Posted on 03/03/2011 12:25:31 AM PST by Slings and Arrows
We love our cats but don't always understand cat communication. Our feline friends use a combination of vocalizations, body language and smells to talk with each other and their special people. Here are 12 ways cats communicate.
1. Meows: These are rarely aimed at other cats. Instead meows are requests pointed at humans. For example, cats meow to be petted, for you to open the door or for you to wake up and fill their bowls. The more demanding Kitty becomes, the lower the pitch of the meow.
2. Purrs: These vocalizations signal nonthreat. A cat's purr has been described as a feline smile, and cats purr in the presence of other pets and humans. Purrs often express happiness.
3. Hisses: Keep your distance if you hear a hiss. Cats hiss at other pets and people. Hisses can be defensive or offensive, and arise from frightened or hostile felines.
4. Growls: This is a serious warning from a cat that an attack may be coming. Hisses that don't succeed turn to growls when the cat can't escape.
5. Chattering: This odd sound indicates frustration. Cats that watch critters through the window may chatter when unable to reach the evil squirrels.
6. Spit: This not-so-pleasant communication is the equivalent of a feline gasp of surprise.
7. Body Position: These movements indicate attitude. Confident cats face forward, while fearful cats stand sideways with arched backs to look larger than they really are. Defensive or submissive cats want to look small and nonthreatening, so they crouch low, with feet tucked, and ears and tail held close to the body. Cats show trust by placing themselves in vulnerable postures such as rolling.
8. Fur Position: The hair on a cat can telegraph emotional state. Fur is smooth in relaxed cats. Any kind of arousal -- fear, aggression, happiness, stress -- may prompt fluffed fur that stands straight off the body. For instance, you'll see a bottle brush tail when kitty becomes excited.
9. Ear Position: The ears of relaxed and interested cats face forward. Ears turn sideways in uneasy cats. Fearful kitties hold ears sideways like airplane wings. Ears that flicker back and forth very quickly indicate great agitation. The cat slicks his ears tight to the head in preparation for attack. Cats with one ear forward and one sideways aren't clear how they feel.
10. Eye Reactions: They dilate suddenly (pupils go from slits to round) any time the cat feels sudden excitement. That arousal might be anything from the sight of a dog to a bowl of favorite food or a feather toy. Cat stares indicate a challenge. Squinting shows strong emotion and possibly impending attack. But a slow eye-blink to other cats or people signals nonthreat and is known as a "kitty kiss" when aimed at people.
11. Tail Position: While these vary somewhat between cats, a tail held straight up, with just the end tipped over, is a feline "howdy" that signals to other cats and people a friendly greeting -- it means kitty wants to interact with you. Relaxed cat tails are held in a gentle U, and the greater his interest, the higher the cat holds his tail. Tails tucked between the legs or wrapped around the crouched body show fear. The end of the tail flicking back and forth indicates frustration that may progress to tail-thumping wags that warn of imminent attack. A bottle-brush tail held straight up or behind the cat shows aggression, but if it's held in an inverted U it is a defensive posture.
12. Rubbing/Scratching Behavior: When cats rub against you or scratch objects they are leaving the equivalent of scented Post-It notes. Scent glands in the forehead, cheeks, paw pads and tail leave behind the kitty's signature scent. Cats rub or scratch to mark territory as owned -- including scent-marking a beloved human with cheek rubs.
Understanding cat vocabulary can help you become more attuned to what your cat has to say. But every cat is different, so pay attention to what your favorite feline does. Some cats develop their own way of communicating -- a particular meow, for example -- the same way people who speak the same language may have different regional accents. Watch your own kitty to learn the way he or she talks.
Especially this guy...
My cat growls when a car pulls into the driveway or when someone knocks on the door. She is a guard cat!
joey and the laser game ping....
My cats speak fluent Felinese with an alley-cat accent, except Miss Hissy Slashy. She speaks Feralese.
