Cats communicate with both their voices and their bodies. Accurately reading these signs can provide insight into your cat's state of mind.
Cats are very expressive, communicating with a wide variety of noises, as well as the positions of their tails, ears, eyes, whiskers, and fur.
Vocalizations
Cats make nearly 100 different types of vocalizations, compared to just 20 for dogs. Common vocalizations are:
Meowing – usually only used with people, can mean many things depending on the volume and intensity (a hello meow is usually quieter than a meow that requests food or to be let outside)
Mew – used to identify and/or locate another cat
Growling – a warning to keep your distance
Hissing – a “keep away” defensive sound, designed to scare away an enemy by mimicking the noise a poisonous snake makes before striking
Spitting – a short popping sound, often occurs along with hissing if the cat has been threatened or surprised
Screeching or shrieking – a defensive, aggressive, or outraged sound, may also indicate pain
Chirping – usually expresses a friendly greeting
Trilling – more musical than chirping, indicates happiness
Chattering – an excited sound made by a cat that sees a bird or other prey she can’t reach
Yowling – often done by older cats at night, expresses fright, confusion, disorientation, or anxiousness; unspayed females who want to attract mates will make a different type of yowl
Moaning – a drawn-out, sad noise that cats make when they’re about to vomit; elderly cats may also moan when disoriented
To figure out what the cat is saying to you with her body, look at her overall body position and then the positions of individual body parts:
Relaxed, friendly: ears point forward, tail is relaxed or upright, whiskers are straight, fur is flat, pupils are dilated
Annoyed – tail tip is twitching, whiskers are pulled back so that they are flat against the face, ears are flat against the cat’s head
Aggressive – staring directly, pupils are constricted (narrow), hair on the tail and back is puffed up, tail thumps the ground or swishes rapidly, lips are curled into a snarl, cat is facing forward and may have her butt in the air so that she can pounce easily
Scared – hair is raised on the tail and back, tail is either held close to the cat’s body or lashing, whiskers are flat against the face, ears are flat against the cat’s head, cat is crouching sideways
Sick – eyes are half closed, tail is between the legs, ears and/or whiskers are in odd positions
The Eyes
You can tell a lot about your cat’s mood by her eyes. An unblinking stare suggests a challenge or a feeling of defensiveness. Round pupils signify interest, excitement, or fear, while narrowed eyes with dilated pupils indicate that the cat is ready to launch an attack. If the cat allows her eyelids to droop or slowly closes her eyes, she is relaxed and trusting.
The Tail
The position of the tail can provide information about a cat’s state of mind. Most people know that a “puffy” tail signifies defensiveness. Other tail positions include:
Straight up and down – confident, friendly
Tucked around the body – the cat prefers to be left alone
Inverted U – in adult cats suggests defensive aggression, in kittens may indicate playfulness
Curled and tucked under the body – feeling threatened
Slightly flicking – indecisive, thinking
Flicking suddenly, rapidly – anxiety or agitation
Flicking constantly – a critique of something in her surroundings
Thumping – frustrated or annoyed, may lead to an attack
Lashing back and forth – the cat is likely to attack
Between the legs – a submissive posture
Aggression and Anxiety
If your cat’s vocalizations and body language indicate frequent aggression, she may be anxious about something in the household. For more information on this, see Treating Aggression in Cats. Other signs of anxiety include over-grooming or pulling out fur.
References:
Hotchner, Tracie. (2007). The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know. London: Penguin Group.
Warner, Trevor. (2007). Cat Body Language Phrasebook: 100 Ways to Read Their Signals. San Diego: Salamander Books.
The copyright of the article What Your Cat Is Trying to Tell You in Cats is owned by Jennifer Copley. Permission to republish What Your Cat Is Trying to Tell You in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
This is often a loving, affectionate gesture - similar to a cat grooming
another cat. Cats will also lick people if they taste good - for example -
if a person has salt or food residue on his or her fingers.
Sep 17, 2008 12:41 PM
Guest :
My cat will bump forheads with me in a friendly gesture is this common?
