How To Read A Cats Body Language?

Cats are subtle and complicated in their communication, but taking time to learn their body language helps strengthen the relationship. Learning the body language signs that they are happy, or when they want to stay beside you or to be left alone, can be a big help to both. They usually use their body parts, including their eyes, ears, whiskers, and tail to resemble what they are feeling or thinking

There are many physical hints of a cat's mood, but their understanding can vary depending on the context. For example, one reliable sign of a confident cat is a tail lifted vertically, high in the air. Most of the time, the tail position resembles that the cat feels comfortable and open to interaction. 

Cats, with their enigmatic stares and independent character, can sometimes feel like furry puzzles wrapped in a mystery. Behind the world of communicating by understanding their body language, by learning these signals you can unlock a deeper understanding of their behaviors.

Tail Tells All

It is the most expensive part of a cat's body with its position, movement, and thickness can elaborate feelings. A higher and vertical tail often with a slight curve at the tip, signifies confidence, happiness, and alertness. 

A gentle swishing tail paired with upright posture and eye contact suggests excitement and an invitation to play. A twitch at the tail's tip can indicate nervousness, irritation, or fear. The tucked tail is also a clear sign of fear, submission, or anxiety, leading to signs of pain or discomfort. 

Highly Mobile Ears

The cat's ears are highly mobile and act as emotional antennae providing the information of their inner feelings. The perked-up and forward-facing ears indicate attentiveness, curiosity, and a relaxed state. It means your cat is engaged with the surroundings and is open to interaction. 

On the other hand, flattened ears are a warning sign, signifying fear, aggression, or defensiveness. It is best to avoid interacting and give your cat space. The ear swiveling denotes the signs of active listening and engagement with their environment. 

Eyes Are Windows

A cat's posture, tail, and ears will probably tell you what you need to know but if you are still in dilemma, then check out for their eyes. 

They might blink slowly at you when they gain your trust and feel comfortable around you. Their pupils are another good way to tell how relaxed or stimulated it is. The relaxed eyes belong to being comfortable whereas the dilated ones depict they are stimulated. Even though the stimulation is not judged as good or bad, the cat who is feeling playful often has dilated pupils. 

Body Posture 

A cat lying sprawled out on its back or side, with legs extended indicates complete comfort and trust. Despite being in a vulnerable position, it is only taken when they feel safe and secure. The crouching position with hind legs tucked under and ears perked forward is a classic playful posture, depicting your cat as focused. 

However, an arched back, often accompanied by puffed fur and a swishing tail, signifies fear and aggression displaying a warning sign to back off others. Also, affectionately showing headbutts and body rubs is a sign of love and trust-seeking closeness towards their human companion. 

Whiskers

Compared to a cat's posture, tail, ears, and eyes, the whiskers aren't going to tell much but they may provide a helping hand in learning their body language.

For example, a fearful cat tends to try to make itself smaller while on the other side, the confident ones might push their aggression with the whiskers forward. 

There is nothing better to see than a happy cat. When a cat is happy, their posture is typically loose, with their limbs and tail stretched out away from their body when lying down. It means that the happy cat feels safe and might cuddle up next to you or knead you with its paws.

Signs That Your Cat Is Happy

• If your cat's tail is upright, sometimes curved at the tip, and is walking towards you, it means a greeting and they are happy to see you. 
• Having soft eyes means they are not open wide and alert, they might be half closed. 
• Your feline friends will slowly blink at one another and people resemble you, they are relaxed and happy. If you find your cat blinking slowly, kindly turn your head away. 
• They might roll onto their back and show you their tummy if they are happy with you. It shows a sign of greeting and trust by inviting belly rubs. 
• If your cat does a little hop-up to greet you, they are asking for a fuss. 

Cats are predators with their instinct to hunt. When they want to play, they may act like they are ready to hunt down by crouching down, wiggling their rear-end and chasing or grabbing hold of a toy. 

Signs Your Cat Is In A Playful Mood

• Playful cat eyes will be big and their pupils might be dilated. Those big bright eyes resemble their focus and anticipation for the next move while playing. 
• An upright tail with energetic flicking indicates excitement and readiness to pounce on imaginary prey. Also, flicking it often from side to side as they captivate their attention.
• A low crouch with hind legs tucked under it and ears perked forward is a classic "play posture." They will come into action ready to hunt down imaginary prey. 

When a cat is feeling stressed, they may have a stiff and tense body held low to the ground. They may also engage in normal behaviors such as licking their lips, scratching, grooming, and yawning, to cope with their underlying stress and anxiety. They may urinate or defecate outside the litter box or prefer to hide rather than seek your attention. 

Signs The Cat Is Stressed Or Anxious

• Your feline friend might crouch low to the ground and try to hide away. It is essential to make sure that they have a safer place to run and hide. 
• If your cat is stressed, their ears might be flat against their head and appear wide or narrowed. 
• The cat may hold their tail close to their body and thump it when annoyed. 
• If something is worrying your cat their eyes and pupils will be wide. 

