Table of content
Cat Body Language
Discover how to interpret your cat's body language with our free resource, from every tail flick to the tiniest whisker twitch.
Our feline friends have their own unique body language to communicate their thoughts and emotions. They use their cat body (including their eyes, ears, whiskers, and tail) and their voice to show what they are thinking and feeling. By learning the body language of a cat, we can better understand our kitties’ wants and needs. When interpreting cat body language, consider everything around the cat. Put yourself in the cat's paws and ask how the situation and environment including the sights, sounds, and smells might make them feel. For example, if a person unintentionally corners a cat, the cat might feel scared or threatened. If a cat looks upset for no reason, they may be sick or in pain.
A cat's eyes, including wide eyes and dilated pupils, can tell a lot about how they feel. Paying attention to cat ears and facial expressions also helps us understand what our feline friends are experiencing. Knowing these signs can help ensure your cat feels safe and happy. The following are different body language signs that correspond to various emotions in our cats. By learning to look at a cat's body, you can understand your cat better and ensure they feel understood and cared for.
Happy Cat Body Language
When a cat is happy, their cat body language is typically relaxed, with limbs and tail stretched out away from their body when lying down. If they show their belly, it likely means they feel safe though this isn't always an invitation for a belly rub! A happy cat might cuddle up next to you or knead you with their paws.
Happy Cat eyes
The wide eyes of a happy cat may be round or partially closed, with pupils narrow like slits. If a cat blinks slowly at you, it means they trust and love you. You can blink slowly back to show them that you love them too!
Happy Cat ears
Happy cats ears are upright and facing forward, indicating they feel safe and attentive. Cat ears are a key part of understanding cat body language.
Happy Cat tail
A tail pointed straight up with a curl at the tip is a reliable sign that a cat is happy and confident.
Cats may purr to express contentment and pleasure, meow when greeting someone or asking for something like food or attention, or trill (a high pitched purr) to show they are friendly. Understanding these signs can help you know your cat better and ensure they feel happy and loved. By learning how cats communicate through their body language, you can look at your cat's body and recognize how they feel.
Playful Cat Body Language
Cats are natural predators with an instinct to hunt. When they want to play, their cat body language often mimics hunting behaviors. They might crouch down, wiggle their rear end, and chase, pounce on, or grab hold of a toy.
Playful Cat eyes
A playful cat’s eyes will be wide, and their pupils might be dilated, indicating excitement and engagement.
Playful Cat ears
Cat ears will be up and facing forward, a sign that the cat is alert and ready to play.
Playful Cat tail
Cats engaged in hunting behaviors often flick their tail from side to side as they focus on their target. However, if the cat flicks its tail when not stalking something, it most likely means the cat feels annoyed.
Play provides excellent physical and mental enrichment to help keep cats happy and healthy. When you see these signs, it's important to know your cat wants to play and provide them with cat toys. Understanding cat body language helps you better understand your cat and ensure they feel engaged and fulfilled. By learning how cats communicate through their body language, you can look at your cat's body and recognize how they feel.
Stressed Cat Body Language
When a cat feels stressed or anxious, their cat body language often reveals a stiff and tense posture, with their body held low to the ground. They may exhibit displacement behaviors such as lip licking, scratching, grooming, and yawning out of context as a way to manage their cat anxiety. Additionally, stressed or anxious cats might urinate or defecate outside of the litter box.
Stressed Cat Eyes
A stressed or anxious cat’s eyes may appear wide or narrowed, reflecting their discomfort and unease.
Stressed Cat Ears
Their ears might be rotated to the sides (in an “airplane ears” position) or angled backward. The whiskers may be held further forward than usual, signaling tension.
Stressed Cat Tail
The tail may be held close to the body or flicked and thrashed, indicating stress or annoyance.
Understanding cat body language helps you recognize these signs of feline anxiety and stress in your feline friend. If you identify a cause of stress, try to remove it if possible. If your actions might be contributing to your cat’s anxiety, stopping those behaviors can help them feel more comfortable. By learning how cats communicate through their body language, you can better understand how your cat feels and ensure they remain happy and healthy.
Aggressive Cat Body Language
When a cat feels threatened, their cat body language can signal a defensive reaction. They may try to appear as large and intimidating as possible by arching their back and puffing up their fur (an involuntary response to fear known as piloerection).
Aggressive Cat eyes
A cat preparing to become aggressive may have wide eyes with dilated pupils or narrowed eyes. They often maintain a direct stare at the perceived threat, keeping it in sight.
Aggressive Cat Ears
Their cat ears will be turned back or flat against their head, and their whiskers might be pressed flat against their cheeks or pushed forward.
Aggressive Cat Tail
The tail may flick or thrash as a sign of agitation.
Before resorting to aggression, a cat might attempt to avoid conflict by growling or hissing. If these warning signs are ignored, the cat could escalate to spitting, a sudden and loud burst of noise often accompanied by a lunge or swat. In more extreme cases, the cat might bite as a direct form of aggression or self defense. Biting is a serious response and indicates that the cat feels it has no other option to protect itself.
