Animal psychology experts have uncovered another clue to a common cat mystery. If you’ve ever seen a cat pacing in front of a closed door, you might have noticed how frantically it tries to get into the room. An irritated feline may shove its paw through the gap, scratch at the door, or even attack it while meowing loudly. But why does it do this?
This behavior stems from both evolution and the way owners interact with their pets. Animal psychologists say that when owners restrict a cat’s freedom of movement, it can cause stress. So why do closed doors bother cats? According to California-based Dr. Karen Sueda, part of the reason is that cats are curious and suffer from a fear of missing out on something important. Cats like to monitor everything happening in their territory. That sense of control helps them survive in the wild, but it can also trigger aggressive behaviors like attacking doors.
American cat behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson told Live Science that cats like to control access to spaces and vital resources. Johnson, a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), said, “This doesn’t make cats sneaky. It doesn’t change the fact that they are both predators and prey. They have to hunt to survive, while also wanting to feel secure in their environment.” Another animal behavior expert, Jane Ehrlich from Arizona, identified three things cats dislike most: lack of choice, lack of control, and change. While cats don’t always want to be involved in what happens behind a closed door, they still want to know what’s going on.
Why closed doors feel like rejection to cats
There’s another explanation. Cats love their owners and the attention they get, and closed doors can block that connection. A 2017 study in the journal Behavioural Processes found that most cats prefer interacting with humans—interaction that can mean more to them than food or toys. Johnson adds that cats don’t understand that closed doors are temporary. “A place they previously had access to—where they felt safe, liked to sleep, or nap—has suddenly been taken away,” she said. That can create stress for the cat.
While cats often display attention-seeking behavior near closed doors, they can also be genuinely stressed. Frantic meowing, flattened ears, and hissing are signs a cat is extremely upset, Sueda said. If you have concerns about your cat’s behavior, take it to a veterinarian.