Sep 18, 2008 6:49 AM
Jennifer Copley :
That's very common. My cats do it all the time and I've seen other cats
doing that with their favourite people.
Sep 19, 2008 5:38 PM
Jennifer Copley :
This comment made by a guest was accidentally deleted, so I'm reposting it
here:
"I have heard the mew that cats make when calling
their kits. That is the sound my cat makes to me all the time. She never
meows. It is just that very quiet mew."
Jan 26, 2009 2:50 PM
Guest :
What does it mean when a cat is rubbing his side on your leg(s)?
Jan 27, 2009 5:55 PM
Jennifer Copley :
It's a means of scent marking - your cat is claiming you as part of his
group. For more in-depth information on this, see:
http://cats.suite101.com/article.cfm/why_cats_rub_against_things
Feb 1, 2009 11:13 AM
Guest :
What about if my cat Chrissy is napping and seems happy and her pupils are
like slits?
Feb 6, 2009 9:27 AM
Jennifer Copley :
Cats' pupils grow round in darkness and contract to slits in bright light.
This occurs because light passes through the pupil - large pupils can
capture more light in a dim room to help a cat see better, whereas slitted
pupils protect the eyes from taking in too much light in a bright area.
Feb 18, 2009 6:21 PM
Guest :
my cat always makes an interesting chirping sound when i enter a room she
is in. now i know she's greeting me!
Mar 9, 2009 4:01 AM
Guest :
Hi, I adopted an 8yr old cat who'd been in the pound for 6 years. He seems
to have this disturbing habit of chewing and pulling on his claws. They
don't appear to be any different than his other claws and he lets me touch
them without a problem, but I have never seen him do this with his front
legs. Any ideas? Thanks, Lucy.
Mar 10, 2009 11:08 AM
Jennifer Copley :
My cats often do this while grooming and there is nothing wrong with their
paws or claws. Unless the cat's paws are injured or he's pulling hard
enough to cause injury, this is usually just part of the grooming process.
Cats periodically shed claw sheaths, and they need to remove these. It's
probably irritating to have a sheath that has partially fallen off - much
like a human hangnail that a person might bite to remove if he or she
didn't have scissors handy.
Mar 22, 2009 10:53 AM
Guest :
My cat is definitely a strange one. He can be totally and completely
relaxed, asleep in my lap, and his tail tip still twitches regularly. His
pupils do the opposite of what is described here--pupils expand when he's
about to attack, contract when he's relaxed.
I've caught
Chester chasing his tail, drinking from the toilet, he'll answer to both
calling his name and to a whistle, he's afraid of thunderstorms, and in so
many different ways he is just totally unlike the typical cat--hates being
brushed, will eat any cat food for a meal but is totally picky about
treats, requires zero adjustment time for changing litter (it took awhile
to hit on the one that was effective, convenient, and affordable), and I
could go on. I honestly think he may have some sort or mental problem.
It's almost like he thinks he's a dog. :-)
Mar 22, 2009 2:59 PM
Jennifer Copley :
Thanks for the comment - I realize that I didn't make that clear, so I've
reworded it in the article - the eyes (eyelids) narrow in anticipation of
an attack, whereas the pupils often dilate, though pupil dilation or
contraction will vary in response to light levels, so they're not always an
accurate predictor.
Mar 25, 2009 5:37 AM
Guest :
my cat is an elderly female & unnutered i got her when she was 6yrs so
she's now over 7yrs. for a couple days now she has been leting out a low
moan and is in a hiding spot in my closet. she snifs and lets me touch her,
she seems to be in heat and seems a bit playfull when she does come out.
she lives with a 3yr nutered male cat and they generaly get along. i read
your article, could she be becoming disoriented? or has become sick? maybe
once i get her fixed she will be better? this is my first cat the
first yr i had her i brought her to the vet but have not since as i can not
afford the vet$ or get her fixed. any answers will be apreciated.
Mar 25, 2009 12:07 PM
Jennifer Copley :
7 or 8 years old would be very young for dementia - she's middle aged in
people years, not elderly - unless she's over 10 years old, and some cats
stay youthful for even longer. Cats often moan if they have tummy upsets -
they need to vomit due to hairballs or they're constipated. It's possible
that she's either ill or in heat, though the only way to know for sure is
to bring her in for a veterinary checkup.
