If there's one trait that most cat lovers enjoy, it's the independent nature of their feline friends. We usually feel honored when a cat gives us the time of day. A cat that asks for a head rub or a belly scratch is too much to resist.

If you've ever wondered what your cat is thinking, or why he does what he does, you're not alone. Cats are mysterious creatures.

As pet owners, it's part of our jobs to learn how to better care for our cats. Here are some cat facts that may help bring you closer to your feline friend.

1. I want to be alone. Cats are not pack animals. Cats who are forced to live closer to other cats than they normally would will tend to time share their territory.

2. A kitten's tendency to be friendly and sociable comes from two sources; genetically, primarily from the father's genes, and behaviorally, primarily from learning to be sociable from their mother.

3. A kitten's socialization process is most important when she is between two and seven weeks old.

4. When a cat experiences a trauma, it can go through a second socialization process during recovery. This can result in the cat becoming friendlier than before the trauma. Unfortunately, it can go the other way and make the cat more aloof as well.

5. Domestic cats descended from solitary creatures. Being solitary and hunting alone by nature, they have a limited set of communication skills, especially body language.

6. In order to make up for a limited set of communication skills, cats need to use scent markings to send and receive messages. They also need to be fast and agile!

7. Your cats will leave their scent in strategic places all over their territory. They'll also leave their scent on you and other animals in the house. This creates a communal scent, and provides your cats with comfort knowing that these animals are part of the same social group.

8. When you scratch your cat's back, she raises up her back end so as to better scent your hand. Commonly, cats will also often keep their tails bent but stiff during the scenting process.

9. The tail up is a sign of happiness. It is also used as a greeting. If people had tails they could raise, cats would like us more.

10. Curled up front paws with the claws retracted mean that your cat feels safe and comfortable. Back feet extended out also indicate a relaxed posture.

Did you find these cat facts interesting? I hope at least some of them surprise you a bit. If you take a minute to read between the lines, most of them will allow you to better understand how your cat communicates.