Did you see that wink? Hear that purr? See that tail held high? Make no mistake about it.
Your cat is trying to tell you something! Cats use their tails, heads, paws, eyes, ears and vocal sounds to communication with people and with each other.
For example, when your cat rubs her head against your leg or paws you with her claws, she is telling you that she really likes you and is claiming you as her own.
Cats have scent glands on their chin, lips and paws that they use to mark their territory.
Have you ever seen your cat paw at the floor around his food dish? He is saying, "This food is mine!" The position of a cat's ears or tail can also tell you what he is thinking or feeling.
If his ears are straight up, he is ready to have some fun and wants to play.
If his ears are flat or sideways, he is wondering what you are up to.
If his ears are down, he is on the defensive, and if those ears are down and held back, he is angry! Similarly, when your cat holds his tail straight up, he is feeling contented and happy.
A twitching tail usually means he wants you to back off.
If his tail is big and bushy, he is angry.
Cats also communicate with their eyes.
If you look carefully, you will be able to tell what she is trying to say.
When she winks or blinks, it is a sign of affection.
She is saying, "I love you.
" If your cat is looking at you, she is listening to hear what you have to say, but if she is staring at you intensely, she may be challenging you and letting you know that she wants to be left alone.
When your cat's pupils are slits instead of big and round, she is feeling confident and attentive.
A cat with cloudy eyes may not be feeling well, or she may just be very relaxed and ready for a nap.
Do You Speak "Cat"? More than likely, you have also noticed that your cat can speak! In fact, there are more than a dozen vocal patterns that cats use to communicate.
These include purrs, trills, meows, chatters, chirps, hisses and growls.
When cats meow, they actually pronounce vowel sounds.
Meows are almost always directed at people.
In fact, it is believed that domesticated cats learned to meow as a way to speak to humans; they do not meow to each other in the wild.
When your cat meows, you probably know what she wants.
She may be hungry, stuck behind a door or trying to tell you that she sees a fly.
Short, high-pitched meows are pleasant conversation or requests.
If you ignore her meows, you may notice that they become lower and more drawn out as she gets more and more frustrated.
Chatters and chirps also express frustration, while hisses and growls mean that she is frightened or angry.
When your cat is very content, you will probably hear her purr.
Purrs are very comforting sounds that are believed to be vibrations of the cat's vocal chords.
The cat does not open her mouth to produce this sound.
While purring is usually associated with a feeling of extreme contentment, cats who are anxious or stressed may also purr.
In such cases, they are probably attempting to calm themselves down.