Pet owners have revealed the weirdest things their furry pets have done, including sitting in the toilet bowl, trying to eat candles & walking backwards. The study of 2,000 cat & dog owners found our 4-legged friends have barked at nothing, ate mud & even tried to ‘dance’. 
Acting like a human, trying to do a forward roll, sleeping in an empty bathtub and even sucking on a baby’s dummy were also among some of the unusual behaviours cited by the respondents polled by pet wellbeing specialist, ITCHpet.com.
But psychic astrologer @jessicacadams believes their behaviour could be down to a timely astrological phenomenon known as #MercuryRetrograde
"Pets can do unusual things and a lot of the time we as humans, can find it thoroughly entertaining. It’s what makes our pets so loveable"
"Pets can do unusual things and a lot of the time we as humans, can find it thoroughly entertaining. It’s what makes our pets so loveable"
"It might be down to more than just a ‘funny five minutes’, it could be due to something called #MercuryRetrograde, Mercury is the planet that rules pets. When it appears to go backwards & forwards, moving in peculiar ways, so does life in general - according to your horoscope"
"It is known as Mercury Retrograde, animals also get affected. In 2020 we have Mercury Retrograde & Mercury Petrograde, 3 times; February & March, June & July, October & November. So, if you think your pet’s behaving strangely, the answer is in the stars with astrology at play.”
1/5 polled said their pet’s behaviour is unpredictable, doing something ‘out of character’ twice a week. In fact, 23% have even noticed their furry friend acting more unusually than normal during certain times of the year, with 42 per cent citing that snow sends them doolally.
More than a 1/4 said their cat / dog acts oddly on their OWN birthday with an equal percentage saying they behave bizarrely on a human birthday. Nearly a 1/3 believe their 4-legged friends acted more strangely with age, although 32% believe it’s all down to #MercuryRetrograde
2/3 said their pets have a ‘sixth sense’ when it comes to mood changes in the atmosphere. Tiredness, hunger & stress are among the factors contributing to their animal’s unusual antics & also loneliness, excitement, spending time in different locations or something they’ve eaten
Unsurprisingly, 23 per cent have even taken their pet to the vets because of quirky behaviour.
Worryingly, just one in 10 believe fleas are a cause of animal antics which are out of the norm, and a third were unaware fleas and worms can affect their pet’s behaviour.
Worryingly, just one in 10 believe fleas are a cause of animal antics which are out of the norm, and a third were unaware fleas and worms can affect their pet’s behaviour.
Charlotte Harper, co-founder at pet wellbeing specialist, ITCHpet.com, said: “We love our pets regardless of their weird & wonderful behaviour & celebrate everything about them, from the good, the bad & the ugly, whether unusual antics are in the stars or not"
“it’s incredibly important to regularly check your pet for fleas & worms, as behavioural differences can be down to their health & something they aren’t able to tell you about. Which is why we recommend treating your pet for fleas every month & being sure to worm them quarterly.”
Top 30 weirdest things dogs and cats have done:
1. Had a 'mad half hour' – such as running or darting crazily around the house
2. Tried to catch flies
3. Taken food out their owner’s hand
4. Chased their own tail
5. Tried to catch a flying bird
6. Head-butted their owner
1. Had a 'mad half hour' – such as running or darting crazily around the house
2. Tried to catch flies
3. Taken food out their owner’s hand
4. Chased their own tail
5. Tried to catch a flying bird
6. Head-butted their owner
7. Chased a leaf
8. Stood up on hind legs / sat on hind legs like a human
9. Howled / barked at the TV
10. Howled / barked at nothing
11. Drank out of a mug
12. Climbed into a carrier bag
13. Bitten their own tail
14. Tried to 'talk'
8. Stood up on hind legs / sat on hind legs like a human
9. Howled / barked at the TV
10. Howled / barked at nothing
11. Drank out of a mug
12. Climbed into a carrier bag
13. Bitten their own tail
14. Tried to 'talk'
15. Deliberately done things their owner has told them not to
16. Barked at blank space
17. Slept on their owner’s face
18. Carried around a log
19. Walked into a window / glass door
20. Jumped on the TV
21. Bitten at their owner’s hair as if it were another animal
16. Barked at blank space
17. Slept on their owner’s face
18. Carried around a log
19. Walked into a window / glass door
20. Jumped on the TV
21. Bitten at their owner’s hair as if it were another animal
22. Dug at a hard floor
23. Barked at themselves in the mirror
24. Sat in the sink / bath with the tap running
25. Refused to let other animals / people near their owner
26. Howled / sang along to a song
27. Barked at the phone
28. Cat barked
29. Eaten mud
30. Ran backwards
23. Barked at themselves in the mirror
24. Sat in the sink / bath with the tap running
25. Refused to let other animals / people near their owner
26. Howled / sang along to a song
27. Barked at the phone
28. Cat barked
29. Eaten mud
30. Ran backwards
