Interpretation of your cat's body language?

If you have ever been with someone and they say nothing yet you know exactly what that person is 'saying', thinking......... You 'feel' what is not said? As a therapist this is something I regularly practice with clients, to gain prospective and understand the missing dialogue. Well, when it comes to cats their body language gives most of the clues to what they are trying to say and what they are feeling at any one time. Cats never never fake it.

It has been said that :-               

Cats put The "C" in candid

             The "A" in attitude

             The "T" in tenacious

and        The "S" in "So what!"

When you look at your cat's body language you have to look at the whole body

and situation to fully understand what is being 'said'.  When your cat's eyes are

relaxed  and they do soft and slow  blinks (with both eyes), that's a  hello  and I

like you.  I call these cat kisses.  A cat who's  tail that is lazily up  but twitters at

the very  tip, means  I love you, you are the best !   A cat's  tail   that's  swishing

means they're either feeling threatened or they're ready to jump  on something.

Pay attention to  the eyes to  further  understand  tail  swishing  though,  if  they

are fixed in  expression,  they are  probably  feeling  threatened  and   the  cats

likely to become aggressive and  strike  out.   Cats are consistent  in their  body

language, their body  language is never  employed to deceive  you. The above

is only an indication as to your cats mood, you however need to know your  cat,

to  fully  understand  the subtlety  of  the complete  meaning  behind  posturing,

noises and expression.

A sideways  stance, with an arched back and a very bushy tail is often born

out of a startle response. It  means that the  cat is trying  to make  itself look

bigger, in  the hope that  any challenger / predator  will  back  down and no

harm  will result.  So  it 'says' 'I am bigger than  you but we can sort this out,

lets back off'. This posture is used allot in imaginative play by kittens.

Cats communicating through sound.

We  know that  cats are  pretty  quiet to  live along side,  but Ragdolls  can be

very vocal, however when they make noises it is with purpose.    Queens  talk

to their litters, this is a song like sound. A sweet endearing sound that   means

"Come here, its alright."    A   kitten   from  birth  will  make  a  “mew"  sound,

when  they're  hungry,  need attention,  or are lost.  Depending  on  the  pitch,

volume and   the   frequency   of  the   mewing,   it   is  possible to understand

what the kitten is trying to communicate and the level of distress.

Whilst talking to Denise Lang ( breeder of Ragdolls ) recently, we chatted about

how we are able  to  recognise  our  cat's calls  ie  which  call belongs to which

cat and what  they  want as  a  result.   Be  warned  Ragdolls  can be very vocal

and  can  drive  home  their  point.  If  they   want   something they want it now,

but quite rightfully somehow. However when you have met all their needs they

will do their best to meet all of yours.

A purring cat is not necessarily a happy cat. A cat pain or distress may purr. A queen when giving birth will purr. I am unsure if this is due to pain and feelings of vulnerability or a way of keeping calm and welcoming her kittens into the world. I believe it could also serve as a way of teaching her kittens how to identify her by 'her sound', this from the moment of birth, by hearing her pitch and tone, along side her sent enables for early identification/ and mother recognition.

At two to three days old kittens start to purr, the purr is very quiet and can be difficult to hear, however its a wonderful sound and so disproportionate to the kittens size and demeanor. A kitten purring is a signal to the mother that all is well and the kitten is contented and getting enough food when suckling or in other words ...................... "Stay there, don't move or I will scream." I have a 23yr old daughter that learnt this 'endearing' technique.The kittens purring will continue to relax and settle the mother encouraging her to keep still, thus meeting the needs of her  brude.

Growling and hissing. This is a sure sign your cat is very upset. If your cat should growl s/he is feeling very threatened. Other than in a veterinarian situation leave your cat alone, should he growl; put him down and close the door !!!!!!!!!!! However I would wonder and further investigate the cause of his distress. If he was being held at the time, or being groomed he may have pain. Take it slowly but check him over. Sadly , with cats as it is with dogs a growl can preempt a bite or a fight. The growl is a warning, heed it!!

Greetings

Cats will greet each other by by making a similar sound as the mother does to her kittens, a shrill and short song-like purr, when the familiarity of this noise is recognised it establishes the cats know each other, the cats will then often rub faces. When a cat greets you by standing on its hind legs, it is simply trying to reach your face to say hello. If you lower yourself so your face is within reach, your cat will rub his face next to yours. We subconsciously preempt this action by greeting out cats by picking them up (so we are face-to-face) and then putting our face towards our cat, for that  gratifying connection. Cats will only do this where there is trust as when the cat puts his face to yours, he will momentarily close his eyes (thus rendering himself vulnerable).

