Cat Communication. Did you know that cats use their tails, their eyes, their fur, and sound to communicate?
Cat communication may not be able in English but they do have many other ways in which they can 'talk' to you. Cats are cognitive animals, they solve problems just like any other highly developed species. Cats can and will communicate with youif you allow them to express themselves, talk back to them and try to understand what they are saying.
Learn what your cat signals mean so that you and your cat can communicate regularly. This will not only improve the bond with your cat and keep your cat happy, but it will also allow you to better read your cat signals so you know when your cat wants to play or just wants to be left alone!
Tails are probably one of the best cat communication indicators that cats have. One can almost read every cats feelings and thoughts by looking at his/her tail.
your cat is scared or fearful and is ready to attack or defend itself. The bristling is instinctual as it makes the cat look larger.
your cat is angered, aggressive and ready to attack.
an unabashed greeting. This is what a mother cat does to her kitten to tell him/her to inspect her rear.
your cat is very interested and intrigued by something; your cat is happy and friendly.
our cat is very excited and interested in something.
your cat is very relaxed and content.
your cat is mildly irritated. Your cat may attack if the twitching becomes violent enough.
your cat is about to attack something, this is seen during fights and play time. This is not the same as tail wagging in dogs.
your cat is giving a sexual invitation (generally only females in heat do this).
your cat is intensely afraid.
your cat is showing his submission or defeat.
Cats ears are another way that a cat expresses his/her emotions.
your cat is relaxed and happy.
your cat is listening to something that is intriguing.
your cat is agitated and nervous.
your cat is frightened and may attack (this is instinctual as to protect the ears during a fight).
your cat is aggressive and may attack.
In general a cat's body fur remains fairly consistent; however, if you notice your cat arching his or her back and bristling you can rest assured that your cat is frightened and on the defensive. Your cat may attack at this point.
Cat's can make over 100 different vocal sounds (dogs can only make 10). These sounds encompasses a variety of meows, purrs, gurgles, and eeps which occur in a variety of tones and octaves and can mean a plethora of things. The more you talk to your cat, the more your cat will talk back and extend his/her 'vocabulary'. A good owner will learn over time what his/her catmeans by each of his/her vocal sounds. By listening to your cat and talking back, eventually you and your cat can start to 'talk' back and forth to each other with understanding. This will help the bond between you and your cat grow and entice yourcat to become even more expressive.
blood flow that is amplified by the diaphragm. Whatever the cause of purring, a cat purrs when he or she is generally happy; although, some cats are known to only purr when they are ill.
Most cat owners will attest to the fact that their cats only purr when the are content or happy.
Growling and or hissing means only one thing - your cat means business and wants you to back off. If your cat growls or hisses at you don't push the issue or you will be attacked.
A cats pupils, for the most part, change with the amount of the light in the room. However, if your cat becomes very aroused, excited or angered his/her pupils will become greatly enlarged regardless of the amount of light in the room.
your kitty is relaxed and ready for a cat nap! This can also mean your cat is ill if the eyes are like this on a consistent basis, even when awake.
your cat is napping, obviously.
a long slow blink means that your cat is content and relaxed.
your cat is letting you know that he/she totally trusts you as he/she is exposing the most vulnerable part of the body. This doesn't necessarily mean that your cat wants a belly rub, just that he/she is totally comfortable with you.
this stems from 'milk threading' that kittens do. Kittens knead their mother's belly to stimulate milk production. In doing this to you your cat is not only expressing his/her love for you as a mother-figure but also remembering the happy feelings that used to occur when the mother was kneaded.
if your cat snores when he/she sleeps he/she is totally relaxed!
cats sniff each other in the wild to say hello and get to know each other. If your cat sniffs your face consider it a greeting and a way of showing that your cat trusts and likes you. Many owners even get down on the floor (face level with their cats) and touch noses when they greet.