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5 Weirdest Pregnancy Cravings

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We’ve all heard of pregnant women eating weird things. Who hasn’t heard stories about some poor guy having to run out in the middle of the night to get his pregnant wife ice cream and pickles? (And yeah, that’s a weird combination).

But pregnancy cravings are a real thing. It’s not just an uncomfortable soon-to-be mom being picky. Cravings are actually a symptom that can be caused by a few changes going on in the pregnancy, like a heightened sense of smell and taste, hormonal changes, and nutritional needs. If the baby or mom is lacking in something, they’ll get a huge craving for foods that have that nutrient.

For instance, lots of pregnant women crave peanut butter. Peanut butter is loaded with good fats, iron, vitamin E, and calcium. So it may be that the baby (or mom) really just needs to increase one of those things. Plus, peanut butter is delicious.

There are also old wives’ tales that go with cravings. For instance, when a pregnant woman is craving sweet things, they say she’s having a girl. If she craves salty things, they say she’s having a boy. And some women believe that the craving is really something the baby wants. Many moms swear that the things they craved during pregnancy were the child’s favorite food once they arrived. It’s not science-backed, but who knows?

5 Weirdest Pregnancy Cravings

Weird is subjective, but these five things definitely hit the “not normal food groups” for most people.

  1. Pickles and Ice Cream. This just sounds gross. Though many pregnant women through the years would tell you not to knock it until you tried it. Craving pickles usually has something to do with needing salt. The ice cream might just be sweet to counterbalance it or the mom/baby might need more calcium.
  2.  Rare Meat. This isn’t necessarily weird, but a lot of pregnant women who don’t like red meat normally crave really rare (or even raw) steak and red meat. 
  3. Peanut Butter and Pickles. There are the pickles again. There are all sorts of combinations of pickles and peanut butter with other things. But the two together are probably the weirdest tasting concoction you’ll hear about.
  4. Chalk. You read that right. A lot of pregnant women get cravings for things that are not even food! Chalk is high on the list. But they might also crave paper and even dirt. A lot of people think these cravings have something to do with settling nausea, but craving non-food items is also a condition called Pica.
  5. Chocolate and Beef Jerky. A lot of pregnant women crave chocolate with a variety of things. This might be a take on salty and sweet, but it still seems weird to us. Ever get the craving to smother your beef jerky in chocolate sauce? 

There are a lot of other cravings that are common, too. Some things are more healthy than others. For instance, many women crave fruits, certain vegetables, and even ice. And you don’t necessarily need to indulge in all of these cravings, especially if they are things that are unhealthy during pregnancy.

Canning Tomatoes for Self-Sufficiency: 5 Tips for Beginners

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Tomatoes are one of the most beginner-friendly crops to grow at home. And what could be better than putting up tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, and other fresh tomato recipes to enjoy long after the season is over? A few tomato plants and a strategy for preserving your harvest is all you need to produce enough tomatoes to last all fall and winter long. These tips will help you get started. 

1. Research the Best Tomato Types for Canning 

Some tomato varieties are better than others when it comes to canning. Heirloom tomatoes are favored by many growers; they’re known for their flavorful, meaty flesh and few seeds. They also tend to be fairly easily “skinned” when blanching and processing. Some of the most popular heirloom tomatoes for canning are Amish Paste, Atkinson, and Bonny Best, but the best variety for you will vary depending on your growing zone. If you know other homesteaders in your area, ask them what tomato varieties they grow! 

2. Make Sure Your Acidity is High Enough 

If you are water bath canning, you’ll need to add citric acid, lemon juice, or lime juice to ensure your tomatoes are acidic enough to remain shelf stable. Not all old-school tomato sauce, ketchup, or other tomato canning recipes include adequate acidity according to modern USDA standards. 

3. Think Outside the Box 

Tomato sauce is the most popular option for canning tomatoes at home, but keep in mind that you can also process and can tomato juice, ketchup, diced tomatoes, whole peeled tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes. Expanding your expertise to a variety of home-canned tomato recipes can help cut down on grocery store trips so you can shop your own larder instead. 

4. Check USDA Guidelines for Processing Times 

Processing Times vary depending on what tomato product you’re canning, what size jars you are using, and even your altitude. This site provides a thorough but user-friendly breakdown of processing times and information on troubleshooting projects that didn’t work out exactly according to plan. 

