A Michael Broad Blog
My cat uses hand signals to communicate with me. Well, actual one type of hand signal which might be called a paw tap. It is very positive and its meaning is unmistakable in its context. Does your cat do the same thing? It is an alternative to and more specific than the vocal request: …
You may be one of those people – there are many – who think that the domestic cat is independent, aloof and almost expressionless. This much admired companion animal does not give much away in facial expressions because they can’t allow themselves to as a survival instinct. However, a recent study revealed that domestic …
Essentially, domestic cats use their tail as a means of communication and its position conveys their emotions and intentions. A domestic cat holds their tail vertically – called the “tail-up” position – when greeting a friendly cat. They’ll do the same when greeting their owner. It’s a sign of relaxed confidence in the encounter. …
I’ve been thinking about the fact that people relate to their domestic cat companion as a child and as a member of the family but accept the fact that they can’t communicate with their cat as they would a child. If only we could communicate with language to our cats, how much better the …
The body language of a cat’s eyes and ears are worth a quick discussion and I am reliant on personal experience and that of the vet Dr Bruce Fogle in his book Complete Cat Care. Eyes As is typical of other animals, dilated pupils indicate excitement or enervation because the cat is fearful or …
I hope this two pages of an infographic helps in understanding domestic cat tail body language/signalling. It can be quite subtle. There is one cat breed, a rare one, with a curled-over tail called the American Ringtail. This cat will struggle with one or two of these tail signalling positions! And, of course, the …
A domestic cat companion’s eyes are expressive. There are probably five basic eye configurations: Wide-open pupil i.e. a dilated pupil with wide-open eyes Narrowed eyes with a narrow slit of a pupil Half-closed eyes with the pupil in a relaxed mid-range position Closed eyes Stare Background The pupil is the aperture of the eye …
A cat might be anxious because of something that is happening around them or not far from them. They might be slightly afraid and the normal reaction will be to run away silently and hide. If they are walking at the time, they will lower their body to tense the muscles of their legs …
