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Cat Behavior - Understanding Felinese
Paw Nation ^ | Feb 25th 2011 | Amy D. Shojai

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.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: cats; epigraphyandlanguage; kittyping
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To: kaylar
Bi-polar kitty? mine does that ,too.


61 posted on 03/03/2011 9:41:22 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: Slings and Arrows

bfltr


62 posted on 03/03/2011 9:45:16 AM PST by doubled (I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta
Told me they’d only do it if he would be sedated.

There's your answer, I'm afraid.

63 posted on 03/03/2011 9:51:35 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Allegra
She only does that to me : Her daddy can pet her for hours, and she's just fine with it. But me? She'll graciously deign to let me pet her for a little while, then she suddenly grabs my wrist.

I think she has a feline Electra complex.

64 posted on 03/03/2011 10:02:30 AM PST by kaylar (It's MARTIAL law. Not marshal(l) or marital! This has been a spelling PSA. PS Secede not succeed)
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To: WOBBLY BOB

What a pretty cats! (Even with the little snarl :-) ) Our cat is an amber eyed tortoiseshell/tabby.


65 posted on 03/03/2011 10:04:27 AM PST by kaylar (It's MARTIAL law. Not marshal(l) or marital! This has been a spelling PSA. PS Secede not succeed)
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To: Doogle

Maru.... is that you??


66 posted on 03/03/2011 10:15:47 AM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Irritating a libtard is fun, and requires very little imagination.)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

What a gorgeous cat!


67 posted on 03/03/2011 10:35:29 AM PST by kaylar (It's MARTIAL law. Not marshal(l) or marital! This has been a spelling PSA. PS Secede not succeed)
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To: kaylar

Thank you...


68 posted on 03/03/2011 10:43:26 AM PST by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Slings and Arrows
I haz elektrisitee


69 posted on 03/03/2011 11:04:08 AM PST by Daffynition ( DBKP ~ Death By 1000 Papercuts)
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To: Daffynition

What the-—

ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOKITTEH!


70 posted on 03/03/2011 11:11:59 AM PST by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Dusty Road

some where around 4:30 am every morning he starts digging at the covers to wake me up.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
How does he handle time switch?


71 posted on 03/03/2011 11:15:09 AM PST by xrmusn ((6/98)Knowledge is knowing tomato is a fruit - Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.)
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To: Slings and Arrows
This is all science. Humans are not meant to understand it. Didn't your cat come with an owner's manual?


72 posted on 03/03/2011 11:21:56 AM PST by Daffynition ( DBKP ~ Death By 1000 Papercuts)
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To: Slings and Arrows

73 posted on 03/03/2011 11:59:08 AM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Irritating a libtard is fun, and requires very little imagination.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

“Chattering: This odd sound indicates frustration. Cats that watch critters through the window may chatter when unable to reach the evil squirrels.”

Our cat does this while watching birds through the window. I’ve also seen her do it when a housefly got away from her.


74 posted on 03/03/2011 2:35:53 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Irritating a libtard is fun, and requires very little imagination.)
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To: Ronin

Lap-o-luxury!

75 posted on 03/03/2011 3:11:32 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to him.)
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To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

Last year there was a huge crow that used to land on our balcony and tease the cats through the window. Crow’s aren’t dumb. He wouldn’t show up if the door was open.

I used to laugh myself sick at my five monsters chittering, chattering, growling, hissing, lashing tails...

And that bird would just strut back and forth in front of the door... just taunting them...

Did that for about a month and then stopped. Every now and then, I would catch one of the cats at the door... just looking at the sky wistfully...


76 posted on 03/03/2011 3:41:00 PM PST by Ronin ("Dismantle the TSA and send the screeners back to Wal-Mart.")
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To: Slings and Arrows

The important thing to remember about your cat: If you were smaller and they were larger they would EAT you...


77 posted on 03/03/2011 3:49:18 PM PST by Little Ray (The Gods of the Copybook Heading, with terror and slaughter return!)
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To: ZirconEncrustedTweezers

Dr Tinycat iz gud therapizt.


78 posted on 03/03/2011 5:06:42 PM PST by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Little Ray

Cat people all know that.


79 posted on 03/03/2011 5:09:04 PM PST by Ronin ("Dismantle the TSA and send the screeners back to Wal-Mart.")
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To: Slings and Arrows

Dr. Tinycat sez, “Take 2 snorglz n rub my tummy in teh mornin.”


80 posted on 03/03/2011 5:24:37 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Irritating a libtard is fun, and requires very little imagination.)
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