We all know only too well that cats can be very mysterious!
Decoding Your Cat’s Behaviors!
Cats have a well-earned reputation for being very mysterious.
However, if you’re sharing your home with one, or more than one, it sure would help to know what’s going on inside those fur-covered heads.
It’s especially important when it comes to keeping your cat healthy.
Cats hide their illnesses very well, said Dr. Mark Newkirk, an Egg Harbor Township veterinarian.
“If your cat is more aloof by nature, and a grazer with his food, it might be an extra day or two until you realize the cat is not
behaving normally. Then many times, people wait to see if they are right, and another couple days go by. Then, they call the doctor. Those few days can make a critical difference sometimes, especially with internal disease,” Newkirk said.
When in doubt, you should call your veterinarian if in doubt and don’t wait, Newkirk said.
Even healthy cats can be tricky to figure out. While there may be as many as 20 different dog signals that people understand, there are much fewer universal cat behaviors that people understand. Some cats reveal their personalities immediately. For others, it may take several weeks.
But anyone can get better at speaking cat. With the help of Newkirk; Terri Werner, a volunteer and a member of the board of Animal Outreach of Cape May County in West Cape May; the Humane Society of the United States; and Scientific American Mind magazine, here is a guide to help you figure out how your pet is feeling and what he or she wants from you.
Ears
When ears are back, it surely means “leave me alone.” When they are forward, your cat is alert, listening and very interested.
Purring
Usually a sign of contentment and happiness, but there are instances when a cat will purr when its under distress or when in pain, perhaps as a self soother or to attract your attention so you will soothe them.
Meowing
Cats meow when they want some kind of attention, but they may want that attention for a variety of reasons. They may be hungry or just want to sit in your lap. They might want to be petted, or go outside or come back in.
Kneading
This is leftover behavior from when cats were suckling their moms as kittens. Young cats knead their mothers to release milk. It is also sign of affection from a cat to a human. The cat is remembering back to a happy time, being nurtured by its mother.
Stretching
Obviously, it’s a sign of relaxation.
Tail
A tail that’s slashing back and forth is another “leave me alone” signal. A happy, contented cat often holds its tail straight up in the air.
Belly up
When a cat lies on its back with its belly exposed, this is the ultimate sign of trust.
Licking
Cats groom themselves and each other with their tongues all the time. A cat who licks his owner is saying, “You’re mine, and I love you.”
A soft nip
Overstimulation. If your cat nips you, that means she wants to be left alone.
Touching
When a cat reaches out a paw to touch a person’s face, it indicates an affection for that person.
Whiskers
When whiskers are forward, this means a cat is friendly and curious.
Aggressive behavior
Cats signal aggression by growling, hissing and even spitting.
This can also mean that a cat is angry, annoyed or frightened. Leave this cat alone.
Howling
A howl or yowl, sounding like a loud, drawn-out meow, means a cat is in some sort of distress. In an unneutered and unspayed cats, these sounds are part of mating behavior. If elderly, the cat may be suffering from some kind of cognitive disorder, dementia, and may howl because of disorientation.
Miss (or Mr.) Independent
Some people often wonder why cats are so independent. Simply put, they were made that way, Newkirk said.
“Dogs are pack animals, such as their wild cousins, the wolves, are. Cats in the wild are solitary. They have a territory to hunt and to live,” he said.
“This is also why sometimes introducing another cat to the household is difficult. Domesticated cats have ‘learned’ from us that we are the source of food and shelter, and so, depending on the individual’s personality, the age at which they came into the home, and the attention and training received, they will develop their own traits,” Newkirk said.
Many cats love to be with people. Some cats acts as if they are just tolerating us. And they tend to like best the person who feeds them more than once per day.
The introduction of a new cat into a home can be tricky.
“I usually advise getting a kitten from the shelter for your new cat, as a kitten is less ‘threatening’ to the current cat, who has staked out your home as territory,” Newkirk said.
Photo credits: Viviana Pernot
