• Knead me with his paws? Young kittens knead their mother’s nipples to stimulate milk flow. If your cat is kneading on your stomach or shoulder, it’s a way of showing his affection for you.

• Dunk her toys in her food or water bowl? Wild cats bring their prey back to their nest, and this may be your cat’s way of keeping a favorite toy in a safe place that’s her territory only.

• Attack my feet when I walk by? This is your cat following his natural instinct to stalk moving objects. He is engaging in a type of predatory-play, and your ankles are the prey.

• Go crazy at night? Cats are most active at night, as that’s when their prey would naturally be available. Indoor cats that have slept most of the day will therefore become incredibly active at night, much to their owner’s chagrin.

• Knock things over? Your cat is not simply clumsy. Instead, if your cat is knocking things off a counter or dresser, it’s because he is trying to get your attention to play with him, or because he simply finds it amusing.

• Rub her head on my legs or shoes? Your cat is “marking” you using the scent glands on his face. It is your cat’s way of showing affection, claiming you as “his,” and perhaps covering up the other scents you have acquired throughout the day.

• Suddenly hiss or bite me while I’m petting him? This is simply your cat’s way of letting you know he’s had enough petting. If you notice, your cat will likely not bite you hard, just enough to let you know that the petting session is over.

• Scratch on glass windows? Indoor cats may scratch on windows or other glass surfaces as a way of testing to see if he can get beyond it, and into the outdoors. He may also be trying to go after a bird or insect that he say fly by the window.

WHY DOES MY DOG

Wag his tail? A dog wags its tail to express emotion. As it turns out, a study published in Current Biology found that dogs wag their tails to the right side of their rear ends when they feel positive about something, and to the left when they have negative feelings.

• Eat grass? Some experts believe dogs eat grass simply because they like the taste. Others believe they do so because it’s cleansing for their body.

• Walk around “forever” before urinating? According to Tony Kremer, a veterinarian and dog behavior expert, they do this to “scan the terrain for predators so they don’t get ‘caught with their pants down … They may [also] be [homing] in on just the right spot to mark with their scent.”

• Burrow under the covers? “Dogs are denning animals,” says the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in an MSN.com article. So they burrow under your covers because it helps them feel safe, secure and comfortable. While all dogs may do this, hounds, terriers and huskies are especially likely to do so.

• Circle before lying down? Dogs in the wild circle to mat down the grass and make a bed for themselves. This instinct has likely been genetically passed down to your dog.

• Chase her tail? In most cases, just because it’s fun. However, if the tail chasing becomes excessive, it could be the sign of a medical problem, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• Run in his sleep? Yes, dogs do dream, and when his paws move or he yips while sound asleep, it’s because he’s dreaming.