Understanding a Cat's Body Language

As a pet parent, you're great at keeping an eye on your cat for any health changes, but are you missing some other important messages your cat is sending you?

We look at them and see a calm exterior but there are many other subtle ways they're sending you a message!

Cats are masters at body language and everything from purring to blinking eyes carries a message from your cat to you. Here is an excerpt from a great article by petcoach.co to help you get the message!

"Purring - your cat is telling you - "please don’t stop what you’re doing" or "please don’t go away." Sometimes, purring can also indicate that your cat is scared, sick, or injured, and he wants you to stick around to provide care. In this way, purring is a comfort-seeking behavior.

Meowing - Believe it or not, cats use meowing as a method of communicating only with humans. Among cats there is no universal cat language that uses a variety of meows to chat. Cats only meow because they have learned that it is the best way to communicate with their humans. That said, meows are all-purpose sounds, and various meows mean different things coming from individual cats as they have learned what works best to communicate with their owners. So when it comes to meowing, you’re on your own to determine exactly what your cat is trying to tell you.

Tail Posture - In addition to sounds, cats also communicate fluently through body language. Like dogs, cats frequently use their tails to tell us how they feel. An erect tail with relaxed fur indicates a happy cat, whereas the same posture with upright fur is feeling angry or scared. A low, tucked tail means your cat is feeling anxious or insecure, and a thrashing tail means your cat is agitated. Be on the lookout for these signals to determine how your cat is feeling.

Blinking - Look for long, slow blinks when you’re with your cat. If you notice your cat doing this, it means he is totally comfortable around you! Cats do this with other cats because in the feline world, closing one’s eyes in front of another is a sign of trust. Similarly, cats use slow blinking as a gesture of acceptance toward their owners. To return the compliment, try blinking slowly back at your cat!

The “Halloween Pose” - We all know the classic cat Halloween pose: arched back, high tail, and upright hairs. This is your cat’s way of saying ‘BACK OFF’ when it feels threatened by your or anything else. Even if you’re attempting to comfort your kitty, it’s best to follow his wishes and leave him alone when he asks you to.

Rubbing Against You - Rubbing against your legs is your cat’s way of marking you as his territory, but it can also be interpreted as your cat showing you he loves you. When you come home from a long day at work, rubbing against you is your cat’s way of saying "I’m so glad to see you!" or "I've missed you!" Studies of feral cats show that cats do this within their own species as well, rubbing up against each other, specifically after being separated for a period of time. In addition to claiming you as his own, rubbing is the equivalent of your cat trying to give you a hug."

Now you have a dictionary of body language cat-speak! Let the conversations begin!