Cat Care

by Kymberlie Adams

Your cat squints at you, then bats her eyes and paws in the air. Wouldn’t you love to know what she’s thinking? Well, your feline may not be talking, but she certainly is communicating! In fact, pet parents can learn a lot about their cat’s state of mind by simply knowing what to look for.

It’s certainly not hard to figure out what your cat is telling you when she meets you at the front door – the waving of her tail says it all. Cats are very expressive animals, using all parts of their bodies to communicate what they’re feeling. While some signals can be a bit more subtle, body postures, facial expressions, and even the position of ears can speak volumes.

Cats often use their tails to communicate their moods. For example, a calm and happy cat holds her tail either relaxed or upright. Drooping tails usually signify unhappiness or impending illness. Tails that appear puffy are a clear indication your cat is either preparing to attack or is very frightened. If the end of your cat’s tail starts to twitch back and forth, she may be annoyed, and it’s best to leave her alone.

Ever moving, a cat’s ears do much more than hear – they also reveal emotions and upcoming actions. Ears perked up mean she’s curious and interested. Add large pupils and a tail held upright, and your cat is ready to play! On the flip side, twitching ears typically indicate your cat is agitated or nervous. If she flattens her ears and pulls her whiskers back tightly, she is definitely in a bad mood.

Like human eyes, your kitty’s eyes dilate and widen with changing moods. If your cat looks at you with eyelids fluttering and drooping, it’s an indication of her trust in you. Wide-open eyes indicate alertness and increased awareness. Eyes half closed signify your kitty is relaxed and ready for a cat nap! A frightened or fearful feline will have wide eyes with pupils that are fully dilated-she may also situate herself in a sideways position. Be aware of narrow, slit-like pupils-this often indicates that your cat in quite irritated!

In order to truly understand your cat’s frame of mind, you must observe her entire body and put the pieces together. For example, when cats are happy and content, they will blink their eyes slowly, knead their paws and purr. This goes back to when they were nursing and would paw their mothers belly to stimulate milk flow and show satisfaction. On the flip side of things, cat’s fur can also be a mood indicator-of fear and anger. If your cat’s hair is standing up on end or her eyes are narrow and her tail is puffy, you’ll know something isn’t right.

Once you learn how to “read” your cat’s postures and signals, you’ll better understand her feelings and motivations and be better able to predict what she is likely to do.

Do you know what your cat is trying to tell you? Comment on this blog post and ask your questions on the Pet Health Exchange.