her private space.
Dog reacts when hearing the jingle from a commercial.
"What took you so long to come home?"
My old collie used to yell at us if we didn’t come home from school on time. Like if we went to a friends or the walk home took too long, he would howl at you for the rest of the night and there was no getting out of it with him.
He was also afraid of ice cream bucket handles.
I miss that dog.
Yoda, the mewing dog.
I had a toy poodle mix named Yoda who would meow like a cat if I said "Yoda go meow".
It started as me saying it as a joke to him here and there and one day he actually started doing it. He was a good boy.
Spider presents from the cat.
He wants a human dish instead.
My dog refuses to drink from a bowl. We took him to the vet because he was sick, turns out he was dehydrated.
My dog always has water next to his food, but wasnt drinking it. We changed his bowl to a normal dish, the ones we use to eat soup.
Now he drinks from it, if u change it back to a normal dog's bowl, he will stop drinking water and get sick. Nobody knows why.
The singing dogs.
Cat loves bathing.
Cat says "helloooo".
Cat puts her owner to bed.
The exercise buddy.
My cat likes to lay under me when I'm planking. I consider it extra motivation to not fall.
Horse plays fetch.
How adorable.
My dog get super wound up if you make a small "pppt" like farting noise from your mouth. She legit breaks if you make this noise and starts running laps in the house and diving into you lap and begging to be pet, it's very strange.
My other dog needs to look you right in the face when you come home, she will jump up and want her paws held just so she can get really close to your face then gets down and goes and does her own thing.
She also hugs you if you're sitting on the ground which makes my heart weak
Scooby-Doo, is that you?
Are you trying to embarrass your mum?
My cat can sit, but whenever I say "sit" in front of some guests he just stares at me for like ten seconds
The cat is just giving a hand.
I had a cat that would sit on my shoulder every time I went poop. He would just come and jump on my shoulder and wait till I was done!
The hall monitor.
Every pet's behavior is influenced by a variety of factors: owners, environment, breed, and training. What they got used to seeing or doing each day can be a normal thing to them as they get used to doing such activity.
The same goes with behavior as it is developed out of what our pets do or experience regularly. Nevertheless, we would always find them cute and lovable.
The amusing and peculiar behaviors exhibited by pets not only entertain but also reveal deeper emotional connections with their owners. Recognizing the motivations behind behaviors like playing the role of a guardian or effectively managing household dynamics can lead to more meaningful interactions.
By establishing consistent routines and encouraging positive engagement, pet owners can nurture their companions' well-being and happiness, ultimately leading to a more harmonious household where both pets and humans thrive together.
The delightful antics of pets showcased in this article not only entertain but also reflect the deeper emotional connections we share with them. From their clever attempts to feign illness for extra affection to their instinctual roles as guardians, these behaviors highlight their intelligence and emotional depth. Recognizing the psychological nuances of pet ownership can significantly enrich our relationships with these furry companions. Ultimately, the joy they bring into our lives is a testament to the profound bond that enhances both our emotional well-being and their own.
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