What You Need to Know about Cat Behavior

Do you ever wonder what your cat is thinking? Ever try to figure out what your cat is saying with that meow? Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what your cat's behavior means. They do things that don’t always make sense to us humans.

Even though humans and cats speak different languages, it is still possible to understand their behavior. There are clear feline signals that can tell humans what your cat is thinking, or at least give you an idea of what they want.

Here are some common cat behaviors and what they mean. This will help you learn how to decode what your cat is thinking. That way, you and your favorite feline friends can stay happy.

Cats make a lot of different noises, and they can indicate different things. The most common cat vocalization is probably the meow. Young kittens meow quite loudly in order to attract attention from their mother. It’s likely they are meowing in order to say they are hungry, cold, or just to help mama cat locate them if they wander off.

Meowing is a unique behavior in domestic cats. Feral cats typically meow very little or don’t meow at all. This is because without socialization, these feral cats don’t learn to use their meow to communicate with the humans in their life (because there are none).

Meowing is not a sound that cats use to communicate with each other; it’s primarily reserved for kittens and their mothers. Domestic cats have learned that human beings respond to the meow just like their mother cats used to. As a result, they keep up with this behavior.

Hissing from cats is a clear warning signal to stay away. Cats may hiss when frightened, aggressive, or angry, and the sound is sometimes accompanied by a yowl. It’s a pretty clear signal from the cat for you to stop what you’re doing and not to come any closer.

Yodeling or caterwauling are also interesting cat sounds, and they often cause new cat owners to become concerned. It can sound a bit creepy, or like your cat is lonely, scared, or confused. There’s no need to be worried, though. Female cats in heat yodel to signal to male cats that they are ready to mate. Male cats make a sound called "caterwauling" to warn other males off and signal he is ready to mate.

Cats also chortle, which is a high-pitched chuckling sound made in greeting. They may also chirp or chatter, which are sounds they sometimes make when they see birds out of a window, possibly an exaggeration of their "killing bite,” and purr.

Purring is a source of great controversy among cat experts. We don’t even really know how a cat purrs, much less exactly what it means. Cats typically make the sound when happy or content. However, they also purr sometimes when in distress (for example, at the vet’s office). Whatever the reason, most species of felines purr, though domestic cats are the only ones that can purr on the inhale and exhale.

Cat Body Language

Cats communicate through very subtle body language, but if you pay attention, you can start to figure out what your cat is feeling. Typically, ears forward signal alertness, happiness, or interest. Ears flat back signal fear or aggression. Swiveling ears indicate a cat is either very interested or distressed (you should be able to tell which one from other factors).

Cat tails can also be a good indicator of their mood. Tails held straight up usually indicate a happy, comfortable cat. Tails tucked down under their bodies show fear. Swishing tails usually indicate irritation or playfulness, so watch out for an upcoming swipe!

Your cat can also communicate quite a lot through its eyes, from pupil dilation to how open its eyelids are. A quick pupil dilation indicates a sudden arousal, whether it is from fear, interest, playfulness, or aggression.

Never maintain unblinking eye contact with your cat, unless you don’t mind getting a quick swipe. This is a signal of aggression or dominance to your cat. Drooping eyelids is a sign of relaxation and trust. You can try to signal "I love you" to your cat by slowly blinking your eyes and opening them again. If your cat blinks back at you, it’s a sign of affection!

Ever noticed your cat scratching on the furniture? Try not to be too upset. Your cat is actually just acting on an instinctual behavior to mark his or her territory. Provide your cat with a scratching post near what they usually scratch on. Give lots of praise when your cat scratches where they’re supposed to!

Patience Is Key

Remember, we can’t understand everything our cats do. But as a cat owner, you will likely find yourself learning about your cat every day and beginning to understand kitty behavior more and more. Give your kitty lots of love and be patient. You and your cat will understand each other in no time!