Introduction
Cats are intelligent, thoughtful creatures and despite what many people believe, actually enjoy human contact and interaction. For cat owners it is sometimes a mystery as to what their cat is saying but with careful observation, listening and experience it can be easily interpreted. Improving communication between owner and cat can positively enhance their relationship and make caring for them more enjoyable.
[Figure 1 Courtesy of https://felineengineering.com/catbodylanguage/ (4)]
Cat Communication and Body Language
It is essential to consider how your body language and voice is interpreted by your cat or kitten. The correct tone of your voice is needed to establish a bond with your cat (1.). The softer and higher your voice is the more your cat or kitten will respond to it (1.) When naming your cat or kitten consider choosing a one syllable name or nickname as research shows cats respond best to short names and learn them faster (1.)
Never raise your voice in anger at your cat as with their acute hearing they will react with fear which may lead to distrust and damage your relationship (1.) When you stand over your cat or kitten consider how your posture and positioning can frighten them. Where possible get down on the floor and interact with them at their level so they do not feel threatened. This will help establish trust between you (1,2.)
Cats respond to your emotions displayed subconsciously or by body language (2.) Cats will often copy your energy and mood. If you are upset and scared they will show fearful body language and if you are excited and happy they will respond playfully and energetically (2.) When meeting a cat for the first time it is best to be still and calm and let the cat come to you first to greet you and the cat has time to examine you and your behaviour and mood (1,2.)
Interpreting Cat Body Language (see Figure 1)
Cats communicate more through their body language and behaviours rather than classic vocal language. It is important to understand the cat’s primary senses and how this relates to language (3.) As nocturnal hunters in the distant past, cats have excellent night vision although their colour vision is poor. They can see better in dim light and contrary to popular belief they cannot see in complete darkness just like humans. Feline pupils dilate much wider than human eyes so they can take in more light. When a cat feels threatened their pupils will dilate (3.)
A typical cat greeting that lets you know the cat is comfortable in your presence is the ‘slow blink’ (2.) When performing this action gaze at the cat’s eyes, relax your face and posture and then slowly blink. Then hopefully, if the cat likes you it do a slow blink in return.
They also are adept at spotting small movements made by their prey and can sit for long periods staring at what appears to be nothing but they are hunting some creature that has escaped our sight.
Cats have an excellent sense of smell and they use scent to identify their territory (3.) When cats meet each other they will smell each other first usually around the head and rear as this is where the scent glands are located. When greeting a cat, offer them an item of yours that they can smell such as a finger, hand, glasses, hat etc. so they can get used to your smell before you get too close (2.)
Cats’ sense of taste is not very strong and research suggests they can only taste salty and sour flavours and not sweet (3.)
Cats have an acute sense of hearing and respond to high pitched sounds beyond the range of human hearing and they can learn to recognize familiar sounds and their associations (3.) Along with the five senses they also have a fantastic sense of balance which allows them to jump from a high place and land safely. They are able to right themselves when they fall by rotating themselves in mid-air to land on their feet. However, they are still vulnerable to injuries if they fall from a great height (3.)
Two common cat communication behaviours (also known as territorial marking) is rubbing and spraying (3.) Rubbing is when your cat marks objects with its scent such as furniture, objects and people. When your cat rubs his face on you he is marking you. Spraying is a less pleasant, more aggressive form of marking and more common in unneutered males (3,7.)
The body language that a cat uses communicates specific messages (see Figure 1) (4.) They have a range of gestures such as head tilts, tail position, ear movements and facial expressions. When a cat is frightened they will crouch low, draw their ears back and dilate their pupils. When they are ready for a fight they will arch their back, have their tail in a hooked position and ears flattened, eyes squinted and move slowly in a sideways position (6,7.) If your cat is hunting they will crouch low, pupils dilated, eyes wide, tail swings from side to side and when they get ready to pounce they wiggle their rears and move back slightly.
Kneading you or ‘making biscuits’ as some call it is left over behaviour from kitten-hood where the kitten kneads its mothers teats to get her milk. This is an endearing behaviour that indicates their familial bond with you (6.)
