The Purrfect Guide to Cat Communication

Cats mainly reveal what’s on their mind through body language, a lot like humans do. There had been a lot of research on why cats behave the way they do and how to gauge what they are thinking. This is why we have a lot more insight into cat behaviorist.

To figure out whether a cat is feeling anxious, angry, happy, friendly, fearful, and comfortable means focusing on their body language. There are some quirks that all cats share, while others may be more individual habits that your cat may have.

To understand why cats purr, their mood, and what they are thinking, the first thing you should look at is the context. The secret of the cat’s mood is hidden in the physical cues, but the meaning of each of these can vary. The context matters quite a lot when it comes to gauging their mood.

For example, one sign that your cat is feeling confident is that its tail is lifted high into the air vertically. While most of the time, it can show their openness and willingness for interaction, it can also mean differently in other situations. In some contexts, the raising of the tail can be a sign to ward off other cats from its territory since it can indicate a willingness to attack as well.

When you are trying to read the body language of a cat, the thing you have to do is to pay attention to the situation the physical cues are taking place in as well. The context is quite important to understand your car.

Seeing things from the perspective of your cat can be the key to understanding the context. Even if people have the best of intentions, they may end up getting bitten or scratched; then they will even blame the cat for being mean or ill-tempered. What is missing from this whole assessment of the cat’s temper is how the cat could have perceived your gesture differently.

You should take into consideration whether the situation would make the cat feel safe or cause them anxiety or fear. Confined, dark spaces that the cat could have difficulty escaping from may give them a lot of stress, while a wide-open room where it can look around can make them feel relaxed. This is probably why their preferred space for relaxation might be window sills, cat towers, or countertops.

If a cat is familiar with everyone in the space, they are more likely to feel safe, and you can assume that they are comfortable too. The sensory inputs that they might be receiving, like smells, sounds, and sights, should all be considered. They are all clues to getting an accurate portrayal of how the cat could be feeling.

Taking in the larger picture to gauge their mood is vital. If you are unsure about it still, looking for individual components to their body language can also be a clue. For example, piecing out why cats purr is not as simple as you may think. Most people assume that it’s because they are happy, but it can be a variety of reasons too.

Purring is one of the most common sounds that cats make. And yet, we don’t know as much about it as we do about growling, hissing, chattering, chirping, snarling, or meowing. Obviously, cats do purr when they are feeling content. When the cat is curled up in the warm rays of sunlight, you can hear the gentle rumbles of their purring when they breathe. Upon touching them, you may even feel small quivers as if they are sending calm waves into the world.

But this doesn’t automatically mean that the cat is in a particularly good mood. It’s not even the only time you can hear them purr. They purr when they want to communicate other needs and emotions to you too. When you pick the cat up, are they purring because they feel happy or because they are nervous?

Although you will never be quite paws-itively sure why they are purring, like we said above, the context can help you make a good guess.

Yes, they do purr when they are happy. If the cat is in a comfortable environment and looks relaxed, it could be assumed that they are happy. Their tails might be mostly still with eyes slightly closed as they lie on their backs –in such a case, the purring is similar to a giant smile.

Another reason why cats purr is that they want something or are hungry. Researchers studied the different sounds from house cats when they aren’t hungry and are feeling nippy. Both the purring sounds are different according to the context. When the cat is hungry, they will combine the purring with a mew or an unpleasant cry, just like a human baby would. Remember, cats don’t really meow to communicate with each other; they learned that meows and cries are the best way to communicate with humans.

The connection between a mother and her kittens is another reason why cats purr. Kittens start purring after a few days of birth. It is a way to inform the momma cat that they are feeling good. Purring is also how the kitten and mother bond; the mother cat often uses the purring as a lullaby to make kittens fall asleep.

Purring is also an indication of healing and relief from cats. Even though purring requires energy, cats purr if they are in pain or are hurt. It can be a way for some cats to soothe themselves, similar to how children suck their thumbs. Some research shows that purring can help kitties heal faster. The vibrations released by the low-frequency sound of purrs can help heal wounds and bones, repair tendons, build muscle, lessen swelling or pain, and ease breathing.

Cats are quite amazing creatures with versatile personalities and habits. Studying their body language and perspective can be a good way to gauge insight into their behavior and thoughts. We hope you know why cats purr now!