Cats do not express their emotions as clearly as dogs. Sometimes cat behavior is difficult to interpret, but this does not mean that your pet will forever remain a mysterious creature for you.
The sounds he makes, body movements and everyday behavior will tell you how your furry family member feels. If you pay attention to them, you can not only learn to understand your pet’s personality traits and habits, but also see the slightest changes in his mood and health.
Learning to understand a cat by its tail
The main expression of a cat's desires and moods is the tail . When a cat greets you with its tail raised up and meowing softly, it means that it is happy to see you and wants to be petted. If the cat's tail is shaking at this time, she is telling you that she misses you very much.
When a cat, waving its raised tail, looks intently into your eyes, this is a signal that it is unhappy and angry with you. Then leave her alone.
Do you see how the cat, turning away from you, hits the floor with its tail? This is how she shows her character and says that she is offended by you. In addition, she can demonstratively sit between you and the computer or between you and your guests.
When another cat encroaches on your pet’s territory or food, she growls and hisses, arching her back and raising her loose tail. This means readiness for defense or offense.
Personal personal space - the cat’s behavior has changed: what to do?
The cat's personal space
Immediately after the cat has settled in your home, the owner's private property becomes under the control of the furry cat. This is her personal personal space. And to mark their territory, they will rub their muzzle against every free corner. It will seem to a person that the cat's behavior has changed, but this is not so. This is her usual state. What to do?
- The fact is that cats have special glands behind their ears that give the animal its own individual and unique smell.
- Hormones are released from them.
- This is a physiological process and cannot be influenced. You don't need to do anything.
On the paws, as well as on the muzzle of animals, there are also substances with which they mark their territory. And sometimes the cat may touch you on purpose. In this way she makes it clear that the person has become her property.
What do a cat's eyes say?
When a cat's eyes are wide open, it means that she is showing interest in some object or person. If a cat looks into your eyes, this is a sign that it wants to communicate with you, and its blinking while stroking is an expression of the highest bliss. At the same time, having released her claws, she can move her paws. Be patient, if this behavior causes you minor pain, do not drive the cat away. In this way, your pet identifies you with its mother.
A cat's half-closed eyes indicate that she feels peaceful. She looked away to the side - she was ready to obey you.
If the pupils of a cat's eyes are dilated, it means that she is afraid of something and you should help her eliminate the cause of her fear. And when the pupils sharply constrict, expect aggressive behavior from your cat.
The cat demands cleanliness in the house: strange behavior
Cats are very fastidious and clean animals. They will not go into a dirty litter box. This is unacceptable to them. In addition, the cat will not go to the potty if there is chaos in or around it. Such a negative environment will lead the cat to do the right thing where it will be more pleasant. Alas, they will not warn you about this. This pet behavior may seem strange. Therefore, you should know that there are such reasons - a cat requires cleanliness.
It is worth noting that cats express dissatisfaction with their environment with a negative attitude. For example, an animal will demonstratively begin to bury something in a pot, and quite loudly. In some situations, cats will fiddle with the edge of the patch with their paw, meowing periodically. If you don’t want to find traces of your pet’s activity somewhere in your slippers, it is recommended that you start hearing and understanding his hints.
Cat facial language
A cat’s facial expressions can tell a lot. By moving its ears and whiskers, a cat informs you about many things. Ears pressed to the sides of the head indicate an aggressive mood or fear. When the ears twitch nervously, something is clearly irritating the cat, and she is thinking about how to react to the irritant. It's a good sign when the ears point forward. At this moment, the cat is in a relaxed state or is interested in something. He pulls his ears back and closes his eyes, expressing his impatience and request: “come on faster, I really want to.”
Cats can communicate with you through their whiskers and eyebrows. You see that the whiskers are directed forward - your cat has shown increased interest in something. For example, she is interested in a new toy and offers to play with it. She spread her mustache in different directions - she was calm. If the antennae are gathered in a bun and pressed against the cheeks, it means that something is bothering or frightening the cat; if they droop down, it means she is sad or sick.
A few typical situations
Cats don't always deserve generous treatment. Sometimes the reaction to a gift leaves much to be desired. You can leave the mouse alive so the cat can learn to play with it before destroying it. However, an animal can do exactly the opposite.
