Cat Communication

Learning to read animal body language is perhaps the most beneficial, greatest key to understanding animals and their feelings.

Ears
Upward: relaxed, happy, alert
Downward: irritable, defensive (Watch out!)
Twitching: nervous, agitated (constant twitching may be a sign of a medical problem)
Swiveling: attentive listening

Eyes
Pupils slit: content, confident
Pupils dilated: frightened (somewhat dilated), angry (fully dilated)
Slow blink: affectionate, trusting (doing this back shows you are no threat to the cat)


Tail
Fluffy: aggressive, feeling threatened (often done with back arched, the “Halloween cat” is done to make themselves appear more intimidating)
Erect: friendly (fully erect: friendly & confident, erect with tip down: friendly but unsure)
Between legs: nervous
Low: aggression (tip down: potentially aggressive, tip up: defensive aggression)
Out: unsure or friendly
Wagging: very aggressive—the more rapid the wagging, the more aggressive the cat.

Body
Lying on back, purring: very content, relaxed
Back arched, fur upright: aggressive, frightened or angry
Back arched, fur flat: welcoming touch
Slinking down or away from pets: not wanting touch


Vocalizations
Meow: “attention getting device”, greeting, sign of desire
Purr: contentment
Growls, hisses: aggressive, frightened, angry
Yowl, loud, lengthened meow: distressed