If you have a cat, you may find yourself wishing she could speak to you. But although they don't use words, cats already do communicate with us and with one another using intricate combinations of body language and vocalizations. Learning to interpret your cat's body language and sounds is like learning to speak a second language. Once you have it down, you may forget that your cat doesn't "talk."
Instructions
1. Check the tail.
Cats use their tails to convey their moods. A tail that is straight up like an exclamation point denotes happiness or excitement. An upward tail with a curve at the end like a question mark also indicates happiness, although insecurity or uncertainty are also present. A tail held behind the cat and curved against her body shows anxiety; be gentle with your kitty when she displays this body language. A swishing tail (side-to-side movement) indicates interest and maybe even a preparation to pounce, while a tapping tail (up and down movement) is a sign of annoyance. When a cat lies down and curls her tail around her body, she is content but would prefer not to be petted.
2. Check the eyes.
Unlike humans, cats don't need to blink to lubricate their eyes, so cats blink to communicate instead. If a cat blinks at you or another animal, she's signaling that she doesn't consider you a threat, and that you shouldn't consider her a threat, either. You can blink back to return the sign of trust. Long, slow blinks reveal contentment. On the other hand, if a cat stares you or another animal in the eye, she's challenging you. An animal not interested in returning the challenge--and this includes you--should blink or look away.
3. Check the ears.
An interested cat will have her ears perked. Ears held flat against a cat's head indicate annoyance or--when coupled with hissing, growling, or a bunched body--fear or aggression. The exception is when a cat flattens her ears while she purrs or is stroked. In this case, it's a sign of trust and pleasure.
4. Listen.
Cats use several different vocalizations to communicate. A "chirp," or a "murmur" is the sound a cat makes without opening his mouth, and it sounds a bit like a cross between a meow and a purr. This is a cat's way of "chatting" with you; you can consider it to be a "hello." When a cat actually opens his mouth to meow, he is requesting something from you, such as food or attention. Hisses, growls and spits all indicate aggression. If a cat directs these noises at you or another animal, he's warning you to back off before he attacks. On the other end of the spectrum, a cat's purr indicates that he's content and that he wold like things to continue just the way they are.
5. Consider these additional cues.
When a cat puffs her fur, she's afraid but ready to fight. In fact, usually the first sign that a cat has been startled is a puffed-up tail. When fear is more anxiety based, a cat will often hide or crouch low to the ground. A cat slinking by with her belly hanging low is hoping to move past unnoticed.
Tags: another animal, body language, consider threat, sign trust, sounds like