WHAT DO YOUR CAT'S

GESTURES MEAN?

While an entire book could

be written about how cats

communicate with just their

vocal chords …

… this short article is more

concerned with breaking down

the body language of cats.

You can gauge a lot about a

cat's mood and its intentions

by watching …

… just the position and

movement of its tail and the

arrangement of its ears.

WHAT A CAT'S TAIL SAYS

ABOUT ITS MOOD

While it is a common expression that eyes are the

windows to the soul, paying attention to a cat's tail is

the best way of sensing the animal's motives.

By noting the position and movement of your cat's tail,

you can distinguish between a happy cat and a

neurotic one.

An upward-angled tail

indicates alertness.

If the hairs on the tail

are relaxed, the cat is

indicating that it feels

either confidant

or relaxed.

If the hairs on the tail

flare out like a pipe-

cleaner, then the cat is

feeling threatened and

should be left alone.

A tail curled around

another body indicates

friendliness to that

animal or person.

A tail that is hidden

away from view

indicates caution

and anxiety.

A rapidly moving tail

indicates a very

different mood from

what people expect of

a dog.

If the tail is thumping

against the ground in

rapid succession, this

is a sure sign that the

cat is getting irritated.

If the tail is moving

slowly from side to

side, the cat is unsure

of something and is

looking to safely

examine it.

WHAT A CAT'S EARS SAY

ABOUT ITS MOOD

The positioning of a cat's ears is just as important to

understanding the cat's mood as its tail.

If your cat's ears are pointing forward, that is a good

sign he's in a good mood and maybe wants to play.

If your cat's ears are sticking straight up, they are

likely on the alert.

This gesture will usually pair with the

cat standing upright in order to better

react to surprises.

If your cat's ears are turned back, leave

them alone.

A cat exhibiting this sort of gesture

will likely growl or even hiss if

repeatedly bothered.

If your cat's ears are turned to the sides, the

cat is only nervous …

… and should be approached cautiously.

If you see a cat with his ears pointing back

and also flattened against his head …

… this is a cat that is ready to throw

down if approached.

Just think; if a cat is folding his ears against

his head …

… then he's not really willing to listen

to what you have to offer.

Another behavior that is nearly

instinctual to cats is the desire

to chase movement.

If you see a cat that locks its

eyes on something and seems

to rock its entire body back

and forth …

… flattening its ears, dilating

its pupils and slightly moving

its tail, the cat is ready to

pounce on whatever it sees.

If the cat seems fixated on

a hand or something else

you'd rather not have

clawed or bitten…

… the best answer is to

just freeze the

movement; this will snap

the cat out of its instinct.

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