Learn and understand cat language

Not all meows are the same: learn and understand cat language

Do you know that? If you think that you have finally understood what your cat wants from you, the next moment she will surprise you with completely unexpected behavior. It's milking to the mouse! Cats speak their own language - both with their bodies and with their various sounds. Do you want to finally learn to understand your cat and its expressions correctly? Then we will show you now what to look out for!

She wears it proudly and expresses so much: the cat's tail

A cat's tail could also be called the “bulletin board of cat language”. Because the position of the tail reveals a lot of emotions, intentions and needs. However, you should never look at the tail position all by yourself. The direction of the tail does not tell you in which direction the wind is blowing, but you can deduce the mood of your cat from it. But before you only have eyes for Kitty's tail like a detective, you should also keep an eye on the other body language characteristics. Your cat can express the following emotions through its tail:

Nervousness and impatience (tail twitches occasionally or at intervals)

Wellbeing and joy (tail is up and occasionally wags quietly back and forth)

Aggression (the tail and back of the body are held rigidly in the air while the front half of the body is on the ground)

Need for protection or strong tension (fur stands out and is fluffed up)

Attention (tail wagging)

Shock (tail sinks towards the ground)

Fright (tail tilts away from the body at a flat angle)

Fear and uncertainty (tail stuck between hind legs)

Pleasure to play or hunt (tail wags from left to right)

Pain and discomfort (cat hits the floor restlessly)

Look into my eyes, Small! We experience this through the eyes and ears of cats

If the ears are up, she will soon be raging! Ears and eyes wide open are clear signs of attention and a desire to play.

Once your cat has targeted a hunting object, it may not be long before it grabs it. Attack! Even shortly before the meal, your cat's eyes and ears are wide open - translated from the cat's language this means: “I'm hungry!” A completely chilled cat, on the other hand, wears its ears up and squints slightly. You might think that something is on her mind, but in fact she is just totally relaxed and sleepy. Most kitties have their eyes half closed when they are relaxed.

Your cuddly tiger often suddenly turns into a fighting cat? Tension, fear or aggression can often be seen clearly before the "attack". Because then your cat's ears are close to the head or turned to the side. In addition, her eyes are extremely wide and she notices every movement of her counterpart. Another typical de-escalating gesture is the hunchback - a classic defensive position.

Keep the distance: The strongly arched back and the fluffed fur signal that your cat wants distance. If you understand your cat's language, you should give it space now. And for the benefit of your skin, you should really do that too. Because cat scratches can be really painful. Memo to you: The twinkle in your kitty's eyes doesn't have to mean that she is in a cuddly mood.

Meow. Hissing, purring: the different cat sounds

There are cats who talk to their owners. Of course not literally! But while one of the kitties only makes purring noises during the evening petting routine, other fur noses meow in a tour. What a chatterbox! If you are hungry, want some fresh air, want attention - meow, meow, meow! The typical “loud meowing” can almost always be understood as a request at such moments. But not every sound has the same meaning and is assigned to a certain mood. The cat sounds should always be interpreted in terms of the cat's physical language. Because our fur noses can turn out to be real opera singers. From whimpering to squeaky to deep buzzing - some cats are really talented musicians. In general, however, their sounds are differentiated between meowing, wailing, hissing, growling and purring. Depending on the volume, situation, duration and body language, your cat expresses tension or well-being.

Purring and hissing as classics of cat language

Purr me a river! In almost all cases, purring is a clear expression of security, sympathy, trust, relaxation and love.

Hissing, on the other hand, clearly communicates discomfort, insecurity, defense and distance through aggressiveness.

Lucky cat, lucky keeper

What does every cat owner want? That his kitty is happy. But how do you know that a cat is comfortable? If your fur nose lovingly sneaks around your legs and purrs and meows in light tones, there is nothing better for them at this moment than to be petted. As the saying goes: "Happiness doubles when you share it!" Your kitty does that too when she ensnares you. If you are already stroking her and she is also pressing her head in your hand or arching her back with relish when touched, then you should postpone all upcoming appointments: because your kitty loves her caresses and enjoys the time together. However, there are a few more signs that your cat is happy:

She loves her toys and likes to play with them in a focused manner.

She likes to cuddle and purrs loudly.

She rubs her nose against you.

She “speaks” to you (frequent and loud meowing).

She rolls and lolls on her scratching post or in the garden.

She whizzes around like a whirlwind when she's in a playful mood.

She eats with pleasure.

She comes to rest quickly.

She likes to and carefully observes her environment.

Player nature or mini tiger? Hunting and playing with your cat

As a cat language apprentice, you will probably ask yourself: “When is my kitty in the hunt fever and when does she just want to play?” It is not that easy to distinguish between hunting and play, as they are very similar in terms of body language. Here your eagle eye is in demand: Because the striking difference is the severity and seriousness. When hunting, cats rarely let go of their prey - after all, they are not allowed to escape! Your mini tiger stalks its prey and attacks it specifically. She "plays" with a mouse or a bird until they are killed, but in doing so she proceeds a lot more seriously and "roughly".

Same same but different

In play, cats are more considerate of their toys or their counterpart. Every now and then they let go of their “play prey”, arching their backs similar to hunting and occasionally running a little further away. The attack in the game is more theatrical and relaxed. Sometimes she prances around her toys. Sometimes it just plops on its fake prey. She taps, also stalks her toy and then attacks it with full enthusiasm.

Conclusion:

Cats speak a different language than we do, but it is not a secret code that no one can decipher. Anyone who wants to learn and understand the cat's language is primarily allowed to take the position of the observer. Over time you get to know your kitty better and better and you notice relatively quickly how she reacts in certain situations or to your actions. Pay attention to your cat's body language. Tail, ears, eyes and back, but also sounds and their movements in space say a lot about the feelings of your house tiger. With a little patience, empathy and willingness to learn, you too will soon be able to understand cat language perfectly.