How do I know my cat is happy?
The signs that your cat is happy will be subtle. It is easier to ask yourself whether you are happy and whether you have created an environment for your cat which will make her happy. Ideally I feel that the question shoud be redirected towards the person.
If you are unsure that your cat is happy it is probably fair to say that something is not quite right in the relationship. This is because it should be obvious that your cat is contented or discontented. Jackson Galaxy, in his book Total Cat Mojo does not list the word “happy” in the index. This is significant.
Happy cat. Photo: Instagram.
Contentment versus happiness
I think the better words are “contented” and “discontented” rather than “happy” and “unhappy”. In my view, domestic cats don’t seek happiness like humans do. They don’t register that particular emotion as a goal in life and don’t feel it and remark upon it to themselves consciously. Domestic cats accept what happens around them and get on with life.
I think the word “contented” is a more subtle version of happiness which is why I prefer it in this instance. If you have created an environment for your cat which in all aspects is near as idyllic as you can get it in the interest of your cat’s welfare then you can presume that your cat is contented. You can tell by your cat’s general demeanour and interactions with you.
You could almost argue that if you are contented in your relationship with your cat and perhaps in your life generally then your cat will respond in kind. The happiness and well-being of a person is often reflected in the contentedness or discontentedness of their cat. If the home is pleasant and in harmony your cat will feel it and respond accordingly.
Specific signs
However, I know that people want specific signs which tell them that their cat is happy. A happy cat will eat well (i.e. have a healthy appetite), be interactive with their cat guardian, be willing to play and be generally active. This will include plenty of vocalisations such as requests for food and vocal interactions. Domestic cats like to follow their “owners” around the home if they have a close connection with them. If they are lap cats (not all cats are) they will like to sleep and snuggle down on their owner’s lap and join them in bed, perhaps even under the covers. These are all signs of a close connection between cat and human. When the connection is close, the relationship is good and when the relationship is good the parties are happy.
Cat Mojo
A cat who has “mojo” is a contented cat. You don’t really need signs that your cat is “happy”. You need to look to yourself as to whether you are happy and have created an excellent environment for your cat companion. Jackson Galaxy, the well-known cat behaviourist, uses the made up word “catification” to describe a home which is environmentally rich and warm from a domestic cat’s perspective. And he describes a contented cat as one who can express his natural desires. In short a cat who has Mojo.
The most important component of Cat Mojo is a cat’s ownership of their territory, Jackson Galaxy says. He calls them “raw cat territorial instincts”. There has to be compromise in providing your cat with a suitable home. Cats live in a vertical world as well as a horizontal one. They rely on scent to reassure themselves about their environment. There will be a “base camp” in the home which is the core environment that your cat likes best and uses the most. I would recommend that you buy Jackson’s book “Total Cat Mojo”. It is a complicated book which you have to read and reread but it gets to the heart of how to make your cat happy.
P.S. The dictionaries don’t define the word “Mojo” properly in this context. They refer to the word as a magic charm or spell. It is not in this context. It means that a cat is fully able to express his natural feline behaviours because his environment allows it or draws out these traits.
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