Decoding Cat Body Language: A Guide to Understanding Your What Your Kitty is Telling You

We love our kitty companions, regardless of whether they are sweet and snuggly or on a mission to overthrow the world. As with any good relationship, communication between you and your cat is crucial for understanding their needs. While cats don’t necessarily speak our language, there are ways to pick up on their signals, and cat body language is just the start.

Posture as a Reflection of a Cat’s Mood

Cats, like their human counterparts, can experience different moods and emotions. Understanding their expressions can help owners make decisions about care and keep their felines feeling like their best selves. When observing cats, you’ll want to keep an eye on key indicators like tail movement, ear position, and eye expression to determine if they are feeling happy, anxious, sick, or angry.

 

Relaxed and Happy

In a perfect world, our cats would always feel like their best selves. When cats are thriving, enjoying themselves, and feeling safe in their environment, you can expect them to adopt a more relaxed posture. When walking or standing, their tails will be pointed upwards and slightly curled at the top. Moreover, their ears will be upright and forward, their pupils will appear small, and their fur will be smooth and flat. When cats are comfortable and feeling good, they tend to be playful, chatty, and even a little mischievous.

Uneasy or Anxious

Cats are prone to anxiety and stress, which can unfortunately stem from many different issues. For instance, cats usually require time and patience to adjust after moves, new pets or housemates, and larger life changes. When your feline is feeling stressed or anxious, they’ll typically be more jumpy and display body language signals such as larger eyes, airplane ears, a tail held closer to the ground, and extra shedding.

To alleviate anxiety, try to pinpoint the source of the stressors and reduce them as best as you can. Also, ensure that your cat has a safe space and avoid overcrowding them. When they begin to feel more comfortable, they will venture out.

Frightened or Threatened

Another negative emotion that cats can experience is fear. Similar to anxiety, fear stems from a direct source but is often more threatening in nature. Factors that can cause fear include other animals, loud noises, new people, or unfamiliar environments. When fearful, cats typically hide and display pinned-back ears, a tail tucked close to their body, widened eyes, and extra shedding.

When dealing with a fearful or threatened cat, try not to touch them unless absolutely necessary. Give them space and a secure spot where they can feel safe from external threats.

Angry or Hostile

If you’ve never experienced an angry cat, consider yourself lucky. Cats tend to be territorial, and some may display hostility towards other cats, animals, or humans. While this is more common with feral cats, indoor cats aren’t immune to hostility. When your cat is angry, they’ll likely have an arched spine, puffed-out fur on their tail and body, pinned-back ears, and either wide or very narrow eyes. In some cases, they may hiss or show all of their teeth.

If your cat exhibits signs of anger, do not attempt to physically intervene unless necessary to prevent being attacked yourself.

Sick or Injured

The last thing any pet owner wants is to see their sweet cat or dog injured or sick. If your cat is feeling under the weather, they might not show signs immediately. Cats are very skilled at hiding their pain—a trait that helped their ancestors avoid predators. Sick or injured cats will usually hide and either eat and drink very little or not at all. When this happens, try to give them space to comfortably recover. If their symptoms worsen or don’t improve, take them to the vet for a checkup.

While cats generally display different signals for different emotions, every animal is unique. Owners should take time to understand their cat’s body language alongside their personality to foster a healthy and trusting relationship. Cats are emotional creatures who seek safety and comfort in their environment, and getting to know them on a paw-sonal level is the first step toward doing that.