Does she have other
symptoms of illness (lethargy, dull coat, loss of appetite, weight loss,
etc.)? If there are other symptoms, she should definitely be seen by a
veterinarian.
You might qualify for financial assistance to
pay the vet bills. Paste this URL -
http://www.suite101.com/blog/shaya_weaver/organizations_and_charities_that_
help_pay_vet_bills - into your browser for a list of organizations and
charities that help people who can't afford veterinary care for their pets
- you could see if you qualify. There are also a number of websites that
offer free veterinary advice online. It's not as good as an in-person
consultation, but they may be able to give you a better sense of whether
you need to bring your cat in for a checkup.
Good luck!
Apr 7, 2009 6:06 AM
Guest :
Recently my female cat has been walking on me as I sleep. I normally
sleep on my side and she has just paced back and forth. I have moved her
and before the night is over she is back doing the same thing. This has
been going on for about a week. Does this mean anything?
Apr 9, 2009 8:25 AM
Jennifer Copley :
If she has any symptoms of illness, I'd take her in for a checkup. If it's
just the "night walking," she might just be going through a needy
phase and feeling lonely in the night. This is particularly likely if there
have been any recent changes to her life (new pet, new baby, new roommate,
moving house, being bullied by another animal outdoors, etc.). If she's
feeling insecure, she may be trying to wake you up to have some company.
Apr 27, 2009 9:06 PM
Guest :
I think my younger cat is chewing on my older cats whiskers and eye brows
and causing them to break off, or could something else cause them to beake
off? what can i do?
Apr 30, 2009 5:56 PM
Guest :
Hello! I have recently gotten my cat back after 5 yrs. Is it possible that
he could still remeber who i am?? Since he has been here..he moews--but
seems very relaxed. noticed a lot of gentle movements with his tail. Is he
happy?? Just would like a better understanding of what it all means. Could
you please respone back?? Thanks
May 1, 2009 12:07 PM
Jennifer Copley :
"I think my younger cat is chewing on my older cats whiskers and eye
brows and causing them to break off, or could something else cause them to
beake off? what can i do?"
Have you actually seen the
younger cat chewing on the older cat's whiskers? Some cat breeds (Sphynx,
Rex, etc.) have more brittle whiskers that break more easily on their own.
Sometimes children also cut off a cat's whiskers because they think of them
as hair and don't see any harm in it. And of course, some cats break their
own whiskers off by accident.
Sometimes cats do aggressively
groom one another to the point of breaking whiskers. A number of pet owners
have complained of this in forums, but there appear to be no definitive
answers on the subject. Some theorize that the behaviour results from
anxiety, and others believe that one cat may simply be over-zealously
removing food from another cat's whiskers, accidentally eating the whiskers
as well. Without actually catching the younger cat in the act, it's hard to
suggest a solution, because the cause isn't known.
If the older
cat has any symptoms of illness, I'd recommend consulting a veterinarian.
Brittle whiskers that break off can also be caused by a nutritional
deficiency - there's a study on this here:
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/132/7/2037. Ideally, you should
consult your veterinarian to rule out medical problems and nutritional
deficiencies before treating the problem as a behavioural issue unless you
actually see the younger cat chewing on the older cat's whiskers.
May 1, 2009 12:19 PM
Jennifer Copley :
Hello! I have recently gotten my cat back after 5 yrs. Is it possible that
he could still remeber who i am?? Since he has been here..he moews--but
seems very relaxed. noticed a lot of gentle movements with his tail. Is he
happy?? Just would like a better understanding of what it all means. Could
you please respone back?? Thanks"
I know other people who
have gotten their cats back after many years and the cats showed signs of
recognizing them - for example,being immediately relaxed around and
accepting of the known person while behaving fearfully around those they
have never met. My own cats have shown recognition for friends and family
members that have visited me after many years away as well. Cats have a
good memory for smells, and this can help them identify a familiar person
even after time away, though some cats seem to have better memories than
others, much like people. They may also recognize a voice or way of moving
that characterizes a person.