When cats are content and relaxed they usually are in positions such as laying across the floor stretched out, on their backs or curled up with their tail around them, eyes half closed (5.) When a cat is curious and interested following you to see what you are doing they will have their tail up, ears forward and eyes wide. Similarly they will adopt this posture when coming to the door to greet you when you come home (3.) Banging or swishing their tails can display irritation and is a sign they want to be left alone (4.)
Red flag behaviours to watch out for that may indicate pain or illness including: hunched up posture or curled position with head down, tail drooping, eyes may be half-closed and third eyelid may be visible (5.) They may lash out and be angry if you try to disturb them. Any sudden change in your cat’s behaviour may be a sign of illness so it is always best to get them checked out by a vet if this is the case (5.)
Cat Vocalisations
All cats have a range of vocalisations and sounds to indicate mood or to ask for what they want. With good listening skills and monitoring you can get to know what they mean when they talk to you. The obvious would be a loud throaty yowl which could indicate fear, distress or asking for attention or food, depending on the situation. Cats in heat will make loud persistent calls in searching for a mate (3,7.) Mother cats will chirp softly at their kittens and you may find your cat uses this vocalisation towards you as they see you as their mother, for all intents and purposes. Plaintive persistent cries may indicate illness/injury and should not be ignored. Some cats will even growl like a dog when they feel threatened. Hissing and spitting often occurs when the cat is in conflict over territory with another cat or pet (4.) Tiny quiet meows, chirrups and trills are normally greeting calls or to let you know they want attention, to interact with you, play or cuddle (4.) The classic purr is associated chiefly with a happy contented cat but cats in pain may purr to self-soothe (3.) Researchers are still not sure the mechanism of purring but it is thought to be created by vibrations in the larynx when the cat breathes in and out (3.) When in hunting mode, the cat get may get excited watching a bird outside for example, and they will make small chirrups as a sign of excited anticipation (3.)
Note that when calling your cat avoid ‘puss puss’ or using words that have an ‘ss’ sound as to a cat this sounds like hissing which they will react negatively too (5.)
Some breeds are more vocal than others. For example, the Ragdoll is very vocal and has a range of calls for their humans. They will often call out when they cannot find you as Ragdolls are very social cats so you will need to call back to them if you have left them room so they know where you are (4.) It is possible to have a conversation with them. When they chirrup or meow at you then copy the sounds and you will find they will talk back. Such interactions help bond with them and help you understand their language.
Other vocal breeds include:
-Siamese are possibly the most vocal of all cats and have very distinctive vocalisations that can be mistaken for a human crying baby.
-Main Coons, also known as gentle giants similar to Ragdolls, are very talkative and have a similar range of vocals as Ragdolls.
-Burmese cats love attention and human contact and happily chatter away to you.
-The Siberian is the national cat of Russia and as well as being a very large breed they are loud, playful and crave attention (8.)
Conclusion
Whatever breed of cat you have, whether it be a pedigree or a standard moggie, understanding their body language and behaviours will help you to interpret what they are telling you or asking you for. In return they will reward you with love, loyalty and companionship. Spending more time with your cat, learning their usual behaviours and their likes and dislikes the better your relationship will be (3,4.) Interestingly, researchers have confirmed that when cats meow they are only talking to their owners and not to other cats. This is due to the fact that their mothers stop responding to them when they are weaned (9.) So you can quite rightly say you are their cat-mum or cat-dad as they talk to you only and not to their brothers or sisters and cat families.
References
- I Just Got A Kitten. What Do I Do? By Mordecai Siegal (2006.) published by Simon and Schuster ISBN 978-0-7432-4509-8
- Total Cat Mojo by Jackson Galaxy (2017.) published by Penguin Random House
- Ragdoll Cats A Complete Pet Owner’s Manual by Karen Leigh Davis ISBN 0-7641-0732-1
- www.felineengineering.com/catbodylanguage (2022)
- Guide To Owning a Ragdoll Cat by Gary Strobel and Susan Nelson (2002). TFH publishing
- www.cats.org.uk/help-advice (2022)
- www.pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language (2022)
- www.animalfriends.co.uk (2022)
- www.hillspet.com/cat-care/behaviour-appearance/how-to-cats-communicate (2022)