Cats are mysterious and unpredictable animals. Sometimes their behavior seems strange and illogical to us.
One of the odd things cats do is ask their owner to open the door and then not go in, just stand there. What makes a cat do this if it has no intention of going in? There are several explanations.
One of them is the assessment of space. Cats are predators and territorial animals.
They constantly monitor their territory and study everything that is happening around them. When a cat asks to open the door, it wants to check what is behind it. It analyzes the information with its senses: sight, hearing, smell. If there is nothing interesting or dangerous behind the door, the cat can turn around and leave.
Another reason is the owner's attention. Cats are not such solitary animals as many people think. They love to communicate with people and receive their affection. When a cat asks to open the door, it may do so so that the owner can take a break from his business and devote time to it. It may want to play with him or just sit next to him.
Another possible reason is the cat's anxiety or curiosity. Cats have very sensitive hearing and can hear sounds behind the door that we don't notice. These can be creaks, rustling sounds, voices or other sounds. The cat may be scared or interested in these sounds and ask to open the door to find out what's going on. But as soon as it sees that there is no threat or entertainment behind the door, it calms down and does not enter the room.
And finally, another version is "rescuing" the owner from the bathroom. Many cats do not like water and do not understand why a person wants to bathe in it. When the owner goes to take a shower or bath, the cat may start scratching or meowing under the bathroom door.
She may think he is in trouble and is trying to get him out of there. But when the owner opens the door, the cat sees that he is fine and does not need her help.
So cats ask to open the door for different reasons: to control the territory, to get attention, to resolve anxiety or curiosity, or to “rescue” the owner from the bathroom. This does not mean that the cat is indecisive or capricious. It is simply its way of interacting with the world around it and with humans.
To understand your cat and make friends with it, you need to respect its individuality and needs. And if the cat asks to open the door too often, you can try installing a special cat hatch or leaving the door slightly open.
