Cats Body language (gestures, behaviors and signals) how to understand them. Ask any young child what the cat says, and he will confidently answer you “meow”. But is that all that fluffy pets use to communicate? After all, they not only meow or purr, but also actively use their body language, from ears and eyes to the ends of their tails. How to learn to recognize these signals and understand them?
Calm and relaxed
When the cat is relaxed, its movements will be very smooth, and breathing slow and measured. She can lie down, stretch her legs in front of her or bend them “at elbows” at ease. Ears and mustaches will be in a neutral position.
The pupils of the eyes of calm pets will be narrowed, and the eyelids will be relaxed and soft. Perhaps the fluffy will blink lazily. All these signs indicate that he feels safe and sees no reason to monitor the surrounding situation.
Loving Cats
Expressing their love and affection, the four-legged begin to rub against the owner’s feet, spinning around them and turning into a fluffy “eight”.
The tail of the pet will be raised high, and its tip will create a slight bend. So, cats demonstrate that they are glad to see you or, say, another cat.
Also, in a burst of love and tenderness, pets often begin to rub against the owner or the furniture surrounding them with a muzzle, especially their chin. And this is also quite understandable – on the face are aromatic glands that allow you to “mark” people, animals or objects as your own.
Favorite position in such a situation – lying on the lap of the owner. In this case, feline begin to stretch the human legs with the tips of their legs. This is another sign of obvious pleasure and tenderness, because it imitates the process of feeding little kittens with cat’s milk. At the same time, the pet will certainly publish a purr – a classic signal of satisfaction.
Playful Cats
A playful pet is different from a relaxed or loving one. And all because in the process of playing cats imitate aggression and the need for “survival”. Their pupils dilate, fingers spread apart to give the cat acceleration during running or jumping. The tail twitches or moves from side to side, which also demonstrates the agitation or irritation of the four-legged.
During games, cats can chase, pounce, bite, claw, beat captured prey with their hind legs. This behavior is also observed in situations of hunting or self-defense.
How to understand and catch the difference between the game and real aggression? The playful cat is more cheerful, softer and more passive. For example, she can ride on the floor on her back, which she will never allow herself in a situation of real danger.
Annoyed
Cats that experience mild stress or seek to avoid something unpleasant for them, squint, blink quickly and / or turn away. The body will be tense and, possibly, pressed to the floor. One paw can be slightly raised to close its face in case of need.
You can notice that the cat yawns, licks the area around the mouth, often drinks water, blinks. The pupils can be dilated, the ears are pointed in different directions, the mustache sticks forward. The tail is either firmly pressed against the body, or twitches and oscillates from side to side. All of these methods help strengthen environmental monitoring.
Scared or worried
Cats that feel growing fear, anxiety, or intense anxiety lower their ears or lay them back. The head falls below the level of the shoulders, breathing becomes more frequent. The fluffy tail is held low to the ground, and his pupils are dilated.
The whole body will most likely also be pressed to the floor. In an extreme degree of fear or aggression, the cat visually tries to seem larger – stretches its legs, arches its back, and the hair becomes a “stand on”, especially on the neck, back and tail.
Also, animals growl, hiss, or meow very intensely. If these warning signals are left unattended, the cat may hit or bite. Of course, it’s better not to bring this to the end, because with his sharp teeth a fluffy can bite through the skin and lead to infection. And about the restoration of trust and a sense of closeness after such an incident, it is better to generally keep silent …
Sick Cat
If you notice signs of a pet’s illness, then this suggests that he is already quite ill. After all, cats usually hide their discomfort and weakness to the last.
Sick tails keep their heads low, while their eyes are closed or beveled. Ears are pressed to the body or turned outward, the mustache is down. Sometimes cats curl up when they feel bad.
The “inner” eyelids may be visible, as there is no power to draw them in and hide them. Discharge from the eyes, nose, or salivation may also occur. In these cases, you must urgently show the cat to the veterinarian.