As for "tail talk," I've
written an article on interpreting cats' tail signals: http://cats.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_a_cats_tail_is_saying
Gentle movements of the tail usually indicate mild interest in something,
whereas quicker or more aggressive swishing or flicking suggests
irritation.
If your cat seems happy and relaxed most of the
time, he is probably content. Cats that are unhappy or ill tend to be
lethargic and may lose their appetites. They may also engage in neurotic
grooming habits, such as pulling out their fur even if they do not have
fleas or any sort of medical problem. Anxious cats may also be aggressive
or extremely fearful.
If your cat is eating well and not
behaving in a neurotic fashion, then he is probably happy.
Jul 14, 2009 8:58 AM
Guest :
Good afternoon Jennifer,
I adopted my cat, Bella, from habitat
for cats, and they said she was "ferile" - which I guess means
that she hadn't had much contact with humans?
Anyhow, her
personality is very skittish - I am the only human that she seems to trust.
Whenever my room mate walks near her or she hears a loud and unexpected
noise, she runs and hides somewhere.
She is very vocal with me,
and very animated and affectionate. I know that she misses me when I am at
work all day, because when I come home, she is just going nuts for
attention from me.
We have another cat in the house - male -
Bastian. He seems to be the "ruler" of the household. They get
along fine, although sometimes he bullies her.
I've noticed that
she doesn't keep her food down sometimes - and it seems like she's
regurgitating whole food. I wonder if this could be anxiety, or eating too
much too fast because of Bastian (competition over food?) - or if I should
take her to a vet?
I think she has some kind of nervous
disorder, or maybe it's just her personality... all I know is that the only
time she seems really calm and happy is when I'm with her.
Any
suggestions?
--Amie
Jul 14, 2009 9:37 AM
Jennifer Copley :
Hi Amie,
Feral cats tend to be skittish - most have missed
having interaction with humans during their critical development period as
kittens, so it is harder for them to become comfortable with people.
Because she was feral and her food supply was always uncertain, she
may be overeating - many cats (and people) who have starved in the past
have a tendency to gorge at meals. It's possible that perceived competition
from Bastian is also making her eat too fast or overeat - could their food
bowls be placed in different rooms?
A vet checkup is always a
good idea with a new pet. If she's not showing other symptoms and the
vomiting isn't continuous, it probably is just a combination of nervousness
and eating too fast, but it's always good to rule out medical problems. A
vet could also provide suggestions on how to deal with the nervousness -
often systematic desensitization (slow, incremental exposure to feared
objects or individuals) can be used to overcome specific phobias. Extremely
anxious cats are sometimes prescribed the same sorts of anti-anxiety and
anti-depressant medications that humans take, though in much smaller doses,
though this is a last resort.
Jul 14, 2009 11:30 AM
Guest :
Jennifer - Thank you so much for the insight and advice - I greatly
appreciate it!
Best regards,
Amie
Aug 24, 2009 2:33 PM
Guest :
Why does my cat drag clothes from the laundry downstairs to the main floor
and leave them spread out across the living room floor? She makes a
moaning meow as she drags them up the stairs?
Aug 24, 2009 10:47 PM
Guest :
Why does my cat drag clothes from the laundry downstairs to the main floor
and leave them spread out across the living room floor? She makes a
moaning meow as she drags them up the stairs?
Aug 25, 2009 2:09 PM
Jennifer Copley :
"Why does my cat drag clothes from the laundry downstairs to the main
floor and leave them spread out across the living room floor? She makes a
moaning meow as she drags them up the stairs?"
The most
likely possibility is that this is a substitute behaviour for hunting
urges, with the laundry representing prey. If the cat is specifically
seeking out your clothing when you're out, it might also be separation
anxiety - the cat wants to be near objects that carry your scent for
reassurance.
