Cats cannot tell us exactly what they’re thinking so they use cat body language to convey their mood and feelings to humans. They also use tail and body language to communicate with there own kind.
Anyone who spends time with a feline soon realize they are expressive animals. With some knowledge of the important signals you can gain insight into what your pet is trying to tell you.
Learn what they mean by swishing the tail or by squinting their eyes. Here you will find some of the most common signs of a pets mood. The tail swish from side to side and the speed and ferocity of it is one of the most common bits of tail body language that can be overlooked by inattentive humans.
While some cats may twitch their tail when playing the sweeping rhythmic swish is a sign of anger or irritation.
Cats will swish their tail when they are tired of being petted or when they do not want to be held.The more violent the motion the more irate they may be. Another sign of unhappiness is when a cat lays down the ears.
Some say the further back they point the more anger is expressed. Generally ears laid against a head can be quickly followed by a growl or a hiss. Face expressions are worth a thousand words. You can tell from the swimming cats facial expression he is not liking the water. They say some cats like water but not this guy.
Good Feline Body Language
Have you ever wondered why your grown cat tends to knead your leg or blanket when they are purring? Kneading is a sign of contentedness. This is probably relating back to when the kitten kneaded its mother while nursing. Most believe this means your cat is happy and content.
When cats are feeling playful they show many signs of their happiness. Often they will twitch their back or even the tail like a squirrel. Right before they playfully pounce on a toy they may bob their head or crouch down twitching their hips and back feet like they are digging in for a launch.
It’s well known when cats rub the head or cheeks against something or someone they are marking it as owned. This is still a sign of affection. Think of it this way, cats are quite possessive of their property. By marking you as property they’re letting everyone know who owns you.
If you notice your kitty laying on his side or his back with his eyes half-open or completely closed, this is a good sign that he is in a relaxed state of mind. When they expose the stomach as when they are laying on their back this is a sign of trust as well.
This can be accompanied with bent paws at the wrist which is from relaxing of the arm muscles and letting gravity do its thing. Cats will only put themselves in a prone or vulnerable position if they are very relaxed and feeling safe.
This is a good sign that you are providing a happy home for your feline friend. Finally, the sounds that a feline makes go along with their cat body language. There are certain noises you may hear that will give a big clue as to the mood at the time.
The Cats Spoken Language
Most people do not realize that cats can growl. But any feline owner has probably heard it plenty of times. When they are scared or angry they will emit a very low, very deep growling sound that does not relate in any way to a purr.
Generally if you hear a growl that means stop petting now or you will be scratched. Some of the happy or content sounds that cats make include the purr, the meow, and the trill. Often content cats will purr, and playful cats will emit a trill, which sounds like the rolling “r” noise.
Felines go through moods and emotions just as we do but they cannot express these feelings through words so they use body motions and sounds. If you start noticing a certain movement or behavior from your cat on a regular basis you’ll soon be able to pick up what he is trying to say. Give this cat body language page a bookmark or share with a friend.
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