Hello, paws! If you are a cat lover, you’ll surely relate and learn from this. Cats are hard to read; they need so much attention, care, and love. They like to play, to the point that it annoys owners when they become very playful and make a mess. There are times that they just want to be alone and in no mood for communicating, just like humans. But, all in all, cats are very sweet. As a parent, we gain so many positive feelings from them, they are not just a pet for us but a friend who we can lean on and a stress reliever. So, it is important to know their body language in order to build good relationships with them as well as understand their attitudes and behavior in different situations.
There are many physical cues of a cat's mood, but their meaning can vary depending on the context.
PHYSICALIZATIONS - This includes language in any part of the body of a cat, The primary indicators are the ears, posture, and tail.
TAIL HIGH IN THE AIR (RELAXED CONTEXT)
Tail straight up in the air. This is his way of saying, “I’m happy and absolutely ready to play.”
TAIL HIGH IN THE AIR (TENSE CONTEXT)
Cats who toss their tails straight into the air when meeting a new cat or facing a potentially threatening situation are indicating they’re ready to fight if necessary. Often, this action comes with bristled fur.
TAIL HIGH IN THE AIR (QUIVERING)
According to the Humane Society, a quivering tail likely means your kitty is really excited and about to spray or urinate to prove it.
LOW, TUCKED TAIL
When cats are afraid, they try to make themselves as small as possible. A tucked tail makes them tinier targets and shows us they’re not into whatever is happening.
TAIL FLICKING BACK AND FORTH
You might get an ominous feeling looking at your cat’s tail flick back and forth like a metronome. That’s because she’s a little agitated and telling you to leave her alone. In certain contexts, it could simply indicate she’s on high alert (almost like she’s thinking).
ARCHED BACK (WITH BRISTLED FUR)
An arched back combined with bristling fur and an alert expression is a sign of aggression. Your kitty is alarmed. Cats will try to make themselves as big as possible if they feel threatened.
ARCHED BACK (WITH A YAWN)
It’s also a really nice stretch (hello, cat pose!). Odds are your cat is either just waking up or about to curl up for a nap.
STANDING SIDEWAYS
This seems like something cats might do on the regular, but positioning their bodies sideways or moving to a position that only exposes one side of their body means they are ready to run if needed. In a word, they’re fearful.
HEAD-ON
Unlike canines who may see a head-on interaction as a sign of aggression, cats do this when they are feeling self-assured and positive.
FACING AWAY
Sit down facing away from you. Could not be less interested in what you’re doing and needs you to know it. In reality, cats demonstrate how much they trust you. It feels comfortable enough around you to trust your cat, chilling in her blind spot.
CROUCHED (WITH ALERT EXPRESSION)
Again, crouching is simply preparation to leap out of harm’s way. An alert crouch means your cat is anxious.
VOCALIZATIONS
Relying on physical body language to understand your cat doesn’t mean you get to ignore vocals completely. Sounds cats make are simply the icing on the cake. Again, check in on the context when deciphering sounds.
MEOW
Truly, a meow can mean so many different things. It’s literally a one-size-fits-all noise from your cat. Look at the context of the situation and her body language to figure out what they’re trying to tell you.
CONSTANT MEOWING
Meowing the point of absurdity (a consistent, constant meow) could very well mean your cat doesn’t feel good and should see the vet.
CHIRP
A cat who enters a room chirping likely wants attention and is frustrated by being ignored. A chirp once the toys come out indicates pure joy and enthusiasm.
TRILL
Similar to a chirp, a trill is a friendly, “Hello! What’s up with you? Anyone interested in playtime?”
PURR
Purring is often solely associated with utter pleasure (which is true!), but it’s also a form of self-soothing. A lethargic or reclusive cat who routinely purrs could be in pain.
GROWL
Yes, cats growl. They’re saying, “Back off. This is mine.”
HISS
“Enough. I’m angry at you.”
YOWL
A low yowl is a sad noise. Your cat is expressing despair; she feels like there’s nothing else she can do and is very afraid or upset.
Written by: Eliesa Mae Villahermosa
Layout Photo by: Alyssa Torres
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