Most cat owners will have conversations with their cats,
especially if the cat in question is vocal in nature. However, cats communicate
through their body language and sometimes these communication efforts can be
misunderstood. The Cats Protection teamed
up with some animal experts to help owners understand what their cats are
trying to say through their actions. We thought we’d [...]
Most cat owners will have conversations with their cats,
especially if the cat in question is vocal in nature. However, cats communicate
through their body language and sometimes these communication efforts can be
misunderstood.
The Cats Protection teamed
up with some animal experts to help owners understand what their cats are
trying to say through their actions. We thought we’d share these with you to
see if you agree.
“Hello” – Some cats will be waiting at the door to give a
big vocal hello but in general the greeting for a cat is signalled by the cat
walking in your direction with their tail up.
“I trust you” – The cat rolls over and exposes the tummy. This
is a move that is often mistaken for a belly rub (resulting in a bite or
scratch in many cases).
“You don’t smell right” – The cat rubs up against your leg
basically saying they don’t think you smell right and ensuring their own scent
replaces the strange smell they’re not fond of.
“I’m scared!” – The cat will flatten their ears showing you
that they are frightened and that they really would like to go and hide.
“I feel pretty chilled” – A relaxed and non-threatened cat
will blink slowly and turn their head to one side.
“Ugh, I feel stressed out!” – Lip licking is normally a sign
that your cat is having a good old grooming session or has just enjoyed some
dinner. However, it is also a sign that your cat is stressed or that they’re
feeling sick. When cats are stressed
they like to find a safe space, often up high.
Here’s a quick video explaining the behaviours and how to
respond.
Do your cats have any unique signals? Visit us on Facebook and let us know.
