How To Communicate With Your Cat Like The Experts

Understanding your cat is the best way to develop a strong relationship, build trust, and form a lifelong bond.

Some owners instinctively know what their cat is thinking or feeling based on the flick of an ear or a twitch of the tail.

These clever owners have learned the cat’s body language. For example, a cat who is feeling neglected, rejected, or jealous will sit with his back to his owner. Cats also use body language to communicate with each other and have a universal set of body movements that all felines understand.

Leaning cat body language is a great way to get inside your cat’s mind and understand his thoughts and moods. You can interpret what your feline is thinking and feeling based on his vocalizations and the position of his ears, eyes, whiskers and tail. Here are examples of cat communication and what they means:

Eyes

Wide open - cat is alert, curious.
Half closed – cat is napping or relaxed.
Pupils dilated – cat is frightened or alert.
Pupils are narrow slots – cat is annoyed.
Staring at you intently – cat distrusts you or is annoyed.
A long slow blink directed to you – this is known as a cat kiss and is a form of affection

Ears

Upright and perked, facing front – cat is curious, happy, playful and alert
Facing backward – cat is worried or annoyed
To the side – cat is fearful, distrusting, or annoyed
Flat against the head – cat is aggressive and angry or afraid

Whiskers

Bent forward – cat is alert
Fan out at sides – cat is relaxed
Backward, flat against face – cat is scared, angry or defensive.

Scientist believe that cats have over 100 different vocalizations, but experts cannot agree on how a cat purrs. Some scientist speculate that cat purrs through a set of false vocal chords, while others think that muscle contractions in the chest are responsible for the sound. Experts also do not know exactly why cats purr or what it means. Cats purr when they are happy, relaxed, and content, yet they also purr when they are hurt or stressed.