The body language of one person can help the other person depict many things about him. It tells if the person is anxious, worried, happy, or excited. The same goes for the cats. Cats, like human beings, also reveal their moods and emotions through their body language. Fascinating, isn’t it?
This cat body language guide is going to be helpful for all those who love cats. After going through this guide, you will be able to differentiate between a cat that’s worried, frightened, or furious and one that’s friendly and relaxed.
Cat’s Body Language Chart – Brief
Cats are known for their unique body language, and it’s not difficult to understand the cat’s posture meanings. They have a wide range of gestures and movements that they use to communicate their feelings, intentions, and needs. Understanding a cat’s body language can help us better interact with them and create a deeper bond with our feline friends.
Meaning of a Cat’s Body Language
Cats use body language to communicate their mood, emotions, and intentions to other cats, humans, and animals. Understanding cat behavior and body language can help us interact with them more productively.
This cat posture chart shows some common meanings of cat body language:
| Cat Posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The tail held high and upright | This indicates that the cat is happy and relaxed. |
| The tail tucked between the legs | This indicates fear and anxiety in the cat. |
| Eyes wide open and pupils dilated | This indicates cars are happy and contented |
| Constricted pupil | This indicates that the cat is aggressive and stressed. |
| Soft purr | It shows that the cat is happy and content. |
Body language of a Kitten
Sure, kittens like adult cats, can communicate with all those cues used by adult cats. They can hiss, meow, or purr, however, their body language can have slight changes from the adult cat.
Let’s say, you got a kitten and it’s your first time having a kitten, your kitten will want you to understand what it needs.
| Kitten posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arched back and sideways stance | Maybe a defensive display or play behavior |
| Rolling over | Appeasement behavior may show that the kitten is comfortable and relaxed. |
| Unsheathed claws | Sign of aggression, or usually part of the play. |
| A straight-up tail | Shows that the kitten is friendly or content. |
| Wide open eyes | This means that the kitten is playful or indicates alertness. |
Body Language Of A Sleeping Cat
Cats may sleep for up to 18 hours a day!! They sleep in multiple positions. You probably have seen your cats sleeping in different positions and some of those sleeping positions may be very strange. But no worries, with a little insight, it’s possible to decode relaxed cat body language.
| Sleeping Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Curled in a ball | This means that your cat is trying to conserve body heat which helps the cat stay warm. |
| On the back | This means they are trying to protect their vulnerable organs and that they feel safe and confident. |
| Side Sleeping | This also means that the cat is very comfortable with you. |
| Lying on the belly (Superman Pose) | This indicates that the cats are relaxed. |
Body Language of A Happy Cat
Want to know if your cat is happy or not? Here we explain that signs and posture show that your cat is happy and comfortable around you.
| Cat’s Posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| An upright tail with a slight c-curve at the tip | It indicates that your cat is happy and comfortable around you. |
| Soft eyes (not wide open) | This indicates that the cat is playful and happy. |
| Staring and binding slowly | This indicates that the cat is comfortable and wishes to play with you. |
Body Language of A Scared Cat
If you have just gotten a cat and you don’t know what it means when they crouch down or tuck their tail, you might not be able to get along with your cat. Let’s explain these signs and postures that show that your cat is scared.
| Cat’s posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Crouching Down | This means that your cat is afraid. |
| Tucked tail with their ears flat back | This indicates that your cat is in fight mode and may be scared as well. |
| Back arched and hair raised hissing or growling with wide, dilated pupils. | This also indicates that your cat is scared, maybe because of another predator. |
Body Language of An Angry Cat
You may want to know if your cat is angry or not. This will help you allow your cat to be comfortable around you. Here are a few signs which show when your cat indicates that your cat is angry.
| Cat’s posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arched back and stiffened body | This indicates that the cat is angry and trying to protect itself. |
| Ears pulled back, pupils constricted | Constricted pupil is a sign of fear and anger in a cat. |
| Whiskers pointing forward and teeth bared | This shows that the cat is angry and may try to attack you. |
Body Language of a Warrior cat
Warrior cats tend to indicate their mood and emotions in a slightly different way. They have their own unique body language and ways to communicate with each other and you.
| Cat Posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A sharp flick and an agitated expression | It means the cat is annoyed, irritated, or impatient. |
| Tail Held Erect and Sweeping from side to side | This usually means that the cat wishes to retreat silently |
| Tail Pointing Low, Parallel to the ground, and sweeping | This means “Spread out” in the cat’s language. |
Body language of a Sick cat
Body language of your cat not only reveals the emotions and moods of your cat, but it can also help you understand if your cat’s feeling ill.
| Cat’s posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Holding head low | This indicates that your cat might not be feeling well or might be anxious about something. |
| Squinting their eyes | Squinting eyes indicates that something might not be right with your cat. |
| Low-set ears | Low-set ears are a sign of feeling depressed or sick for cats. |
Body Language of an Anxious Cat
Cats like human beings can experience feelings of fear, anxiety, or stress. If you’re good enough to pick anxiety signs in your cat, your chances of getting along with your cat increase tremendously.
| Cat’s posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ears tucked back on the head | This indicates that your cat either wishes to fight or is experiencing some stress and anxiety. |
| Ears held low and rotated to the sides | This also indicates that your cat might be fearful of a predator. |
| Squinty or wide, watching eyes with dilated pupils | This shows that they either are highly anxious or have seen something frightening. |
Conclusion
Cats communicate with their body language, and learning to understand their signals can help you build a better relationship with them.
It’s important to remember that cats are individuals with their own personalities and communication styles, so while these cues can be helpful, it’s important to also pay attention to your cat’s specific behaviors and reactions to different situations.