Decode your cat’s language

The language of felines consists of a large number of expressions and of particular sounds.

By observing your companion, you will learn to decipher her personal language because every cat has its character. Nevertheless, this article is going to help you to understand her better and to communicate with her and to give her proper cat care.

Understand her mews

The vocal register of a cat would include 16 different vocalizations for an adult and 9 for a kitten.

We distinguish mutterings emitted mouth closed, the “vowels” produced gradually by shutting up and the shouts with open mouth.

The mewing constitutes a request. According to its tone, it is made as a whisper or a protest.

 Namely:

- your cat vocalizes in buckle, with few silences between two mewings? She is experiencing a rather positive, exciting situation.

- your cat emits short vocalizations spaced out by long silences? It is a way of launching a S.O.S. Moreover, kittens use this signal to alert their mother.

Purring is associated with pleasure most often but also sometimes with anxiety: the cat purrs then to reassure herself.

The whistling or the spitting are a demonstration of anger or fear: in that case, it is better to leave her alone…

Understanding your cat: it happens that your cat produces a chattering with her teeth associated with a mewing? This behavior is characteristic of a cat watching her prey. Your cat emits it maybe when you are preparing her meal.

Understanding her attitudes

Ears and tail say a lot about the state of mind of our felines.

Offensive or defensive? Ears are turned to the outside, the posture is offensive. If they are to the back she is adopting a defensive strategy. Your cat, by the way, can pass very quickly from a posture to another one.

But your cat can simply feel confident and listen to the surrounding sounds: her ears are then straight, slightly pointed forward, mobile and independent one of the other one. Look at your cat! Sometimes she dozes by listening to the sounds of the house. If she hears an unusual noise, her ears then turn up forwards.

Attention!

Feeling of fear: when fear settles down, ears lie down, the neck is pulled in, the tail is on the ground, shaken by small nervous movements. This agitation of the tail often means a start of attack so attention!

Feeling of anger: with anger, the body rises, the hair raises, the tail draws a bow, fangs are out and claws also!

The movements of the tail are, indeed, easily perceptible indicators by the owner. The waving of the tail indicates an emotion, that can be positive or negative, but usually, it is an indication of aggression.

The hairs of the tail bristle for every kind of aggression (by irritation, territorial, by fear…)

Always here to welcome you: upon your arrival, your cat arrives towards you from the front, the tail up, vertical or slightly bent at its extremity. She feels in confidence and is attached to you. This welcome) often ends up with a friction against your legs.

All this information will allow you to better understand what pet care is all about and to improve the communication between you and your feline. It will contribute to her well-being.