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Cats are mysterious creatures to some people while experienced cat people know it only takes being observant and watching body language for getting the desired response from your cat. Cats have specific mannerisms for communicating their needs, wants, and feelings.
Humans struggle with understanding these reactions because of the variations, making detecting them hard for non-felines. When humans get confused or show disdain, they furrow their eyebrow. Cats have a different body language for these feelings, and understanding the subtle differences is difficult.
Cats talk to us using body language. For a good relationship, it’s important you understand what they are telling you. Learning the meanings of their body language goes a long way in understanding and communicating with our feline companions.
Talking with the tail
The tail position is a good indicator of understanding the cat’s mood. Below gives a list of
body language meanings for different positions of the tail.
Tail Up - An approachable, happy, and cheerful cat.
Tail Down - The cat feels threatened or scared.
Rapid Back and Forth Tail Movement - A wagging tail on a cat has a different meaning than that of a dog’s tail wagging. A fast-thumping tail is a indicator of agitation and should be left alone.
Slow Back and Forth Tail Movement - A slow back and forth tail movement means they are confused and trying to understand the feelings they are experiencing.
The Halloween Tail - Cats exhibiting the “Halloween tail” are not happy. Fluffing out the tail and holding it in the upright position helps them look large and scary, telling you to back away.
Talking with the ears
Another good mood alerting device is the cat’s ears. Look at the ear position to understand the message they are conveying. This subtle language helps you know what your cat is feeling; if they are happy, threatened, or scared and defensive.
Ears Forward - A slight forward bend of the ears is a sign of content or playfulness.
Ears Standing Up - A sign of being alert, listening or seeing something they want to investigate.
Ears Pointed Back - Possible feelings of irritation, saying stay away, I’m not happy, and please don’t bother me.
Ears Turned Sideways - Anxious or nervous feelings. Use caution when approaching a cat with ears positioned this way.
Ears Laid Back Against the Head - Stay away if the cat’s ears are against its head. This position means you are facing a scared and defensive cat and is showing anger and aggression.
Communicating with their eyes
The beautiful and hypnotizing eyes of a cat give us clues to their feelings about the world they find themselves surrounded by. Looking at a cat’s eyes gives insight into what they are trying to communicate to you, whether they are happy, scared, or aggressive.
Pupils Dilated - The pupils of a cat’s eyes may dilate when. stimulated, scared, or surprised.
Pupils Constricted - Your cat is feeling tense and aggressive when the pupils are constricted.
Staring - The cat is challenging you when giving you a stare-down.
Slow Blinking - They feel safe with you and are comfortable and trusting around you.
Eyes Closed Halfway - Your cat trusts you and is relaxed.
Cats use body language in many ways to communicate their feelings to us. It’s important to take the time and learn your cat’s different ways of talking to you. This helps you understand your cat and tells you what he needs for a better cat and human relationship.
