Our cats have their own unique cat language to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Cats use both their bodies (including their eyes, ears, whiskers and tails) and their voices to communicate what they are thinking and feeling. By learning cat body language, you can better understand and meet your cat’s wants and needs.
When interpreting your cat’s body language, try to take into account everything that’s going on around them. Put yourself in your cat’s shoes and think about how the situation or environment (sights, sounds, smells, etc.) might make your cat feel. For example, if a person unintentionally corners your cat, it may feel scared or threatened. If your cat seems upset for no reason, it could be that she is sick or in pain.
Below are different body language signs that correspond to different emotions in cats.
The body language of a happy cat
When a cat is happy, it will often lie in a relaxed position with its limbs and tail stretched out away from its body. If it is showing its belly, it is probably feeling at ease, but this do not have It’s not necessarily an invitation for a belly rub! A happy cat will snuggle up next to you and He kneads you with his paws.
eye: A happy cat’s eyes are round, half-closed, and have narrow pupils. When your cat blinks slowly at you, it means it trusts and loves you. Show your cat affection by blinking slowly back at you.
ear: A happy cat’s ears are upright and pointing forward.
tail: A curled, pointed tail is a sure sign that your cat is happy and confident.
Cats purr to express contentment or pleasure, meow to greet someone or ask for food or attention, and trill (a high-pitched, purring sound) to show they are friendly.
Playful Cat Body Language
Cats are predators with a hunting instinct, so when they want to play, they will crouch down and act as if they are hunting. He wags his tail, chases, pounces, and grabs toys.
eye: A playful cat’s eyes may be large and the pupils dilated.
ear: The ears are upturned and facing forward.
tail: Cats engaged in hunting behavior will often wag their tails from side to side when they see something that catches their attention (although tail wagging when your cat isn’t chasing something likely means your cat is frustrated).
Play provides physical and mental enrichment that is extremely beneficial for maintaining your cat’s health. Providing toys When you act like you want to play.
Body language of stressed cats
When a cat is stressed, they may become rigid and tense and may lie low to the ground. Cats may also use substitution behaviors to cope with stress, taking normal behaviors (such as lip licking, scratching, grooming, and yawning) out of context. A stressed cat may: Urinating or defecating outside the toilet.
eye: A stressed cat’s eyes may become wide and narrowed.
ear: The ears may be rotated to the side (“airplane ear” pose) or tilted back. Whiskers may grow further forward than normal.
tail: When cats are stressed or irritated, they may tuck their tails close to their body, wag them, or hit them.
If you notice that your cat is stressed, try to identify the cause and eliminate it if possible. If you suspect that you may be stressing your cat, try to stop any activities or behaviors that may be causing this reaction.
Frightened Cat Body Language
Because cats are predators as well as prey, they may feel scared if they think something might hurt them, and their initial reaction may be to crouch low to the ground and curl up in a ball to make themselves appear smaller.
eye: When a cat is scared, their eyes will widen and their pupils will dilate due to the fight-or-flight response.
ear: A cat’s ears are often turned back or to the side – the further back a cat’s ears are tilted, the more scared the cat feels. Their whiskers may also be pulled back so that they are tight against their face.
tail: A scared cat may wrap its tail tightly around its body or underneath it.
When a cat feels threatened, they may growl or hiss to warn the threat to back off. Hissing is an involuntary reflex that occurs when a cat is scared or startled. As fear increases, the cat will emit a loud, long meow, followed by a shriek, to show that it is trying to protect itself.
If your cat displays body language that indicates fear, remove the threat. Never try to pick up a cat that is growling or hissing as this may cause the frightened cat to become aggressive. Many cats seek out a safe place when they feel scared, so their environment is There are lots of hiding places and Perch It will be easy and quick to access.
Aggressive Cat Body Language
When cats feel they are in danger, they may feel they have no choice but to fight for safety, and they may try to appear as large and intimidating as possible by arching their back and ruffling their fur (piloerection, an involuntary response to fear).
eye: An aggressive cat may have wide, dilated eyes or narrowed eyes, and may stare intently at a predator to keep potential danger in sight.
ear: Their ears may be turned back or lie flat against their head, and their whiskers may be flat against their cheeks or stick out forward.
tail: He may wag his tail or smack you.
Cats often try to avoid resorting to aggression by growling or hissing, but if these warnings are not heeded, cats may spit, making sudden, explosive noises, accompanied by lunging or smacking. Like hissing, spitting is an involuntary response.
Body language of sick or painful cats
Not only can your cat’s body language provide a lot of information about how they’re feeling emotionally, Your cat is sick or in pain: Cats are good at hiding physical illness, so a change in their body language may be your first sign that something is wrong.
When a cat is in pain or sick, it may curl up into a ball and fold its legs. Its body may appear tense.
eye: When a cat is sick or in pain, their eyes may be squint or closed and they may appear blank or glazed. Sometimes you may also see the third eyelid, which is the pink tissue at the edge of a cat’s eye.
ear: The ears may hang low or tilted to the side.
tail: The tail is usually held under the body or wrapped tightly around the body.
Cats may purr because they are in pain or sick, and increased meowing or growling can be a sign of emotional or physical distress.
If you notice these changes (or any other changes in your cat’s normal behavior, such as hiding, aggression, decreased energy, or changes in appetite, grooming, or sociability), take your cat to the vet.
Understanding your cat’s body language is essential to understanding your cat’s emotions and needs, which will enable you to be a better cat owner and advocate for your cat’s well-being.