Another way for your cat to greet you is to roll on its back, and stretching his legs out. This "belly-up" position is another vulnerable position, it indicates total trust of the person involved. This position invites affection and or play. The cat that greets its owner by rubbing itself against their legs says 'Glad your home but can you feed me NOW please'. To rub against you or to cry with a winge like tone, says feed me . Cats will rub your legs like this when you have not just walked in, but when you have been in for a while but go into the kitchen, or its feeding time. Rubbing against you also sent marks you; cats have scent glands on their temples, around their mouth and at the base of the tail. When a cat rubs itself against you, it is rubbing some off of its scent off to mark you as familiar, mine and 'you are one of us'. As much as his scent is left he picks up your scent, so the process of belonging (being of the same pride) is reaffirmed.

Kneading

Kneading is when a cat extends and retracts its claws, whilst paddling against you. This is usually when it is resting on your lap. This behavior comes from kittenhood, kittens knead their mother while suckling, to make the milk flow more freely.  They see their owners as surrogate mothers and, as pampered pets,they will retain some kitten characteristics through all of their adult life. If the cat dribbles or sucks on its owners clothes whilst kneading, the cat in question may have been taken from its mother far too early thus never having the chance to grow out of this behavior naturally. These behaviors are usually for life. I have two cats that as soon as I pick them up they knead the air! I feel privileged to have my cats respond to me in this way. I interpret this behavior as totally trusting of me and a delightful response in getting all my attention. 

Flehmening

Flehmening is when a cat screws up its face, opens its mouth (holding the expression for a good few seconds), sometimes with the lips curl back showing upper and lower teeth. This allows more chemical aromas to register in the Jackobsen's Organ. The Jackobsen's Organ is situated in the roof of the mouth in two sacs. In wild cats this aids in knowing the "lie of the land", and aids in knowing what other animals may be in close proximity. In the domestic cat this is not so important as with the wild cat and the Flehmening reaction is not so obvious. The Jackobsen's Organ is also connected to the part of the cats brain concerned with sexual behavior and appetite.

A stud cat will sniff the female when she calls. He will then grimace (Flehmening) to further understand her fertile state and ability to be receptive. The senses of smell and taste in cats are closely connected, as they are in all mammals. Distinctive to cats is the absence of response to sweets and cats avoid foods that taste sweet. The taste buds of cats are located along the front and side edges of their tongues. Their Jackobsen's Organ otherwise known as the Vomeronasal Organ.

Litter tray habits.

The subordinate cat will bury its faeces, so as not to demonstrate its presence, to the more dominant cat/s. A dominant cat will leave its faeces uncovered. A cat kept on their own will bury its faeces by scratching the litter tray, this has nothing to do with cleanliness, it is a sign that the cat feels that its owner is dominant. In households with more than one cat, you will often find that one or two cats leave their faeces uncovered, whereas the rest will cover it up. My Birman is a prime example of felling she is 'Top Cat'. She will 'powder her nose' and then turn to look at what she has done (with disgust), she then shakes off her feet (like a conscientious house wife getting out the bath) with a skip she then departs and frolics away. This is without a thought of covering up what she had done. She demonstrates without doubt, what she has left behind it is your problem and not hers.

Eating Grass

Eating grass often occurs when the cat needs to clean out its stomach by vomiting (maybe to get rid of furballs!). If your cat does not have access to grass, house plants or anything similar will be used by your cat. Vomiting will occur soon after the cat has eaten grass. It has been said that cats eat grass to obtain "Folic Acid", something that cats need in minute quantities for its well-being. "Folic Acid" cannot be obtained from meat. Cat grass can be purchase for the House Cat. This you grow yourself (its a bit like growing cress in a small container), it does aid digestion and I recommend it, especially when your Ragdoll / Birman are of the Semi Long Haired Variety. Should new owners wish me to get this in stock for them I will.

Mad Dashing or Charging Around

This behavior is seen mostly in indoor cats, who are not able to burn off energy outside, they will dash around jumping off furniture (and you if in the way) with a wild look in their eyes. This usually occurs in the evening when sitting down to watch that all important program. Not only does it vent energy, I think cats act out their imaginations. The cat/kitten can play make believe.......................So just get out the way and secure the bottle of wine firmly between your feet, until your cat has slayed his dragon and you can rest once more.

Scratching Furniture

Please purchase a scratch post before you bring your kitten home. Your kitten, when with me, would have had access to a scratch post 24/7. Therefore by having the correct and preferred means for your cat to maintain its nail-health your cat should not develop any bad habits and leave your furniture alone. A cat needs to sharpen its claws, it also needs to strip-off the old shell (outer claw) to reveal a new one. Scratching at furniture is one way a cat will renew its claws, should you not have a scratch post to hand. Cats also scratch to scent-mark, they have scent glands under their front paws. Thus once your furniture has been used (and scent marked) your cat will return to 'top-up' his dwindling odor. A good recommendation, from one of my kitten owners, is to have an alternative to a scratch post ie a wicker laundry basket and or straw placemats strewn about. I think this is a good idea, as your cat can mark his territory, upstairs and down and this they like to do. Thank you Nora. 

Should your kitten not look as if he is sure of what to do with his new scratching post show him. Lift his front  legs  toward  the post  and help him scratch it. Putting Cat Nip in and around the scratching post if your cat 'just does not get the idea' as this will encourage your cat to use it.

