 Domestic cats use many vocalizations for communication , including purring , trilling , hissing , growling / snarling , grunting , and several different forms of meowing . By contrast , feral cats are generally silent . Their types of body language , including position of ears and tail , relaxation of the whole body , and kneading of the paws , are all indicators of mood . The tail and ears are particularly important social signal mechanisms in cats ; for example , a raised tail acts as a friendly greeting , and flattened ears indicates hostility . Tail @-@ raising also indicates the cat 's position in the group 's social hierarchy , with dominant individuals raising their tails less often than subordinate animals . Nose @-@ to @-@ nose touching is also a common greeting and may be followed by social grooming , which is solicited by one of the cats raising and tilting its head . 
