How to Understand Your Cat

Cats are extremely well versed communicators. If you take the time to learn and comprehend what your cat is attempting to tell you exactly, then, your bond will grow immensely.

Understanding Your Cat’s Tail and Noise

Tail

The tail is an excellent location to start with on a cat; it is easy to notice and quick to inform you of pending danger. When the tail of a cat begins to twitch or swish back and forth, or even if it goes so far as to stand straight up and bow out, the cat is giving a warning. You would do well to heed the animal’s notification.

Eyes and Ears

Other easy to understand defensive actions include back away with flattened ears and hissing. However, the eyes are what can tell you the most about the current mood of a cat. When a cat is at ease and happy it tends to keep its eyes half closed or blink them slowly. On the other hand a scared or angry cat generally has wide, dilated eyes.

Different Types of Meow

If you listen to your cat you will learn that they say many things, not just simply meow. Alone there are 19 different known types of meow. Cat noises are generally categorized into three separate groups known as open and closed mouth, murmurs, and intensity noises.

A murmur noise generally consists of lower octave sounds that cats like to make when they see a treat, as well as the ever recognized cat purr. The majority of the population treats a purring cat as a happy one; however the purr is actually a noise of intense emotion. It is not uncommon at all for a cat being held by a complete stranger, or even the veterinarian, to purr.

When open and closed mouth noises are referred to it is intended to encompass all types and octaves of meow which your cat uses to show desire for attention, including asking for food and saying hello as soon as you come in the door. When a cat vocalizes an intense sound, it is done by keeping the mouth open for the duration of the noise being emitted. These are only made to express extreme pain, anger, or fear.

As with humans, there are cats that are more loquacious than others. It is even common for a cat owner to recognize a different style in meows that their cat makes for them in comparison to another cat or for a stranger. Learning to talk with your cat takes time, and the more you expend learning to communicate, the better quality relationship you will carry with your cat.

If you own a female cat you should also familiarize yourself with the noises she emits while in heat. Naturally, it is best to spay your cat unless you are a breeder, but a female cat in heat can really crank up the volume in your home. When in heat the average female housecat rarely stops her meowing, she desires that every male cat that may just walk by your house understands her current mating status. In some cats it is more like an incessant wailing, and it does not necessarily cease while you are attempting to sleep.

There are less obvious noises of pain which are more recognizable in behavior change. If your cat tends to be very mouthy, and suddenly is really quiet, you should probably be concerned. This also takes effect in reverse situations where your quiet cat is suddenly very talkative.

Remember that most cats also do not talk while eliminating your eating unless in some sort of pain. The best way to maintain a long lived, loving, relationship with your cat is to comprehend what it is telling you.

Tips for Understanding Your Cat

If you have only recently decided on a cat you may be quite excited! You most certainly should be, owning a cat may be a big responsibility, but it comes with great rewards. Nothing compares to seeing the love in your cats eyes. For that matter, that is not all you will see.

As you and your pet bond, you will become aware of many characteristics displayed by your cat. It should be no surprise, animals have personalities. Soon you will comprehend your cat just like you would a child or other human.

Sure, it is nice to be told that you can understand your cat in only a short time, but you probably desire more information. It is natural to be curious about understanding your pet. Of course, you will not get any human signals, but they have their own responses to send you. The best cat owners can comprehend and take decisive action for the health of their cat when given the signal.

What types of signals or behaviors should you be on the lookout for when trying to understand your cat?

A good starting point is knowing when your cat is preparing to fight. It does not matter if the fight is aimed towards another pet in the house, a stranger, or even yourself it is important to know when it is about to happen. Read on how to socialize your cat here…

As a general rule, cats are completely safe animals with cuddling tendencies, however there are the few that have anger management problems though. A good signal to watch out for is the cat crouching and holding his head low as a first step to pouncing. It is also common for a cat to attempt to hide out of sight, such as behind a couch or under a chair.

