Did you ever wish your cat could talk to you? Cats have a lot to say, but the challenge is figuring it out.
And since they can't form words, they only have body language, eye contact, and sounds at their disposal to explain things.
That means it's up to us to pay attention and learn to read their signals.
Yes, it's our responsibility.
We're the ones who brought them inside and made pets of them.
If we want harmony and a minimum of messy events, it's in our own best interest to accommodate the cat.
Here are some common signals cats use to get our attention: Sounds Meow, yowl, purr, growl, hiss, grumble, snarl.
All of these have nuances of pitch, duration and "attitude.
" Add to that any personal variances for every cat, and you end up with a fairly complicated set of patterns we could be tempted to call "speech.
" However, since the basic sounds are colored by individual differences, there is no consistent pattern that could be regarded as feline speech.
We only end up with a personal communication model that can be a point of reference between a cat and the owner who pays attention.
It's also been shown that cats use different sounds with each other than those used with humans.
Obviously, they know we don't understand them, so they develop specific sounds as they learn what gets our attention.
Then they expand on those.
Cats are very smart! Body Language Most people are familiar with the arched back, usually accompanied by the bottle-brush tail, meaning they are frightened and unpredictable.
This is not a good time to pick her up, unless you know your cat well enough to understand that your comforting embrace will calm her.
Never approach a strange cat at this time.
Signs that a cat is comfortable, happy and confident include a perfectly upright tail, or the commonly seen "question mark" position.
If the tail is held straight behind or appears "limp," the cat is checking things out and hasn't decided what attitude to display yet.
Watch how the cat walks.
A slow slinking along the outer edges of a room tells you that she is wary and not sure of things.
This is common with a new cat, as she looks around her new surroundings to ascertain safety and to locate strategic hiding places or escape routes.
This is usually combined with the limp tail position.
A confident cat will walk with purpose, along with an upright tail.
Head-butting and rubbing are signs of acceptance, "love" if you want to call it that, and good feelings experienced with you.
Rubbing is a way for them to "mark" you, too.
They have scent glands in their cheeks and above their eyes, so if you are being marked, just appreciate it.
Don't worry...
only they can smell it.
Treading (or kneading) is another sign of contentment, as many cats will rhythmically step-step on you, alternating one foot, then the other.
It's a throwback to kittenhood, possibly, when they needed to press on their mothers to express milk during nursing.
One thing it is not is a method of stealing a baby's breath.
What nonsense, but that belief still hangs on here and there.
Some cats will flop onto the floor in front of you, on their side.
As you lurch aside to avoid stepping on them, usually at an unexpected moment, such as when you are carrying in the groceries, the cat may roll, making you step over her twice.
While this is a show of complete trust in you, it's probably not the smartest thing a cat can do.
But some do it anyway.
They simply know you aren't going to step on them and all we can do is hope we never accidentally betray them! And what's with that funny face they make? Sometimes they pause after sniffing something, holding their mouth slightly open.
It looks like they are saying, "Ewwww.
" But actually they are evaluating the odor with a special nerve bundle called Jacobsen's Organ.
Eye Contact Cats are great with this one.
They have very expressive eyes.
Not only do they convey feelings to us with their eyes, but this is a major form of communication between them as well.
In fact, a blind cat will be shunned by many cats, because that one can't respond to the others appropriately.
Cats who feel ignored will have less respect for the cat who is ignoring them.
They often pick fights with those and may slap them as they walk by.
A wide eyed look is typical of kittens, as they are in learn mode and everything is interesting, or frightening.
It's the look of innocence and naivete, and we can see it in the eyes of most youngsters of any species.
Be careful what you teach a cat at this time, because lessons learned now will stay with the cat throughout life.
If your cat is squinting at you, don't get upset.
Many people think this is how cats look at you when plotting revenge for something.
However, after observing many hundreds of cats at the shelter and at home, and watching unowned cats outdoors, it's become more obvious that this is a sign that the cat is content.
Thus, if your cat is staring at you from a motionless posture, take it as a compliment, not an insult or a warning.
She is in love with you.
It comforts her to watch you, even if you aren't doing anything.
Cats do not have human emotions, and revenge is a human emotion.
They simply do not have that in them.
In summary, learning your cat's individual signals will lead to a better understanding between you, building a bond that most cat owners cherish.