A scared cat might start to resemble a Halloween cat with an arched back and raised tail. Your kitty might find a hiding place and avoid coming out. They may growl and hiss to warn of the potential threat to back off. Hissing is one of the involuntary cat reflexes that occurs when the cat is startled. 

When a cat feels scared, thinking something might hurt them, they may make themselves look smaller by crouching low to the ground and scrunching up their body. As the fear rises, they may let out a loud yowl followed by a shriek to resemble they are in the defending position.

Signs The Cat Is Fearful 

• A threatened cat will tend to arch their back to make themselves bigger and more intimidating against the threat. 
• Their eyes will widen and their pupils dilate, because of the effect of a flight-or-fight response. 
• Ears are angled backward and are pinned, the more terrified they are. Their whiskers may be pulled back flat against the face. 
• If your cat is arching their back, they are extremely fearful and the tail will be tightly wrapped around or underneath the body. 

Sometimes your kitty believes that when they are in a dangerous situation, they have no other choice except to fight for their safety. They may make themselves look as big as possible by arching their back and letting their fur stand up. 

A cat avoids resorting to their aggression by growling or hissing. But if these warning signs are not heeded, they may split, a sudden and explosive burst of noise, accompanied by a lunge or swar. The signs are obvious to their pet parents. 

Signs The Cat Is Aggressive

• When they become aggressive, they may have widened eyes with enlarged pupils or might be narrowed. They may stare directly at their enemy to keep potential danger in sight. 
• The ears will turn back or become flat against their head and the whiskers might be flat against their cheeks or pushed forward. 
• When it comes to tails, they might flick or thrash their tail when they are fierce. 

The body language doesn't just provide information about how the cat feels emotionally, it can also reveal if they are sick or in pain. These fiery pet animals are professionals at masking physical illness, so changes in their body language may be the first sign that something is wrong. 

They may purr due to pain or illness, and a rise in meowing or yowling may signal emotional or physical distress. If any of these changes are seen in your cat's behavior resulting in hiding, aggression, decreased energy, or change in appetite, take them to the vet. 

Signs The Cat Is Sick Or In Pain

• When a cat is sick, their eyes may hold shut and appear dazed or glassy. Sometimes, their third eyelid, a pink tissue in the eye's corner may be visible. 
• Their ears may be held low or rotated to the sides. 
• The tails may be held underneath or closely wrapped around their body. 

This is how your cat should spend most waking hours, and is a crucial part of the language. The normal cat who shows neutral behavior is relaxed, content, and comfortable in familiar surroundings. 

The cat's body is typically relaxed, with their weight evenly distributed. They may be sitting, lying down, or casually grooming themselves.

Sign The Cat Is Neutral Or Relaxed

• If lying down, they can get stretched out, curled up into a ball, or lying on their front with paws tucked underneath them. 
• Their eyes might be blinking softly or half closed depicting comfort and ease. 
• Their ears will be relaxed, held causally upright and forward. 
• The whiskers will be relaxed, away from the sides of their face, and may almost smile. 
• The body doesn't feel any tension to suggest they might spring into action. 

These domestic fluffy pets may look cute from birth but their body system is designed to be excellent predators, stalking and catching with a more focused approach.

If your cat is concentrating on a small moving object or something new in their area, you will notice the change in their body language as they try to work out how to respond in the best way. 

Signs Of Focused Cat Behavior 

• Their eyes will be opened out wide with the pupils narrowed. 
• The ears and the whiskers will be pricked forward as their body angles towards the focus of the attention. 
• Their body might be low to the ground as they stalk, with hind legs coiled underneath. 
•  The cat's tail language shows focus by being held out low behind them. The end of their tail, along with their hindquarters, might be twitching as they pounce. It is one of the obvious tail signs to look out for.
• If the object of their focus is you when trying to get food or strokes, they might rub against you with their tail held in the air with a focus on their end goal.

Your cat might be actively frustrated at a short-term specific event when they can't reach their favorite toy be affected by the longer term due to lack of stimulation, or be unable to express their need to hunt. 

Long-term frustrations can often be misinterpreted, so if your cat is experiencing this, it is essential to talk to your vet. 

Signs The Cat Is Fraustated

• A swishing tail, when paired with a raised posture, can indicate frustration. A tucked tail can also signify anxiety or fear, caused by frustration. 
• The ears pressed flat against the head show a clear sign of potential aggression or discomfort. This is a warning sign of your feline friend being frustrated. 
• While dilated pupils can also signify playfulness, in a frustrated state, they are accompanied by another tense body language. Eyes will be wide open as all their senses turn onto their goal and whiskers forward pointing and spread. 
• They may pace with impatience, if they can't get what they want.