Sep 2, 2009 4:04 PM
Guest :
Hi, My name is Chris, im 14 and live in the small state of iowa. We just
got a 1yr old cat last night. Her name is Kacey and she can be really
sweet. shes odd though and this is why. she;ll be laying on my bed and be
all relaxed, she'll even let me pet her and give a purr every now and
again, but then out of no where, she'll flinch and hiss at me. her tail
will go rapid but her ears are up right, her whiskers are normal but when i
give her a minute or two to calm down she'll let me pet her then do the
ruten all over again. and im really worred because so far shes only eaten
once and has gone potty or anything... Can you please help me
Sep 3, 2009 9:39 PM
Jennifer Copley :
Hi Chris,
Aggression in response to petting is quite common, and
there are a number of possible causes. For more information on this,
see: http://cats.suite101.com/article.cfm/why_cats_attack_when_being_petted
Sep 4, 2009 1:58 PM
Guest :
Jennifer- This is Chris again, thanks so much for the website you sent me,
it really cleared most things up. However i forgot to mention one thing
that is always puzzling me. Ill have my window open and shell lay in the
windowsel (like most cats do) but for no reason shell start to moan and
meow to the blank outdoors. At first i thought there might be another cat
outside but there never is. shes lived inside her whole life so i really
dont get what it is. And somes times (not to often) but sometimes shell
even paw at it
Sep 6, 2009 10:52 AM
Jennifer Copley :
If she doesn't have any illness symptoms, I doubt it's anything to worry
about. She may just want to get outside, or if she hasn't been fixed, she
might be in heat.
Sep 22, 2009 2:03 PM
Guest :
Hi I just adopted a baby ragdoll this past weekend. I live in a house with
two 2 yr old male Maine coons who are both neutered. The alpha maine coon
has been acting really weird, especially around the kitten. The other maine
coon (the brother) is really nice to the kitten and plays with her. My
alpha male (scipio) has gotten more vocal. Also when the kitten goes near
scipio he meows at her, and she runs off, almost like he is telling her to
back off. Whenever the kitten tries to play or pounce on scipio he just
walks away and meows. And he also doesnt let me pick him up anymore. And
when I try to pet him he gets vocal and walks away. He doesnt meow, he just
whines....a lot. Almost like a dog whining, which isnt unusual because he
is a maine coon. Except he has never whined before. I am really worried
about him, is there any insight on his behaviour? He also had a sprained
shoulder recently. So I am not sure if he is still hurting or just upset
about the kitten. He also has been eating a lot more than usual, and using
the kitten's litter box.
Sep 24, 2009 2:19 PM
Guest :
my cat is trying to meow, but no sound is coming out. Hes made sounds
before, he been doing this for a week now. Is this something to be concern
of??
Oct 4, 2009 9:14 AM
Guest :
Sometimes my cat will dash around the house, make a yowelling noise and put
his ears sideways. He will then quickly groom his paws, then dash around
some more, he will sometimes go to the door (he was once an outdoor cat but
has been indoors for the last several years). This will usually occur when
we are sitting on the couch. Is he bored, agitated, want to go outside? Thanks!
Oct 6, 2009 3:34 PM
Guest :
You know when your cat rubs against your legs, well my cat keeps doing that
but really hard and repeatedly. She will do that and then she will toll
around on the ground. I think she may want to tell me something
Oct 7, 2009 10:40 AM
Jennifer Copley :
"Hi I just adopted a baby ragdoll this past weekend. I live in a house
with two 2 yr old male Maine coons who are both neutered. The alpha maine
coon has been acting really weird, especially around the kitten. The other
maine coon (the brother) is really nice to the kitten and plays with her.
My alpha male (scipio) has gotten more vocal. Also when the kitten goes
near scipio he meows at her, and she runs off, almost like he is telling
her to back off. Whenever the kitten tries to play or pounce on scipio he
just walks away and meows. And he also doesnt let me pick him up anymore.
And when I try to pet him he gets vocal and walks away. He doesnt meow, he
just whines....a lot. Almost like a dog whining, which isnt unusual because
he is a maine coon. Except he has never whined before. I am really worried
about him, is there any insight on his behaviour? He also had a sprained
shoulder recently. So I am not sure if he is still hurting or just upset
about the kitten. He also has been eating a lot more than usual, and using
the kitten's litter box."