5. Use Your Best Tomatoes for Canning 

This probably goes without saying, but the best tomatoes to can are fresh, healthy, and vine-ripened, with firm meat. To peel them, drop them in boiling water for 15-30 seconds, then lift out and drop into ice water immediately; this makes the skins easy to remove. If your jars don’t all seal properly the first time (meaning the button on the lid doesn’t pop down), don’t stress; you can re-can them and seal again within 24 hours. 

If you’ve never canned tomatoes, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time and space to get the job done. Set aside more time than you think you need and set yourself up for success with clean countertops and an empty, clean sink before you start; you might be surprised how many pots and bowls end up being requisitioned for the process! 

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No-Waste Herb Gardening: 5 Tips to Grow Herbs in Small Containers

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The kitchen herb garden sounds a bit idyllic, a bit witchy. Imagine being able to step out the door or reach up above the sink to your personal growing spice rack, snip off some fresh rosemary or basil when you need it, and toss it nonchalantly into the culinary masterpiece of your choice. Yet the prospect of growing herbs can feel daunting. These tips will help you get a kitchen herb garden started even in the smallest of spaces. 

1. Capitalize on Window Space

Window herb gardens offer a ton of versatility; even apartment dwellers with a kitchen (or near-the-kitchen) window can make this option work year-round. Invest in a sturdy suction-cup window shelf or hanging window herb rack and seeds or small plants from a local nursery. Check here for window style inspiration that makes self-sufficiency look sexier than ever. 

2. Keep it Simple 

Herbs are fairly easy to grow. But it’s easy to get caught up in the Pinterest-perfect ideal of a gorgeous herb garden and lose sight of your goals. If you’re new to growing herbs, start with two or three varieties you know you’d use frequently in the dishes you already cook. You can add on more “exotic” herbs once your base selections are well-established. 

3. Learn a Handful of Preservation Techniques

Having farm-fresh (or pot-fresh) herbs is fabulous, but so is having dried herbs, especially if your goal is long-term self-sufficiency. You can purchase or make your own herb drying racks, then dry your own herbs to keep indefinitely. Small batches of dried herbs are a great way for those in a small space (and with small plants!) to work toward self-sufficiency and stock up on essentials.

4. Get Creative with Unconventional Pots 

Don’t want to go out and purchase a fancy herb garden setup or new pots? You don’t have to. You can plant herbs in tea cups, unused coffee mugs, mason jars, or even water bottles; practically any container will work. If your chosen container doesn’t have holes in the bottom to let water drain out, make sure to line the bottom with rocks and/or incorporate Perlite in the soil, and water just enough to keep soil lightly moist. 

5. Propagate Like a Boss  

When your herbs go to seed (produce flowers and bloom), snap off the flower heads and collect seeds to start anew. Many herbs can also be propagated in a simple jar of water; to do this, snap off a tender stem of fresh growth, remove the bottom few leaves, and stand it up in a cup or jar of water. Not every cutting will grow roots, but some will, and these can be replanted in soil to start new plants.

If you’re growing in very small containers, you’ll need to replace plants a bit more frequently than you would growing outdoors or in larger pots. That’s okay! Especially if you’re preserving and propagating your own herb plants, you’re moving toward self-sufficiency. Still struggling? You don’t have to get it right on the first try. If your first attempt at growing your favorite herbs doesn’t last long, give it another shot–and don’t be surprised when the results far exceed your expectations. 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Scientific Facts All Fish Owners Should Know!

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Your friend in the fish tank might seem to be just swimming, eating, and generally enjoying life, but there is more to the story. Some excellent studies confirm the benefits of your fish on your life and will change how you view them.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one in eight households (12 million) has a fish in the home. The total estimate is more than 158 million fish, many happy Nemo’s getting fed and doing good deeds daily.

Here are five facts that fish owners might not know:

1. They See You Too

Just as we watch them, they are watching us. Scientific research says fish recognize the faces of fish of a similar species, changes in their environment, and their owners. One study presented fish with manipulated facial images of others, with the fish able to recognize a familiar face. If your fish Sam dies, his friend Jack will recognize that his replacement isn’t Sam.

Fish also recognize their owners, not just other fish. In fact, they know you’re probably coming to feed them when you approach the tank. Additionally, they know when there are changes to the environment around them, like if you move the sofa or paint the walls.

