- Cat - Magnus Rosendahl
Cats are very expressive, communicating with a wide variety of noises, as well as the positions of their tails, ears, eyes, whiskers, and fur.
Vocalizations
Cats make nearly 100 different types of vocalizations, compared to just 20 for dogs. Common vocalizations are:
- Meowing – usually only used with people, can mean many things depending on the volume and intensity (a hello meow is usually quieter than a meow that requests food or to be let outside)
- Mew – used to identify and/or locate another cat
- Growling – a warning to keep your distance
- Hissing – a “keep away” defensive sound, designed to scare away an enemy by mimicking the noise a poisonous snake makes before striking
- Spitting – a short popping sound, often occurs along with hissing if the cat has been threatened or surprised
- Screeching or shrieking – a defensive, aggressive, or outraged sound, may also indicate pain
- Chirping – usually expresses a friendly greeting
- Trilling – more musical than chirping, indicates happiness
- Chattering – an excited sound made by a cat that sees a bird or other prey she can’t reach
- Yowling – often done by older cats at night, expresses fright, confusion, disorientation, or anxiousness; unspayed females who want to attract mates will make a different type of yowl
- Moaning – a drawn-out, sad noise that cats make when they’re about to vomit; elderly cats may also moan when disoriented
- Purring – signifies contentment or illness; cats often purr when sick or injured, because purring speeds the healing process
Body Language
To figure out what the cat is saying to you with her body, look at her overall body position and then the positions of individual body parts:
- Relaxed, friendly – ears point forward, tail is relaxed or upright, whiskers are straight, fur is flat
- Annoyed – tail tip is twitching, whiskers are pulled back so that they are flat against the face, ears are flat against the cat’s head
- Aggressive – staring directly, pupils are constricted (narrow), hair on the tail and back is puffed up, tail thumps the ground or swishes rapidly, lips are curled into a snarl, cat is facing forward and may have her butt in the air so that she can pounce easily
- Scared – hair is raised on the tail and back, tail is either held close to the cat’s body or lashing, whiskers are flat against the face, ears are flat against the cat’s head, cat is crouching sideways
- Sick – eyes are half closed, tail is between the legs, ears and/or whiskers are in odd positions
The Eyes
You can tell a lot about your cat’s mood by her eyes. An unblinking stare suggests a challenge or a feeling of defensiveness. Round pupils signify interest, excitement, or fear, and a sudden dilation of the pupils may indicate that the cat is ready to launch an attack due to fear or defensiveness. If the cat allows her eyelids to droop or slowly closes her eyes, she is relaxed and trusting.
The Tail
The position of the tail can provide information about a cat’s state of mind. Most people know that a “puffy” tail signifies defensiveness. Other tail positions include:
- Straight up and down – confident, friendly
- Tucked around the body – contentment or a desire to be left alone
- Inverted U – in adult cats suggests defensive aggression, in kittens may indicate playfulness
- Slightly flicking – indecisive, thinking
- Flicking suddenly, rapidly – anxiety or agitation
- Flicking constantly – a critique of something in her surroundings
- Thumping – frustrated or annoyed, may lead to an attack
- Lashing back and forth – the cat is likely to attack
- Question mark shape – indifference, curiosity, or interest
- Between the legs – a submissive posture
Aggression and Anxiety
If your cat’s vocalizations and body language indicate frequent aggression, she may be anxious about something in the household. For more information on this, see Treating Aggression in Cats. Other signs of anxiety include over-grooming or pulling out fur.
Have you ever wondered why cats rub against things, eat plants, fight, play with their prey, suck on fabrics, knead or paddle with their paws, or gravitate to the one person in the room who dislikes cats? For answers to these questions and many more, see Why Does My Cat Do That?
References:
- Hotchner, Tracie. (2007). The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know. London: Penguin Group.
- Warner, Trevor. (2007). Cat Body Language Phrasebook: 100 Ways to Read Their Signals. San Diego: Salamander Books.
Jennifer Copley - Jennifer Copley, BFA, BEd, has a diverse base of expertise that includes research, writing, education, pet care, and various other ...
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