If you have been an avid cat parent, you might have noticed this one unique and perhaps cute behavior displayed by your beloved cat. Of course, they are aloof and do not care for what you ask them to do, but at times, they show very caring behavior.
One such behavior that has always intrigued me is the way my cat guards my door. Why do cats guard your door? Is it for protecting you or some other sheer behavior that cats exhibit for a strange reason? Let us unearth the truth.
Why does your cat guard your door?
Well, there are several reasons that your cat may decide to guard your doorway. Not each of them has something to do with the care for you.
Your cat is seeking your attention
Of course, it may look as if your cat is guarding the door. But the cat is asking you for your attention. Blocking the doorway is a clever art that cats display to seek your love.
Cats have learned that the door is the center of attention for any home. Blocking the door – according to its logic – is the best way to demand recognition. And that remains a fact. Guarding the door is one of the most common antics that we love about our cats.
Your cat is just being curious
Cats are curious animals by instinct. Their curiosity about things around them is boundless. A closed door can act as fuel to this feline instinct. As you might have seen, outdoor cats tend to explore the insides of a closed space, while the indoor cats try to gain access to the outside world.
The outside world is a challenge to them. They just want to explore it. When they can’t, they guard the door as the gatekeepers to the unknown things outside.
Your cat is protecting you
Well, that should be the cutest feeling if that’s true. Even when cats tend to be solitary animals, they have a reason to preserve a cohesive relationship with you. That is exactly why they would think of protecting you.
They realize that the threats and outside elements enter the house from the doors. Guarding your door is your cat’s way own way of protecting you.
It is just a habit for your cat
If you notice your cat guarding the door quite for a long time, that may not have any specific reason behind it. It can just be a habit that your cat has developed. They get habituated and like the simple familiarity that comes with it.
Your cat is being territorial
Cats are territorial by nature. If you introduce new cats to your home, they may tend to get aggressive and block access to the door. If your locality has cats in the neighborhood, you may notice the habit of guarding the door quite often.
Cats not only guard doors, but also block access to food bowls, sleeping spots, or litter boxes. Closed doors or even open doors are the invisible boundaries for your cat. They guard the region indicating and telling the world that “this is my territory”.
Should you stop your dog from guarding the door?
As long as your cat is not hurting anyone entering the home through the door, there is no reason why you should stop it from guarding the door. In fact, the cat might have developed the habit as part of its routine. Stopping it from doing that can interrupt it and make it get annoyed.
However, if you think your cat is guarding the door due to any sort of separation anxiety. it may be important to provide your cat with a reassuring or comfortable environment.
In fact, your cat likes living its life just the way it wants to. They are highly independent. Also, cats are territorial creatures and tend to mark their territories as per their comfort level. As long as the cat is not scratching the door and damaging it, I find no reason why it should not be allowed to guard the door.
In Conclusion
There are several reasons for your cat to guard your door. But, close observation should reveal the real purpose of your cat indulging in this behavior. Once you understand the exact reason, you can take any corrective action if needed, or leave your cat to enjoy what it loves the most.
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