2. Fish Alleviate Stress

Medical evidence shows aquariums are a highly effective means of reducing and eliminating stress, even in very tense situations. Tending to your fish tank is a spontaneously initiated activity that requires no training or practice. The brain is calmed by the movement of your pet fish and the water.

The National Library of Medicine says the results of nineteen studies found preliminary support for effects on mood. Still, all studies had methodological issues that didn’t indicate a risk for bias.

3. Kids Benefit from Fish

Keeping fish has been shown to cultivate empathy and responsibility in children. They are manageable, smaller than your child, and foster interaction when fed. They are considered to be great “starter pets.”

Due to the calming, psychological benefits of fish, they are common as classroom pets due to the tranquil experience they provide. Often, a teacher will assign students to care for the fish on a rotating basis.

Students who are fish owners score the highest on both the math and verbal SATs, with scores 200 points higher than non-pet owners. Those in high school students that have fish or other pets have an average GPA of 3.5, whereas those without pets score an average of 3.2.

4. Fish Sleep When the Lights are Off

Fish in your aquarium sleep when the lights are off and it is possible for them to suffer sleep deprivation and sleep disorders. Since they do not have eyelids, they sleep with their eyes open and will typically rest towards the bottom of the tank. Make sure the lights stay off when you go to bed or keep them very dim so Nemo can get some rest.

5. Fish Feel Pain Similar to Humans

Dispelling an old myth about fish, a study published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, by Lynne Sneddon of Liverpool University says fish feel pain similar to humans.

In the study, fish feed less if they have previously been caught with a fishing hook. Those who received electric shocks in one part of their tank where they usually feed will avoid the area for several days afterward. Extreme heat can cause some fish distress, which is alleviated with pain relief drugs.

Fish change their behavior after experiencing pain, like becoming less active, ceasing food intake, rubbing the affected area on something, and even hyperventilating.

Great care must be taken with your beneficial pet fish. Dispelling the old myth of a goldfish’s 3-second memory, it’s actually five months, meaning the pain is remembered and has a lasting impact.

Your pet fish are a benefit to your health and happiness. They know who you are, help your kids succeed, and generally bring peace to our lives. Enjoy and love these special pets.

5 Easy To Maintain Houseplants

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If you like houseplants but can’t seem to keep them alive, try some of these easy-to-care-for plants – they are difficult to kill and need very little maintenance. However, if your home doesn’t have enough humidity, it will be difficult to keep anything alive. If your home is too dry, you can use a humidifier. Be sure to choose the proper size humidifier for the space you have; otherwise, it won’t make the air humid enough. The plants will also provide some humidity, but not enough to keep them alive, especially in larger rooms.

Aloe

Aloe doesn’t like a lot of water. If you overwater it, it will die. Aloe prefers bright, indirect light. Let it dry out completely between waterings – you might water it a little bit once per month. Aloe is toxic to pets, so be sure to keep it out of your pet’s reach.

While this plant is toxic to pets, it’s good for you. When you get a cut or a burn, you can cut an aloe leaf open and wipe it over the cut or burn. It will heal faster and discourage scarring.

Snake Plant

If you don’t have a lot of lighting because of the way your house is positioned, snake plants might be the best plants for you. The snake plant is also known as the “mother-in-law’s tongue.” They do well in bathrooms with no windows, but they will also grow in bright, indirect light.

Water snake plants monthly, letting them dry out completely between waterings. Snake plants are toxic to pets, so be sure to keep them out of reach.

Succulents

Succulents come in many forms. They do need bright, indirect light and water about once per month. As with aloe and snake plants, water them once per month, letting them dry out between waterings.

If succulents die, try moving them to a room with more light, as long as it is not direct sunlight. The other way you can kill them is to water them too much. Most succulents are toxic, so keep them out of reach of kids and pets.

Spider Plants

These plants will thrive in just about any condition, but it is the happiest hanging in a window. They need bright, indirect light, misting every couple of weeks, and watering every week. They are not toxic to pets.

Spider plants make “babies” that hang over the edge of the pot. If you want more, just snip one of the babies off, put the bottom of it in a glass of water, and plant it in potting soil when it starts to root.

Pothos

Sometimes referred to as devil’s ivy, the pothos is very forgiving. They come in many variations and colors, including marble green (variegated), bright yellowish green, and golden (green and yellow pattern).

