What\u2019s your cat trying to tell you? Take a crash course in cat body language, thanks to Cats Protection <\/p>
Some like to meow, others prefer a chirrup,\u00a0while\u00a0a few\u00a0may not make much noise at all. But what are cats trying to tell us?\u00a0As Cats Protection\u00a0<\/a>behaviourist Daniel Warren Cummings\u00a0explains,\u00a0the key to understanding what cats\u00a0are thinking\u00a0is less about sound and more about watching\u00a0their body language.\u00a0<\/p> “Unlike dogs, cats haven\u2019t evolved to have lots of facial muscles, so their faces aren\u2019t as expressive as\u00a0our canine friends,”\u00a0explains Daniel.\u00a0“Cats are better built for long-distance communication\u00a0and\u00a0rely\u00a0heavily\u00a0on scent\u00a0to leave and pick up messages. However,\u00a0watching\u00a0their body language\u00a0can also tell us a great deal about how they\u2019re feeling, and understanding the basics\u00a0is a great way to improve your bond with your pet.”<\/p> A\u00a0key\u00a0sign\u00a0of a happy cat\u00a0is their\u00a0tail being held\u00a0loosely\u00a0upright, perhaps with a curve at the tip.\u00a0When they do this as they walk towards you, it\u2019s their way of saying hello, and that they\u2019re happy to see you.\u00a0Content\u00a0cats walk with\u00a0straight, relaxed legs and a flat back,\u00a0which\u00a0may arch a\u00a0little\u00a0when\u00a0they rub against\u00a0our ankles or furniture.\u00a0It may be helpful to think of shapes – happy cats look more like squares, whereas\u00a0nervous cats will\u00a0lower\u00a0themselves\u00a0closer to the ground,\u00a0looking more\u00a0like a rectangle.<\/p> Daniel adds:\u00a0“Cats will also roll onto their\u00a0backs\u00a0if they\u2019re\u00a0feeling happy and relaxed, maybe\u00a0showing\u00a0their tummies. This is\u00a0a big sign of trust,\u00a0but not necessarily an invitation to stroke their tummy. Unless you\u2019re sure your cat enjoys\u00a0it, it\u2019s best to avoid the tummy area\u00a0as you may be at risk of a swipe!”<\/p> Finally, there\u2019s the \u2018hop up\u2019 where\u00a0cats\u00a0will\u00a0raise\u00a0themselves\u00a0up and maybe give a soft\u00a0headbump\u00a0\u2013 this means they\u2019re looking for a fuss, and who could refuse?<\/p> Learning your cat\u2019s body language isn\u2019t just great fun, it can also give you important clues when they may be feeling\u00a0fearful,\u00a0anxious\u00a0or in pain.<\/p> Daniel explains: “Anxious cats will normally crouch close to the ground\u00a0\u2013 think of that\u00a0rectangular body position\u00a0–\u00a0while looking for a hiding place.\u00a0Their ears\u00a0will be held flat back when extremely stressed,\u00a0and the space\u00a0you can see between the ears as they move to the side and back will\u00a0increase as they become more stressed.\u00a0<\/p> “A cat who feels threatened\u00a0may arch\u00a0their back to make themselves look\u00a0more intimidating,\u00a0and their\u00a0tail\u00a0will be\u00a0in a rigid upright position. Very scared cats are likely to hiss or take a swipe\u00a0so it\u2019s important to give them space, try and remove what is bothering them,\u00a0and make sure they have a safe hiding place they can retreat to.<\/p> “Finally, don\u2019t\u00a0assume purring<\/a> is a sign of\u00a0happiness\u00a0\u2013\u00a0while cats do indeed purr when they\u2019re happy, this is only true if their body language is also relaxed. Cats\u00a0may also purr in stressful situations, like going to the vet or when they\u2019re in pain.\u00a0This is why it\u2019s important to watch your cat\u2019s body language,\u00a0as this is a better indicator of\u00a0how they\u2019re feeling.”<\/p> Love cats? Check out our\u00a0pets<\/a>\u00a0section for advice on cat care from\u00a0How to take your cat to the vet without stress<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/strong>how to get rid of fleas<\/strong><\/a><\/p> Cats Protection Behaviour Officer Daniel Warren Cummings has a degree in Zoology with Animal Behaviour from the University of Wales and has spent over 10 years working in the animal rescue and rehoming sector. <\/strong><\/p>How to tell if your cat is happy<\/h2>
How to tell if your cat is stressed<\/h2>