She’s doing great though. I can pet her for two or three minutes before she bites me, and she doesn’t even draw blood anymore, the softy.
lol!
Mike
The past two days he has been talking up a storm! I sit and read when I get home from work and he walks around me talking in several of his launguages. And when I ask him "What?" he meows real loud. Yes, I know what he wants, he wants me to take him outside so he can smell the smells.
He doesn't purr that much but when he does it sound like a lion or tiger. It's almost subsonic. Real deep.
He is such a great cat!
We just took in a feral kitty, to the tune of about $500 for vet services, but it was worth it. I figure she’s grateful to be inside after the horrid Tennessee winter, and is a shameless cuddlebug. She hasn’t tried to bite even once. Another of our cats was also feral and it’s taken two years to make her not bite. You can tell she wants to sometimes, but cogitates for a couple of seconds, and then licks.
Cool!
I’m actually kidding about Miss Hissy Slashy. She earned her name when we first took her in, but now she’s more like Miss Purry Petme. And you’re right, it did take a while, but she’s very sweet now... Usually.
Ping.
I’m going to record Malcolm’s yowling one of these days.
He’ll tromp into the bedroom in the middle of the night
and set up the most pitiable loud repetitive racket you ever heard.
Gets multiple syllables into his yowls.
The messages vary:
“Get up and put some bites in my bowl”
“Get up and let me the hell out”
“Get up and come watch me eat some of the bites in my bowl”
“Get up and come see the new spot I found”
Any time you note that I’ve posted something a 3:00 AM,
it’s a Malcolm related incident that’s gotten me up.
Our Maine Coon Cat, Major, knows how to communicate with me while I am on the computer. He hits the pedal on the chair legs so it vibrates and keeps on doing it until I put down his bowl of dry cat food. Of course, if I ignore him, he jumps on the keyboard!
Goodness gracious! You’re not alone. My Rocket stomps all over me until I wake up and feed him at all hours of the night. It’s my own fault for spoiling him because of the CRF, but he has put on weight, so it’s working.
My early-morning posts (like today’s) are courtesy of him.
You going to YouTube Malcolm? Linky-thingy please?
My Stewie stands up and keeps hitting my arm while I'm trying to type.
My cat repeatedly thumps me with his tail. It is his way of petting me.
so good.. thanks S & A
They bring us endless love, joy, and entertainment!
He’s stalking you. Be afraid, very afraid. He is just waiting for the right time. (giggle, giggle)
Yes, they certainly do bring pleasure and laughter and lots of solace and love too. I would be lost without Kisa. Kisa is Russian for Kitty. Not too original but she likes it.
She was also a feral cat but has a sweet nature 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time she draws blood.
Although she growls when she hears a car in the drive, there is one car in particular she will growl at but then run and hide. Just that one. Belongs to the family member who trapped her originally, took her to the vet for spaying, shots and so forth and then transported her to me.
Since she has already upset the cat, she also gets to take her to follow up vet appt’s.
I have to watch her eat or she whines. She will only drink water when I pour it from a glass into the shower so she can lap it up on its way down. She is also terrified of going out of doors.Odd behavior for a former feral I think. To her “outside” is the screened in porch but outdoors is just not possible for her.
Yes, they certainly do bring pleasure and laughter and lots of solace and love too. I would be lost without Kisa. Kisa is Russian for Kitty. Not too original but she likes it.
She was also a feral cat but has a sweet nature 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time she draws blood.
Although she growls when she hears a car in the drive, there is one car in particular she will growl at but then run and hide. Just that one. Belongs to the family member who trapped her originally, took her to the vet for spaying, shots and so forth and then transported her to me.
Since she has already upset the cat, she also gets to take her to follow up vet appt’s.
I have to watch her eat or she whines. She will only drink water when I pour it from a glass into the shower so she can lap it up on its way down. She is also terrified of going out of doors.Odd behavior for a former feral I think. To her “outside” is the screened in porch but outdoors is just not possible for her.
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