Understanding these signs of cat body language helps you know how your cat feels and responds to perceived threats. Recognizing these signals, including growling, hissing, spitting, and biting, ensures you can address the situation appropriately, allowing your cat to feel safe and reducing the likelihood of further aggression.
Fearful Cat Body Language
In addition to being predators, cats are also prey animals and may feel scared when they sense a potential threat. In response, their cat body language might show them trying to appear smaller by crouching low to the ground and scrunching up their body.
Fearful Cat Eyes
A fearful cat’s eyes will widen, and their pupils will dilate as part of the fight or flight response, reflecting their heightened feline anxiety.
Fearful Cat Ears
Their cat ears may be angled backward or sideways. The further back a cat’s ears are pinned, the more terrified they feel. Their whiskers might also be pulled back flat against their face.
Fearful Cat Tail
A fearful cat may wrap their tail tightly around or underneath their body, which is a sign of distress.
When a cat feels threatened, it may growl and hiss to warn the threat to back off. Hissing is an involuntary reflex that often occurs when a cat is scared or startled. As their fear escalates, cats might emit a loud, drawn out yowl followed by a shriek to indicate they are about to defend themselves.
Understanding these signs of cat body language helps you know how your cat feels and responds to perceived threats. If you observe these fear based signals, it’s important to remove the source of the threat. Avoid picking up a growling or hissing cat, as this can lead to aggression. Ensure your cat’s environment includes plenty of hiding spots, a cat tunnel is ideal and cat cave beds so they can find a safe space and feel secure.
Sick Cat Body Language
A cat’s body language provides crucial insights into how the cat feels emotionally and can also reveal if the cat is sick or in pain. Since cats are adept at hiding physical illness, changes in their cat body language may be the first sign that something is wrong. When a cat is in pain or unwell, their body language might show them hunched with their legs tucked underneath, and their body may appear tense.
Sick Cat Eyes
When a cat is sick or in pain, their eyes may be squinted or closed, and they might look dazed or glassy. The third eyelid, a pink tissue in the corner of the eyes, might also become visible which is a sign of an eye infection.
Sick Cat Ears
A sick or distressed cat’s ears may be held low or rotated to the sides, indicating discomfort.
Sick Cat Tail
The tail may be held underneath or closely wrapped around the body, which is a common sign of distress. In some cases, cats might purr due to pain or illness, and an increase in meowing or yowling can signal emotional or physical distress.
If you notice these changes in your cat's body language, or other signs like hiding, aggression, decreased energy, or changes in appetite, grooming, or sociability, it’s essential to consult a vet. Understanding your cat’s body language is key to recognizing how your cat feels and addressing their needs, helping you to ensure your cat remains happy and healthy.
Can I communicate with my cat through body language?
Understanding your cat’s body language is key to effective communication and ensuring a positive interaction. It’s important to avoid staring directly at your cat, as this can be perceived as a threat and may make them feel uneasy or scared, leading them to react negatively or even stare back at you. For more on why your cat might be staring at you, check out Why does my cat stare at me?.
If your cat's body language indicates that they feel comfortable and relaxed around you, you can respond by slowly blinking at them and slightly tilting your head to the side. This helps communicate that you are friendly and can encourage your cat to mirror your behavior, which is a sign of trust and contentment.
Be mindful of how you use your voice, as saying "puss puss" or making any sounds with a strong "ss" noise might be misinterpreted by your cat as hissing. This can make your cat feel threatened or confused, so opt for a calm and soothing tone to maintain a positive interaction. By understanding the language of cat body language, you can better interpret how your cat feels and ensure they stay happy and comfortable around you.
Cat Noises & Sounds: What Do They Mean?
Although not technically part of cat body language, a cat’s vocalizations are among the most overt ways for a cat to express how they feel. These vocal sounds provide clear signs of a cat’s emotions and are a crucial part of understanding your cat’s overall body language and mood. Whether it's a purr, meow, or hiss, paying attention to these vocalizations helps you interpret the various signs of how your cat feels and what they might be trying to communicate.
Why do cats Purr?
We often interpret a cat’s purring as a sign of happiness, but this is true only if their cat body language is relaxed. Cats might also purr to get your attention or seek comfort.
In stressful situations, such as a vet visit, a cat might purr, but this doesn’t necessarily indicate that they feel happy. Additionally, a cat may purr when they are in pain. To better understand how your cat feels, it’s essential to observe their overall body language and the context in which they are purring. For more information on why cats purr, check out “Why Do Cats Purr?”.
Cat Fear/Aggression Sounds
When a cat wants to communicate that they’re feeling threatened, their vocalizations can provide clear signs of their discomfort, which are crucial to understanding their cat body language.