It is a good idea, as part of your grooming program to clip your cats claws. I clip my cats claws about once every 6 weeks. If you are unsure how to do this, ask your vet for a demonstration or a professional animal groom. Your cat will get used to this process, if introduced early on in it's life. It is a totally painless procedure but (and I guess you guessed there would be a but) if done badly your cat may never let you do this again. Done incorrectly it can cause bleeding from the nail bed and cause considerable pain. So if in any doubt get a demonstration before you attempt this. 

How to stop cats spraying the house?

This is such an anti social, and  hard  to  stop habit. If your cat is nurtured  before s/he becomes a sexual adult, it is an unlikely scenario  you  will  have to deal with. Should your cat suddenly start spraying look out for what has changed within your home, to provoke such behavior. Try and look for things that could be unduly stressing your cat. Both male and female cats may spray!! The best help are pheromone sprays that calm your cat, one of which was recommended to my by my vet is called Feliway (this can also be purchased from your vet).

"Six years ago, veterinarians introduced a synthetic version of these naturally occurring facial pheromones in a spray called Feliway®. The product mimics the feline's positive facial pheromones and can be used to calm the pet in stressful situations. When sprayed onto objects in the cat's environment, Feliway counteracts the animal's alarm pheromones and stops urine marking and vertical scratching.

Although the Feliway spray is highly effective, it must be sprayed twice daily for 30 days - a schedule that may be challenging to comply with. Now pet owners can take comfort in knowing that, even if they miss a day of spray, their cat can continue to reap the benefits of Feliway. The product is now available as a convenient plug-in.

The Feliway plug-in offers a no-hassle way for pet owners to calm their cats. Just attach the Feliway bottle to the plug-in diffuser, plug it into an electric socket in the room most used by the cat, and continue use for four weeks to ensure no relapse in marking behavior. One bottle of Feliway will cover a total surface area of 650-square-feet. Clinical studies with Feliway show a 95 percent success rate in reducing or eliminating spraying by cats.

"Spraying is one of the most common problems with cats, both male and female," says Wayne Hunthausen, D.V.M., director of Animal Behavior Consultations (Kansas). "There can be several reasons for the behavior, from a new animal in the household to other changes in the home."

Hunthausen notes that pet owners should talk to their veterinarian when attempting to determine why cats are not using their litter boxes. "There are medical reasons why cats don't use their litter boxes," said Hunthasen. "You also need to rule out problems with the type of litter, the box's location and how often it's being cleaned."

Once these physical and environmental causes of urine spraying have been eliminated, Hunthausen recommends Feliway. "This product makes a cat more comfortable in its environment," he says. "Because cats detect a calming scent, the need to mark with urine is eliminated. For many cats, Feliway is a lifesaver."

According to the Humane Society of the United States, 10 million animals are relinquished to animal shelters every year, and half of them are euthanized. Many people bring their cats to shelters because they don't get along with other animals in the household and soil the house. Studies have shown that use of the Feliway plug-in results in a 70 percent reduction in urine spraying in multi-cat households.

Feliway spray remains a viable option for those transporting, boarding, or traveling with cats. When it is not possible to use the Feliway plug-in due to mobile situations, pet owners can apply Feliway Spray directly onto pet carriers and in new temporary surroundings to help calm their cats."  (Feliway® Cat Pheromone Spray / Sept. 30, 2002).

If the above fails check you are using the right ( the same as before) litter and the letter tray is in the right location (ie you have not moved it). Sometimes a cat won't use the letter tray because you put it next to a noisy appliance like a washing machine, or into a high traffic area, a walk-through.

I have spoken in previous pages about introducing your kitten into his new home and 'Feliway' is a good product to have at hand. I use this myself when collecting a new kitten, I use it in the carrier, my car and the rooms where s/he will be, when settling in. However Feliway comes with an instruction leaflet to tell you how to best use it. I was introduced to this by my vet and I shall use it when I transport the kittens to the vets for their inoculations. 

She cats Calling!

Calling is a  noise made by female cats (can be loud) to attract a mate when they are on heat (in estrus). This means you cat is sexually receptive and able to conceive. Calling will often be accompanied by a mating posture called "lordosis", tail high in the air and a general bottom up posture, when stroked.

Your she cat when calling will generally become more affectionate, purr more and seek out further hands on attention. I notice (when a queen is calling) she will spend more time on the floor, rolling between her side and back, flirting with 'commitment' and with total endearment.

The period of calling can vary from cat to cat and how often she calls can be equally as unique. When a cat is calling it can be stressful for her, once more the effort and associated stress of calling varies from cat to cat. With the Ragdoll being a house cat, you may need to tighten your security as at this time as she will be more likely to be looking for ways to get out. Neutering will stop this potentially distressing behaviour and as a result in the general health of your cat improving.

   Your Cats Behavior And Training

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