Cat "Talk" ... Translating The Language Most
long-time cat owners intuitively know what their pet is telling
them. Are they psychic? Probably not. It's more likely that they
understand cats' many methods of communication without being conscious
of their ability to translate the feline "language" of
sound and posture.
Everyone
recognizes "meow" as the sound a cat makes. Adult cats,
however, use a variety of vocalizations to talk to their humans.
Most owners recognize the "feed me now" meow. Many cats
also have a "hello" meow or a "pay attention to me
now" meow. Each is a subtly different tone.
Cats
also hiss or growl to communicate displeasure or aggressiveness.
And then there's the "good grief, you mashed my tail"
howl!
Another
form of audio communication is the purr. A cat's purr communicates
contentment and happiness. A severely ill or very anxious cat may
also purr, but the meaning here can be an alert that something is
wrong with your pet.
Cats
also communicate extensively through body language. Your pet's stance
speaks volumes about what's going on inside his head. Forelegs bent
shows that the cat would rather avoid a fight, but will defend itself
if necessary. Legs stretched fully signals the cat is self-assured.
A bend in the hind legs shows indecision or timidity. When the legs
are tucked under the body the cat is possibly showing submission
or, if the ears are upright, ready for action.
Ears
also communicate. Pricked ears shows interest in what's going on.
Ears laid back, hissing and an aggressive crouch mean fear and watch
out for attack. Laid back ears and hunkering down can mean submission
or shame.
One
of the cat's most expressive features is the tail. Broad swishing
of the tail says, "I'm annoyed." Severely agitated cats
swish their tails from the base, a threatening signal. The larger
and more rapid the swing, the more upset the cat. A fully bristled,
upright tail signals attack and is often accompanied by a sideways
body display - think Halloween cat. When a cat is afraid and is
trying to avoid a confrontation, the tail may bristle but will then
be lowered or tucked between the hind legs as a sign of submission.
Excitement
and curiosity are communicated with tail twitches. A fully upright
tail with no bristling signals that the cat is being friendly. And
finally, a fully upright tail with a small twitch means anticipation,
as in "open the cat food can, already."
When
a cat rubs his face on you it means you've been "marked"
with his scent and are now part of his life and environment. Cats
excrete pheromones through glands on their cheeks, shoulders, rump
and between the toes. They use the scents to mark their territory
and companions. Cats also use whole-body rubbing contact to communicate
everything from "hello" to "rub me now" to "I
love you."
And
lastly, there's kneading. Kittens knead their mothers' teats to
increase the flow of milk when they're nursing. They associate the
action with extreme contentment. Often, adult cats communicate their
happiness with you by kneading your leg or other accessible part
of your body. So, while a cat with claws can cause you some discomfort,
realize that your pet is only saying "I love you". |