If you’re more accustomed to dogs, you might get the sense that the average cat doesn’t care about you. To be fair, the fact that they’re pretty independent definitely adds to their loner reputation!
That said, cats have a surprisingly rich vocabulary for expressing their wants, needs, and affection. They may not always vocalize it, but with some practice, you can get a pretty good idea of what they’re trying to say.
Read on to learn about the six cool secrets of kitty communication!
1. Adult Cats Only Meow Around Humans
To state the obvious, whenever a cat meows, it’s safe to assume it’s trying to convey something to you. What you may not know is that adult cats don’t meow at each other. It’s a behavior reserved for humans, and there’s nothing random about it.
Kittens will instinctively learn to meow as a way to communicate with their mothers. From there, cats with experience around humans will usually continue to meow through their adult lives. Since our senses are less developed than those of cats, our feline friends have learned that this is a reliable way of getting our attention.
Meowing can signal a lot of things, from pain or hunger to simply just wanting attention. On top of that, cats will often have a back-and-forth with humans, meowing in response to every utterance. This makes it a bit trickier to figure out what they’re after, especially if your cat is generally “talkative”.
When your cat starts meowing, you might want to follow a hierarchy of steps to decode it. If talking to or playing with your cat doesn’t quiet them down, you can try giving them food. Ultimately, if all their needs are met and they’re still meowing at you, it’s possible that they’re in pain and that they may need a vet.
2. Ear Positions Speak Volumes
A lot of cats won’t ever meow at you, so paying attention to their body language is the next best thing. Here are a few common cat ear positions, each with their own meaning:
- Default: Cats’ ears will be in this position a majority of the time. It’s a good sign that your animal isn’t in distress, so it’s a great time to try and interact with them or even pick them up.
- Leaning forward: If your cat’s ears are tilted forward at a slight angle, chances are they’re picking up on something and are trying to hear better. They might be detecting a pest or an unusual noise, and they’re trying to get to the source of the sound.
- Hanging low: If your cat’s ears are pointing sideways or even downwards, it’s almost never a good sign. If they’re pointing directly sideways, it might mean they’re frightened and need space. If they’re pointing downward, it’s a good indicator that they might be feeling sick.
3. The Tail Movements Are a Big Giveaway
It’s common to disregard the tail position when interpreting your cat’s behavior. That said, here are some of the most frequent cat tail positions to keep in mind:
- Upright: Your cat is in a neutral to positive mood, and it will likely respond well to physical or verbal contact.
- Question mark: This is an active call to play or otherwise interact with your cat.
- Flailing or twitching: An indication of mild to moderate irritation. A well-tempered cat will thrash or twitch its tail for a good while before resorting to aggression.
- Puffy: This is a definitive sign that your cat is scared or otherwise distressed. It’s almost always accompanied by an arched, or “cow pose” back. If there are no obvious distress sources around, you may have frightened your cat with erratic movements.
4. Licking isn’t Just a Sign of Affection
Cats can spend up to half their waking time cleaning themselves, and that’s perfectly normal. When they lick their owner, it’s safe to assume that they feel comfortable with their favorite human. They don’t exactly perceive people as separate species, so licking can indicate they see you as part of the fold.
Beyond just hygiene, licking releases endorphins in cats, so it’s something they do to make themselves feel good. Excessive self-licking can damage the cat’s fur, and they learn that early on. Licking humans is another way they get an endorphin kick, so indulge them whenever they’re in a slobbery mood!
5. Biting Can Often Be a Positive
We may have done a good job at domesticating cats, but they still have a lot of “wild” instincts you might not be used to. For example, biting your fingers doesn’t necessarily mean your cat is angry at you. On the contrary, this is a key part of rough play in cats, and it’s something they do to each other all the time!
That said, after getting to know you, cats should generally learn your pain tolerance. If they draw blood when they bite you, chances are you crossed a physical line with them. That goes double if they bring their claws into the equation!
6. Cats Exhibit Multiple Kinds of Purrs
People think of purring as the best sign your cat is happy, and that’s largely true. Cats will commonly purr when you pet or caress them, and it’s a good indicator that you should keep going.
On the other hand, cats will sometimes ask you for food by purring. Solicitation purrs have a higher frequency than purrs that signal pleasure or affection. It might take some time to tell the difference since every cat is slightly different, but it all comes down to experience.
Another reason cats purr is that it helps them destress or even reduce pain, especially during pregnancy. Simply put, cats’ brains are wired to release soothing chemicals when they purr. If your ball of fur is purring for seemingly no reason, it could be the case that they’re feeling sick.
Also, unlike meowing, purring is quite common in cat-to-cat interactions. If you keep multiple cats and you find they purr in each other’s company, rest assured they’re comfortable living together!