And since they can't form words, they only have body language, eye contact, and sounds at their disposal to explain things.
That means it's up to us to pay attention and learn to read their signals.
Yes, it's our responsibility.
We're the ones who brought them inside and made pets of them.
If we want harmony and a minimum of messy events, it's in our own best interest to accommodate the cat.
Here are some common signals cats use to get our attention: Sounds Meow, yowl, purr, growl, hiss, grumble, snarl.
All of these have nuances of pitch, duration and "attitude.
" Add to that any personal variances for every cat, and you end up with a fairly complicated set of patterns we could be tempted to call "speech.
" However, since the basic sounds are colored by individual differences, there is no consistent pattern that could be regarded as feline speech.
We only end up with a personal communication model that can be a point of reference between a cat and the owner who pays attention.
It's also been shown that cats use different sounds with each other than those used with humans.
Obviously, they know we don't understand them, so they develop specific sounds as they learn what gets our attention.
Then they expand on those.
Cats are very smart! Body Language Most people are familiar with the arched back, usually accompanied by the bottle-brush tail, meaning they are frightened and unpredictable.
This is not a good time to pick her up, unless you know your cat well enough to understand that your comforting embrace will calm her.
Never approach a strange cat at this time.
Signs that a cat is comfortable, happy and confident include a perfectly upright tail, or the commonly seen "question mark" position.
If the tail is held straight behind or appears "limp," the cat is checking things out and hasn't decided what attitude to display yet.
Watch how the cat walks.
A slow slinking along the outer edges of a room tells you that she is wary and not sure of things.
This is common with a new cat, as she looks around her new surroundings to ascertain safety and to locate strategic hiding places or escape routes.
This is usually combined with the limp tail position.
A confident cat will walk with purpose, along with an upright tail.
Head-butting and rubbing are signs of acceptance, "love" if you want to call it that, and good feelings experienced with you.
Rubbing is a way for them to "mark" you, too.
They have scent glands in their cheeks and above their eyes, so if you are being marked, just appreciate it.
Don't worry...
only they can smell it.
Treading (or kneading) is another sign of contentment, as many cats will rhythmically step-step on you, alternating one foot, then the other.
It's a throwback to kittenhood, possibly, when they needed to press on their mothers to express milk during nursing.
One thing it is not is a method of stealing a baby's breath.
What nonsense, but that belief still hangs on here and there.
Some cats will flop onto the floor in front of you, on their side.
As you lurch aside to avoid stepping on them, usually at an unexpected moment, such as when you are carrying in the groceries, the cat may roll, making you step over her twice.
While this is a show of complete trust in you, it's probably not the smartest thing a cat can do.
But some do it anyway.
They simply know you aren't going to step on them and all we can do is hope we never accidentally betray them! And what's with that funny face they make? Sometimes they pause after sniffing something, holding their mouth slightly open.
It looks like they are saying, "Ewwww.
" But actually they are evaluating the odor with a special nerve bundle called Jacobsen's Organ.
Eye Contact Cats are great with this one.
They have very expressive eyes.
Not only do they convey feelings to us with their eyes, but this is a major form of communication between them as well.
In fact, a blind cat will be shunned by many cats, because that one can't respond to the others appropriately.
Cats who feel ignored will have less respect for the cat who is ignoring them.
They often pick fights with those and may slap them as they walk by.
A wide eyed look is typical of kittens, as they are in learn mode and everything is interesting, or frightening.
It's the look of innocence and naivete, and we can see it in the eyes of most youngsters of any species.
Be careful what you teach a cat at this time, because lessons learned now will stay with the cat throughout life.
If your cat is squinting at you, don't get upset.
Many people think this is how cats look at you when plotting revenge for something.
However, after observing many hundreds of cats at the shelter and at home, and watching unowned cats outdoors, it's become more obvious that this is a sign that the cat is content.
Thus, if your cat is staring at you from a motionless posture, take it as a compliment, not an insult or a warning.
She is in love with you.
It comforts her to watch you, even if you aren't doing anything.
Cats do not have human emotions, and revenge is a human emotion.
They simply do not have that in them.
In summary, learning your cat's individual signals will lead to a better understanding between you, building a bond that most cat owners cherish.
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