The cat regularly brings clothespins to the person. Why is she doing this? “You see,” explains Dr. Yuki, a leading physician in Japan, “cats think of us humans as giant kittens. Therefore, in this way they are trying to teach you how to hunt. I don't know why they choose clothespin. Most likely they think it is some kind of small animal. This way the cat returns to nature and catching game.”
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Why does a cat ask to open the door and then just sit and stare at it instead of going out? Perhaps she just doesn’t like the door being closed, or maybe she wants the owner to go out with her, but lets him go ahead.
Cats purr when petted and then suddenly attack you. First, they don't know they're being tickled and actually think they're struggling, so anger is part of the game. Secondly, the cat doesn’t really like it, and she suddenly begins to resist.
These are social animals, so if they grow up next to their owner, they must constantly be the center of attention.
However, your pet needs to be provided with space to play and have a good time.
It’s better to allocate a separate room.
Why do cats eat the same food for years and then suddenly refuse to touch it? “They smell very well, so they can smell even tiny changes in ingredients,” Dr. Yuki says. “Or maybe they got sick.”
Let's understand a cat by its sounds
At least 16 sounds are used by cats to communicate . Different cat breeds differ in their talkativeness. Siamese and Oriental cats love to chat with their owners the most. Rumbling and purring are characteristic of small cats. A cat's purring is a symbol of sympathy for its owners and good disposition. By purring, a cat shows its aggressiveness and tells you that it is ready to start a fight; Hissing shows fear and uncertainty about salvation. When a cat is contemplating fight or flight, it snorts and leans its body forward.
By instinct
To better understand the habits of your pet, it is recommended to trace the behavior of wild relatives in their natural environment. All cats, with the exception of lions, lead a solitary lifestyle, having at their disposal a certain territory with clearly defined boundaries and an established internal routine.
According to zoological descriptions:
- the territory belonging to each individual is divided into hunting grounds, secluded daytime beds and latrines;
- Obeying natural cleanliness, cats will never set up a “bedroom” or “dining room” next to the “toilet”;
- in addition to discharging natural needs, latrines serve as individual scent marks, constantly updated to control the boundaries of personal possessions;
- Mature males and females are especially active in marking territory during the period of sexual hunting;
- the cubs turn out to be still too weak and vulnerable, so the mother carefully monitors the cleanliness of the nest and constantly licks the babies, fighting off the smell that attracts predators and enemies;
- As the young grow older, they begin to move further and further from the nest, choosing their own places for the toilet.
What do cat poses tell you?
A terrifying pose: the cat, with its tail bent and its back arched, stretched its paws forward and stood on tiptoes. The fur stood on end, the ears pressed to the back of the head, the nose wrinkled, the fangs were exposed. This pose is accompanied by rumbling and snorting. If the cat is frightened, the nodules on its cheeks move and the fur bristles.
The pose of peace and bliss is expressed as follows: in a relaxed state, the animal lies on its back, opening its belly. In this case, the eyes are half-closed, the paws are spread out to the sides, the claws are hidden, and the pads are compressed and unclenched. This is how the cat speaks of complete trust in you, because its stomach is the most unprotected place. If, playfully, she suddenly hides her head in a secluded place, then she says: “look for me, I’m hiding.”
If, when stroking the lumbosacral region of the back, the cat falls on its front paws, lifts the back of its body and moves its tail to the side, this means that it wants intimacy with the cat.
You can find out more detailed information about how to determine the behavior of cats by their tail and what different poses mean in this article.
Scratchy paws
Cats have long learned to use their front paws not only for movement and hunting. With their help, it is easiest for them to communicate with their owners. They have learned to give their paw when asked, or to touch their owner when attention is needed. Modern cats can even point in the direction or point to an object that interests them.
If, upon contact with a person, a cat clenches and unclenches its toes, retracting and pulling out its claws, then this means complete trust . Pussy loves the attention she gets. In this way she shows the owner to continue his actions.
If an animal hides its paws under itself while sleeping, it means the pussy is cold. Thus, the pet tries to maintain its body heat. To make your cat comfortable, you should buy a warm bed for him.