Pothos prefer bright, indirect light or low light. You will need to water these plants every week. You might get away with watering them biweekly, but if you notice them wilting in the second week, give them water and then water every week. Pothos are toxic to pets, so keep them where your pets can’t get them.

Why Does Water Expand When It Freezes?

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If you’ve ever left a water bottle in your freezer for too long, you understand all too well that water expands when it freezes into ice. But have you ever paused to wonder why? As it turns out, this expansion runs contrary to some of the most fundamental natural laws in the world of physics.

If you search the annals of your brain for some basic facts from your junior high science class, you might remember that molecules tend to move closer and closer together as they are cooled. This generally causes the overall volume of a substance to decrease under frigid conditions.

Therefore, most liquids shrink, rather than expand, as intermolecular forces draw their compositional molecules together in the cold. Furthermore, when a liquid reaches its particular freezing temperature, it tends to contract even further. This is because solidified liquids (otherwise known as “crystalline solids”) are typically tightly packed and extremely dense.

Water, however, has a unique crystalline structure that places its molecules in a remarkably uncompressed shape. This is the fundamental reason that water expands when it freezes.

Few molecules are more well-known than water. Both water and ice molecules are comprised of one oxygen atom (O) and two hydrogen molecules (H) to create H20.

The negative charge of water’s oxygen atom and the positive charges of its hydrogen atoms are predominately responsible for the expansive properties of ice. These charges create a phenomenon that causes neighboring molecules to repel one another during ice’s crystalline formation.

Like all liquids, water continually contracts as it cools until it approaches its freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). At this point, it reacts in a counterintuitive manner by suddenly beginning to expand.

As water solidifies into ice, it assumes a defined molecular shape that is considerably less dense than its molecular shape as a liquid. The sheer amount of space between the molecules in this shape separates each molecule with vast structural gaps. At the macro level, this results in a significant volume increase as water transitions from its liquid to its solid state.

Water stops compacting and begins expanding at around 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). This is when it reaches its maximum level of molecular density. As it continues to cool to its freezing point, the overall volume of any specified amount of water will grow by roughly 9 percent.

This common chemical change might wreak havoc on our roads and cause other seasonal problems, but we should actually be quite grateful that water expands as it freezes. Because ice is less dense than water, it floats at the top of any freezing lake, sea, or ocean. If it behaved like most liquids, these bodies of water would freeze solid throughout at extremely cold temperatures, killing most of the plant and animal life within them. 

5 Diets You Should Probably Avoid When Losing Weight

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Losing weight is a goal that most people have multiple times during their lives. There are all kinds of diets to try. Some can help by giving you a new outlook on your relationship with food. Others end up being unhealthy in the long run for various reasons. Wondering which diets to avoid the next time you try to lose weight? You should definitely avoid these five:

1. The Egg and White Wine Diet

Introduced in a 1970s Vogue article, the egg and wine diet includes — you guessed it — eggs and wine. At the end of the day, you get a small steak. If you follow it, the diet can shave off some pounds. A bottle of white wine is about 600 calories, three eggs are 225, and the steak is about 400. So, you’re consuming less than 1300 calories a day, and cups of black coffee help you stave off hunger.

The problems are apparent, however. This diet is patently unhealthy. There are no fruits or vegetables, and consuming a bottle of wine every day is binge drinking. While this diet may help you lose a pound or two, it’s awful for your liver and the rest of your body.

2. Carnivore Diet

With this diet, you just eat meat with a bit of cheese and eggs. Contrary to popular belief, this probably wasn’t the diet consumed by your caveman ancestors. It’s just a made-up fad.

Eating meat keeps you fuller longer than carbs. As a result, you end up consuming fewer calories. This can lead to weight loss. But this diet is high in saturated fats and low in vitamins. Your heart and the rest of your organs will suffer.

3. Detox Diet

Sometimes called a cleanse, this type of diet takes many forms. One of the most common just allows you to consume a few tablespoons of lemon juice, maple syrup, water, and cayenne pepper for several days. Others let you consume a wide range of fruit and vegetable juices.

The theory is that you clean out your body by not ingesting solid foods. But you need solid foods — especially roughage — for your health. These diets are often so low-calorie that they reduce your energy levels and make it hard to function.