Cats can develop just as wide of a variety of emotions, including anger, as humans can. Just because your cat chooses not to attack or pounce does not mean they are not upset. A lot of cats first give warning with a horizontal pattern of the tail. Many people perceive this as a lashing back and forth motion. There are also cats who simply handle their anger by retreating to their safe spot where they can feel comfortable no matter what.

While there are numerous cats who pounce when play is desired, there are plenty others who prefer different play notices. A cat that is happy and wants to play tends to be quite active. When in this mood, you may find that your cat is always on the move and may be extra snuggly hoping that you will love on and play with them. Another sign to watch for is your cat walking, or streaking, around with its tail, head, and ears held high.

As noted earlier one of the rewards of being a cat owner is the compassion and love often seen in their eyes. However you may not be aware that this can literally be noticed and seen. Some people believe that when a cat squints at you it is showing its love and care for you. Others also think that a cat will lick and nip to show affection for their human being.

Keeping an eye out for the above signals and other examples is a good way to quickly travel the path of understanding your cat’s needs and wants. Just remember not to rush the process of truly comprehending your cat.

Learning to understand your feline is a simple matter of watching their reactions to your love and noting any habits your companion is developing. In time not only will you comprehend your cat fully, they will understand you as well.

The Importance of Understanding Your Cat

If you are new to cat ownership then you can guarantee that one day you will look at your cat and treat it as one of the kids. Prior to this thought pattern rolling around, you will need to be extra sensitive to your cat’s noises and body language to understand any small signs or notes they may be attempting to inform you of.

Naturally, it is important to be informed that you are the one responsible for this pet and understanding it leads to a great relationship, but the real question is why? There are a lot of confused, new, cat owners who just wonder incessantly at a behavior or noise their cat is making. In reality it is important to comprehend just how much your cat actually depends on you for health and survival.

The main importance of comprehending your cat’s noises and body language is to keep them in upstanding health. Humans of course are capable of simply stating that we need medical attention or, depending on our medical status, driving ourselves to the hospital for treatment for something as simple as a cold all the way up to what could possibly be a paralytic injury. In reference, pets are not able to do that. Due to the fact your cat does not just state plain and simple to you that it needs a vet visit, does not mean that there are no problems that require veterinary treatment as soon as possible.

You should seek veterinary assistance immediately if you so much as think there may be an illness, injury, or any other medical problem currently associated with your cat. The quicker you schedule the needed visit with your animal doctor, the sooner you can find out what exactly is wrong with your cat. If your cat appears to be suffering in any manner, make the vet trip an emergency appointment.

In reference to suffering, there are a lot of newbie cat owners who desire to know exactly how they can tell when their cat has obtained an injury or sickness that is not immediately visible to the naked human eye. It does not matter if you have owned your cat for five years or only a week, there are plenty of habits you should already be familiar with in your feline. Examples of easy to notice, quick forming, habits are sleeping in the same spot or being quick to greet you when you get home. If these simple habits are suddenly altered it could be due to an invisible injury or sickness.

Things like understanding when your cat desires food are just as important as being aware of an illness or injury. There are pet owners who provide their animals with a constant supply of food. While this is acceptable in most cases, there are some negative aspects to consider. No matter how clean your home is, it is very likely that rodents or insects will be attracted to your cat food, especially wet food. Not to mention some cats will eat too much this way and become overweight.

Due to the above facts, you should learn your cat’s hungry signals. As a general rule your cats will meow near their empty food bowl for your attention. Some cats may even be as bold as to attempt to steal other pets, or even human, food. Naturally the best idea would be to set your cat on a routine feeding schedule, this is healthy as well.

Contrary to popular belief, understanding your cat’s behavior is not all that daunting. Of course your cat will have its quirks, but you will find that many of their habits akin to your own. Your cat may have a special location for when they are upset, will call out for food, and is more active than normal when excited.