- The Growl: A growling cat is signaling that they need space and is a warning to back off. This growl is a direct sign of how the cat feels and indicates their discomfort.
- The Hiss: Hissing is a sign that a cat feels threatened and might be preparing to fight or flee. This vocalization is an effective way for the cat to show they have sharp fangs as a defense, reflecting their anxiety and readiness to protect themselves.
- The Yowl: This loud, rising vocalization often follows a hiss and indicates heightened agitation. A yowl may also occur when a cat is in heat, serving as an additional sign of distress or emotional intensity.
- The Shriek: A cat that shrieks is expressing extreme stress and feels cornered. This vocalization indicates that the cat is at their limit and is about to either make a stand or retreat, highlighting their urgent need to change the situation.
Cat Chirping & Chattering – What Does it Mean?
Chirping and chattering are vocalizations that express specific feelings and are key signs in cat body language. A cat will often chirp and chatter when they detect potential prey nearby that they cannot reach. For instance, if your cat is chirping at the window, it may have spotted a bug it wants to capture but is hindered by a screen. These sounds indicate that the cat feels excited by the sight of the prey, but also frustrated by their inability to get to it.
What is cat trilling?
Trilling is a vocalization that sounds similar to purring but at a higher pitch, resembling the sound of a bicycle bell. In cat body language, trilling is often used by mother cats to communicate with their kittens. When a cat trills, it generally indicates that they feel friendly and affectionate. This sign of cat body language is frequently used by cats to greet their owners, reflecting a warm and familial connection.
Why is my cat constantly meowing?
Meowing is one of the most variable types of cat vocalizations, as it can convey a range of emotions and needs. This sound might indicate anything from hunger to simple chattiness, making it a complex sign in cat body language. To accurately interpret what your cat feels, meowing should be considered in the context of the cat’s overall behavior and environment.
If a cat's meowing becomes constant and they appear to be in pain, it could be a sign that something is wrong, and a vet visit may be necessary. Conversely, if your cat meows frequently but seems otherwise healthy, they might just be a particularly vocal breed like a Siamese cat or Burmese cat. Understanding these vocalizations helps in recognizing the signs of how your cat feels and responding appropriately.
FAQ
Why does my cat arch its back?
When a cat arches its back, it typically signifies that the cat feels threatened or scared. This cat body language makes the cat appear larger and more intimidating as a defensive response. However, an arched back can also indicate that the cat is stretching or preparing for playful activity. Understanding this sign of cat body language helps in interpreting how your cat feels in different situations.
What does it mean when a cat’s ears are flattened?
When a cat’s ears are flattened, it generally means that the cat feels threatened, scared, or aggressive. This cat body language is a defensive posture intended to protect the cat’s ears from potential threats and signals that the cat is not comfortable. Flattened ears indicate that the cat is experiencing negative emotions and may be preparing to either fight or flee.
What cat behaviors are concerning?
Concerning cat body language can include excessive grooming, hiding more than usual, not eating, and changes in litterbox habits. If you observe any of these signs in your cat’s body language, it’s important to schedule a vet appointment to address any potential health issues.
How do you tell a cat you love them?
Use a slow blink to connect with your cat! Cats often use slow blinking in their body language to show they are relaxed and affectionate. By mirroring this cat body language with a slow blink, you signal that you feel safe and comfortable around them. To further enhance your bond, you can also pet, snuggle, and give treats to your cat, as long as they enjoy these interactions.
What does it mean when a cat puffs up its fur?
When a cat puffs up its fur, it usually indicates that the cat is feeling threatened or scared. This cat body language is a defensive reaction designed to make the cat appear larger and more intimidating. Puffing up the fur is a clear sign of fear or aggression in a cat’s body language.
How do I know if my cat is happy?
Here are some signs that your cat is happy: 1) Purring while relaxing around you; 2) Kneading surfaces with their paws, often referred to as "making biscuits"; 3) Giving you slow blinks; 4) Holding their tail high and rubbing against you.
How do I know if my cat has imprinted on me?
If your cat’s body language shows they are clingy and always want to be near you, it’s a strong sign that they’ve imprinted on you. This cat body language includes following you around the house, making noises, sleeping with you, and generally being very attached to your presence.
Why does my cat meow when I come home?
When your cat meows as you come home, it’s a form of cat body language that indicates they are excited to see you and have missed your presence. This vocalization is a way for your cat to greet you and communicate their happiness at your return. Additionally, meowing can be a way for your cat to seek attention or get you to acknowledge them through their body language.
Kelly Rushton
Meet Kelly Rushton, a dedicated cat enthusiast and proud owner of Feline Fancy Ltd. With a heart as big as her household, Kelly is the loving mum to 10 charming Ragdoll cats. In her world, felines reign supreme, and she brings professionalism and warmth to everything she does. Through her blog, Kelly shares her wealth of knowledge and experiences, offering insights into cat care, behavior, and the joy of living alongside these majestic creatures.