4. Whole30

With the Whole 30 diet, you eat fruits, vegetables, seafood, unprocessed meats, nuts, eggs, olive and coconut oils, and coffee, but you cut out most allergens. By getting dairy, wheat, alcohol, sugar, and processed additives out of your diet for 30 days, you can see how your body reacts without those foods.

This diet can be helpful if you’re trying to identify allergens or foods that upset your stomach. However, it’s not great for weight loss or health. Its strict rules can be hard to follow and cause you to develop guilt around food. It also lacks the necessary amounts of complex grains. Because there are no restrictions on amounts, you may end up overeating and gaining weight.

5. Paleo-Vegan

The paleo diet focuses on meat, but when you combine a vegan twist, you can only eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils. Eliminating dairy can help some people to feel better, but this diet often lacks protein. It’s also overly restrictive.

When a diet is too hard to follow, it often ends up backfiring. Rather than losing weight, you end up cheating, feeling bad, and then getting into a vicious emotional cycle with eating. It’s more effective to take a more balanced approach when you’re trying to lose weight.

5 Essential Oils And Their Essential Uses

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While not everyone agrees that essential oils can be beneficial, many folks experience positive benefits from using them. If you are interested in experimenting with essential oils, here are a few you should consider trying. It is important to note that, while many people firmly believe that essential oils are safe and effective, you should always contact an expert before using them and never depend on essential oils to treat any medical condition. 

Five Great Essential Oils and Their Uses That Beginners Should Know

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil comes from the flower spikes of certain species of lavender, and it is one of the most common essential oils because it has many uses. People use lavender oil for its powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial, calming, and mood-elevating properties. Some people even believe that it is a natural treatment for diabetics. Common ways of applying lavender oil include with a diffuser, adding a drop or two to bathwater, or creating a lavender-scented water mist. 

Orange Oil

Made by processing the rind of oranges, orange oil has various potential health benefits and household uses. Some people believe adding a few drops to a carrier oil and massaging the mixture onto their skin can help reduce muscle spasms and inflammation. Other health uses may include treating acne by adding a few drops to a facial steamer and adding the oil to the water of a diffuser to reduce high levels of fear and anxiety. Adding orange oil to a natural cleaning product can help eliminate odors, and spraying orange oil diluted with water can kill bugs without chemicals. 

Lemon Oil

Lemon oil comes from the fruit’s peel, and it is a fundamental and versatile essential oil you should always have on hand. Using lemon oil as part of aromatherapy may have several benefits, including reducing stress, lessening breathing issues, and soothing a sore throat. Some pregnant women find that lemon oil can help to ease morning sickness. Lemon oil also has antifungal and antibacterial properties that you can take advantage of by creating a homemade cleaning solution by mixing white vinegar, distilled water, and essential lemon oil. 

Eucalyptus Oil

With its unique woodsy scent and legendary pain-reducing properties, eucalyptus oil is a favorite of many natural medicine practitioners. Besides its analgesic abilities, adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a steam inhaler is a popular method for breaking up phlegm and mucous. Diluting eucalyptus oil with water and spraying it on your clothes and skin can even help to repel mosquitos. 

Peppermint Oil 

Whole peppermint leaves are a common ingredient in cooking, but the essential oil is much more effective for medical applications. Using peppermint oil tablets is very popular for helping to settle the stomach and relieve gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and constipation. Some people ease muscle and joint pain relief by applying peppermint oil to the affected area two to three times per day. According to natural medicine practitioners, you can relieve itchiness by adding a few drops of peppermint oil to coconut oil and coating the skin with the mixture.

While essential oils should never replace medical intervention, it is comforting that so many people around the world trust essential oils to help them feel better. 

 

5 Cocktails For People Who Don’t Like Cocktails

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Some of us like cocktails that might be best described as brutal. Others want a fun and refreshing experience that feels like sunbathing on a beach in Mexico. Well, this article is for the beach in Mexico crowd. Let’s talk about fruity goodness that goes down easy while celebrating in the balmy evening.

Bear in mind that these cocktails hardly taste like they have alcohol in them and go down very easily. It is always important to drink responsibly. Enjoy these fruity concoctions, and always make sure there is a designated driver.

Here are five cocktails anyone can appreciate.

Pina Colada

So it is the basis for one of the worst/greatest songs in history, but it is also a delicious drink. If you get caught in the rain, this is the drink of the tropics with a strong foundation in coconut and pineapple.

