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As with all other animals, body language is the major way a cat communicates with other felines and humans.
It is a highly developed communication system that uses most parts of the body from their ears to their tail...
just like the other critters we humans come in contact with.
By recognizing body signals you will be able to better handle the cat safely and with minimal stress to the cat.
The contented cat:
Cats commonly use body language to express their contentment, often in the way they
sleep and arise from sleep.
There is no better image of a creatue at peace with the world than a cat snoozing away while curled tightly into a ball or
stretched out upside down in the middle of your favorite armchair.
Upon awakening from a nap, a contented cat may yawn laxily and go through a luxurious
series of stretching movements.
These movements will be accompanied by heavy-lidded blinking of the eyes and gentle twitching of the whiskers.
The yawn really says it all. A long, slow, wide-mouthed yawn with a lot of teeth and a
pink tongue is a sure sign
that your pet feels safe and secure. (Note: A yawn can also indicate stress
and should not be used as the sole means of determining what a cat is trying to communicate)
Other ways to recognized a contented cat:
- Muscles will be relaxed.
- Cat will be seated quietly with ears erect, indicating that she is alert and carefully watching what is going on but comfortable.
- Soft purring. Purring, just as the yawn, should not be used as the sole means of determining
what a cat is feeling.
Cats are known to purr if severely injured or in extreme stress.
Using other body signs is an important part of determining what the cat is thinking and feeling.
- Washing with long, slow strokes....as opposed to short, quick strokes when a cat is nervous or stressed.
- Greating a human with head lowered, hindquarters raised, tail held straight up.
Tail tip slightly bent and moving from side to side.
- Rubbing cheeks, whiskers and tail against human...scent marking.
- Winding between human's legs or jump on lap.
- Pupils bright and normal
- Whiskers relaxed.
The frightened cat.
Cats are often frightened in strange places or unfamiliar surroundings.
Strange people or animals are also very likely to frighten a cat.
The cat is likely to run from these frightening situation but if they cannot they will
demonstrate the body language identified below.
Dogs have a complex social structure that encourages dogs to seek each other,
or their owner, out for comfort when stressed.
Cats do not have this complex social structure and are, more often than not, loners.
They are more comfortable when frightened if they can find a place to hide that is isolated and dark.
They do not usually seek the safety of their owners.
Because of this, it is critical when transporting a cat to provide it with a carrier of some
sort that provides a sense of security for the cat.
- Muscles tense
- Remain in a frozen, fixed position while assessing the situation.
- Eyes will remain fixed on what is frightening the cat.
- Dilated pupils
- Eyes darting from side to side looking for an escape route
- May assume a submissive type body position, crouching down, ears flattened side ways, tail held low and chin drawn in.
- May roll on side with paw raised in defensive position.
- Bottle brush tail.
The defensive cat.
If the body language above fails to achieve positive results the cat may react defensively.
Above body language will continue with a more menacing modification.
- Growl, hiss or spit
- Arch back...either while laying down or standing up.
- Fur along back will bristle
- Display fangs with mouth wide open
- Adopt sideways stance hoping to appear larger and more menacing.
- Tail arched and bristled.
- Ears flattened.
- Whiskers bristled
The attacking cat.
If there are no alternatives...no escape route and the threat continues or escalates the cat may feel
there is no choice but to attack.
A cat in attack mode may be stimulated to attack by any stimulus
including the slightest touch or noise.
- Tail low to ground, bristled and swishing rapidly back and forth.
- Crouch low
- Ears pricked are furled back
- Pupils reduced to slits...helps focus on target.
- Whiskers bristle forward for advance warning of potential danger...whiskers are a sensory organ on all animals.
- Claws extended.
- Mouth open wide wide with lips curled and fangs bared.
- Snarls, hissing and spitting will continue.
REMEMBER: WHEN HANDLING A STRESSED CAT...LESS IS BETTER. LESS MOVEMENT,
LESS NOISE, LESS HANDLING AND LESS RESTRAINT. ONLY ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE.
If you must transport a cat it is critical to provide a 'safe haven' for the cat, such as a crate or cat carrier,
and not transport in someone's arms or loose in a car.
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