Cats, like many
other animals, communicate a variety of messages
using body language. Examples include arching
their backs as a signal of fear or aggression and
slowly blinking to signal relaxation. As is the
case with dogs, the tail is often used as a
signalling mechanism. A twitch can indicate minor
irritation, and a tail held high suggests
confidence. A cat who chooses to lie with its
stomach and chest exposed conveys happiness, trust
and comfort. A cat with tail held high and
twitching shows excitement, but this is often
mistaken for anger. Flattened ears mean that the
cat feels threatened, and may attack. Mouth open
and no teeth exposed suggests a feeling of
playfulness.
Many people fail to understand the silent language
of cats. In particular, 'dog people who are
accustomed to the fawning outwards signs of dog
'language' seem slow in detecting what a cat is
telling them in its body language. To understand
cats, one must observe a feline closely and learn
what its body signals tell you. The flattened
ears, teeth showing, baring belly for scratching
or submission are easily 'read' by humans. Some
characteristic signals, however, are often
misunderstood. For instance, a cat rubbing its
body along an arm or leg of its human is not only
a way in which to attract attention and, perhaps,
a morsel of food. It is also a way of 'marking'
its human as its very own. Using scent glands
located around its mouth and elsewhere, it subtly
'marks' its human as part of its cat territory.
Some subtle AnthropomorphismsDisgust -
Lifting and subsequent shaking of a paw or paws is
sign of disgust. The more paws the more
disgusting. This can sometimes be a four paw
affair with each paw being lifted and shaken
before the other.
Fuck Off - The "lick back" is a signal of
perceived injustice. If the cat is thwarted in
some way particularly after he/she thinks that
they have succeeded they will lick back once over
their shoulder. This should be interpreted by the
savvy companion as an expletive. |