Take rum, pineapple juice, and coconut milk and enjoy this frosty, blended cocktail.

Sex on the Beach

Sure it sounds naughty, but it tastes oh so good. This refreshing summer cocktail tastes like you’re right by the beach, and it’s easy drinking.

A mixture of vodka, Peach Schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice is pure refreshment that is subtly sweet and fruity.

Strawberry Margaritas

A frosty concoction that tastes like, well, a frosty strawberry concoction? Sure. Perfect. This is a cocktail that you’d never know is a cocktail if someone didn’t tell you. And it is very easy to overdo it if you’re not cautious. Tasty things go down fast and easy and sometimes too easy.

Some tequila, triple sec, strawberry puree, and lime juice create this sweet concoction that was the basis for the famous song, Margaritaville.

Mimosa

Mimosas are all the rage and took off with the Sunday brunch tradition. Certainly, you’ve had a few friends who had a much too fun Sunday brunch. The thing about mimosas is that they aren’t intense or strong because they are a juice mixed with champagne, but they go down very quickly.

While the traditional mimosa is champagne and orange juice, innovation has come to the mimosa, and many mixtures are now available.

Fuzzy Navel

Someone got creative in the 80s and said, “Let’s take a basic screwdriver and make it better.” Thus was born the fuzzy navel. It is a party drink with delightful flavors covering vodka’s bitterness.

This drink is super easy to make as it is just orange juice and peach schnapps. The alcohol content isn’t high, but the fun factor might result in drinking too much. Be careful.

Are you thirsty yet? Each of these fruity and tasty concoctions is simply a delight to drink. They aren’t the potent whiskey cocktail or dirty martini with a definitive alcohol taste. Each is a fun drink that has little alcohol taste and a whole lot of refreshment.

Enjoy your pina colada and getting caught in the rain.

5 Common Cat Behaviours And What They Mean

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Cats are not like other pets. You can’t ever truly be a cat owner. At best, your cat will allow you to be its caretaker. But if you want to build the best relationship possible with your feline housemates, you need to learn these everyday behaviors that cats perform.

Five Things Your Cat May Do and Their Meanings

Kneading 

There are many names for this behavior, from ‘making biscuits’ to ‘playing the piano,’ but if you notice that your cat is moving its front paws like it is kneading bread, don’t be alarmed. It is a sign that your cat is feeling secure and comfortable in its current surroundings. The kneading motion is a throwback to how kittens massage their mother’s chest to help her milk flow freely, and it is a natural way for cats to soothe themselves. 

Rubbing

Receiving a nuzzle from your feline friend is nice. It makes you feel like your pet really loves you, and it might, but there is a bit more going on than just a little show of affection. Cats are very territorial and like to claim spaces, other cats, and even humans as their own. Special glands on the face of cats release a unique scent that distinguishes one cat from another, and the rubbing action helps to spread it around, marking their territory. Once you are marked, you become part of the cat’s tribe of trusted humans.

Headbutting

When your cat walks up to you and starts to bang the top of its head against your leg or hand, it is easy to get alarmed. Officially called facial bunting, this behavior has nothing to do with aggression. In fact, it means the opposite of what you may assume and is a sign of playfulness and love. The movement indicates that your cat wants you to engage with it by playing or at least providing a vigorous head scratching. 

Hissing

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that when a cat hisses at you, you best leave it alone. But, if a cat combines hissing with other actions, it is slightly more severe than just another bad mood. If an ordinarily well-behaved combines hissing with a direct stare, spitting, a stiff tail, and swatting, it may mean a trip to the vet is in order. Just like humans, when cats aren’t feeling well, they tend to overact, and there is a good chance your kitty may be sick or in pain.

Uncovered Poop

Cats are uncommonly clean pets; that is one reason why many people prefer them over other animals. This cleanliness even extends to the litterbox. Ordinarily, cats will cover their droppings with kitty litter, but if you notice that your cat isn’t, there probably is a problem. When a cat leaves its poop exposed, there are several causes, but they all stem from an unhappy kitty. Your cat could be angry with you and trying to show its displeasure. Perhaps you aren’t cleaning the litterbox as often as you should? Or maybe the cat is dissatisfied with what is going on in his environment. Do you have an unruly toddler or a new routine that upsets the cat? 

Cats are fascinating creatures, and the better you understand their behaviors, the more you will appreciate them.