He's most likely just upset about
the new kitten, in which case providing lots of affection and quality time
just for him should help the situation.
Eating more can be a
sign of certain illnesses, such as diabetes, particularly in older cats,
though cats may also eat more in response to anxiety. A check-up is always
a good idea to rule out medical issues before assuming that the problem is
psychological.
Oct 7, 2009 10:43 AM
Jennifer Copley :
"my cat is trying to meow, but no sound is coming out. Hes made sounds
before, he been doing this for a week now. Is this something to be concern
of??"
Is he able to meow at other times? There are a number
of medical issues that could cause a loss of voice. You should definitely
consult a veterinarian, particularly if there are other signs of illness.
Oct 7, 2009 10:46 AM
Jennifer Copley :
"Sometimes my cat will dash around the house, make a yowelling noise
and put his ears sideways. He will then quickly groom his paws, then dash
around some more, he will sometimes go to the door (he was once an outdoor
cat but has been indoors for the last several years). This will usually
occur when we are sitting on the couch. Is he bored, agitated, want to go
outside? Thanks!"
It sounds as though he's bored and
missing the great outdoors. Play therapy is a good outlet for excess energy
and boredom-induced agitation. For more information on play therapy for
cats, see
http://cats.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_benefits_of_play_therapy_for_cats
Oct 7, 2009 10:48 AM
Jennifer Copley :
"You know when your cat rubs against your legs, well my cat keeps
doing that but really hard and repeatedly. She will do that and then she
will toll around on the ground. I think she may want to tell me
something"
Usually this is a sign of trust (if she shows
you her belly) or an invitation to play if she's acting feisty but not
frightened.
Oct 14, 2009 1:24 PM
Guest :
Jennifer Copley: I have 4 cats - 2 males & 2 females. The 2 boys
are brothers and are 4yrs. One of the femaies, approx. 2yrs. was abandoned
until I adopted her. The other female, the reason for writing to you, is a
6yr Manx that I've had since she was a kitten. Mini has always been rather
high-strung and isn't very sociable towards people or other cats, with the
exception of my ex-husband. She absolutely adored him; he's been out of the
house for 3yrs. I am going to be moving to a condo with all of my cats and
my concern is how to make the transition as painless as possible for
everyone, Mini in particular. I would appreciate any advice you could
provide us. P.S. all of the cats have been spayed/neutered.
Oct 17, 2009 10:17 AM
Jennifer Copley :
I've written a series of articles on how to make moving safer and less
stressful for cats and how to help them settle in and accept their new
home:
http://www.suite101.com/blog/shaya_weaver/moving_with_cats_tips_and_tricks_
for_a_felinefriendly_move
Oct 17, 2009 11:56 PM
Guest :
Hello; I adopted a mature young male Maine Coon (mostly) off the street
last spring and had him neutered and shots and all; he is raising hell to
go outside all the time- I walk him on a leash with harness to enclosed
garden but he also takes off and then comes home. I live in the city so am
worried and work six days a week. My other four kittys are well behaved
and adjusted and quiet. But big old Timmy is a handful! He also
masturbates frequently. Is this common for his breed? What have I got
myself into? (I do love him).
Oct 19, 2009 5:23 PM
Jennifer Copley :
"Hello; I adopted a mature young male Maine Coon (mostly) off the
street last spring and had him neutered and shots and all; he is raising
hell to go outside all the time- I walk him on a leash with harness to
enclosed garden but he also takes off and then comes home. I live in the
city so am worried and work six days a week. My other four kittys are well
behaved and adjusted and quiet. But big old Timmy is a handful! He also
masturbates frequently. Is this common for his breed? What have I got
myself into? (I do love him)."
I've never heard of these
behaviours being specifically associated with Maine Coons, though they are
somewhat independent by nature, which may cause the wandering. As for the
masturbating, many cat and dog owners have to deal with this problem. While
embarrassing, it's it's a harmless habit. You can find more information
about this here on WebMD (scroll down for the veterinarian's commentary):
http://boards.webmd.com/webx?THDX@@.89e56563!thdchild=.89e56563
Aug 14, 2008
