What is your cat
trying to tell you?
How many time have you seen your dog going though the trash
and thought, "I wish I knew what was going through your head right now!"
Or "Why does my cat always whip my with her tail when I try to hold her?" Our
pet are giving us signals everyday. Signals as to how they are feeling, what
they want from us, or sometimes what the don't want from us. Learning
these signals helps us to better understand our pets so that we can better care
for our pets.
What is Your Cat trying to show you?
| Tail Posture | What Does it Mean |
| Vertical Tail | Play, Indication of Presence ("I'm here!"), Confidence in there Identity |
| In Motion |
(If Slow/Swayed) Greeting (If whipped back and forth) Anticipation, frustration (If rigid and flicking) Offensive aggression (If not as rigid but still flicking) Defensive aggression |
| Horizontal | Amicable approach, neutral approach to behavioral circumstances |
| Concave (Arched) | Defensive behavior |
| Lower | Withdrawal from interaction, Increased willingness to avoid interaction |
| Between the legs | Fear, Submission, social and physical withdrawal. |
What is your Cat Saying?
| Call | Description | What Does it Mean |
| Murmur | Rhythmical pulsed vocalization | Social interaction, solicitation, non-threatening |
| Growl | Low pitched, harsh | Argumentative, combative |
| Squeak | Loud, High pitched | Anticipation of feeding |
| Shriek | Loud high pitched | pain, fear, aggression |
| Hiss | mouth open, teeth visible | offensively defensive (avoids frank aggression) |
| Spit | Sound before or after hiss | offensively defensive |
| Chatter | -- | Anticipatory, Frustration |
| Purr | -- | contentment, mild conflicting anxiety |
| Mew | High pitched, medium amplitude | Mother's interaction with kittens, Identification, encouragement |
| Moan | Low frequency/long duration | solicitation |
| Shriek | -- | greeting, willingness to interact |
What is your Dog saying?
| Signal | What does it Mean |
| Barking | Alerting/warning, attention seeking, location function |
| Growling | Warning distance increasing |
| Crying/Whining/Whimpering | Care Seeking |
| Howling | To Elicit social contact, anxiety, reassurance |
| Moans | Pleasure, contentment |
| Tail and ears up | alert, ready to participate |
| Elevated Forefoot/Direct gaze | Anticipation, challenge, confidence, absence of threat |
| Averting gaze | Fear, cowardice, absence of challenge, |
| Belly Presented |
-If chest or inguinal
area covered pet may become aggressive if pursued. -If limp/neck back pet is relaxed |
| Tail Tucked with Belly presented | fear/submission (may also be seen with urination) |
| Grin | Compliance, submission |
| Rigid Stance, stiff torso | Confidence and intent to interact (may not be aggressive) |
| Tail above horizon | Confidence High Status |
| Tail below Horizon | Less Confidence, lower status, compliance, submission, fear |
| Tail Wag | Willingness to interact |
| Tail tip Wag, Stiff | Confidence, assertiveness, offensively interactive |
| Ears erect | Alert, Confidence |
| Ears back | Fear |
| Ears vertically dropped | Submission, low ranking, anxiety |
| Snarl/Growl with only incisors and Canines showing | Confidence, offensive aggression |
| Snarl/Growl with all teeth and back of throat showing | Defensive aggression, fearful |
| Lowered Body | Defensive, fearful, deferential, relaxed |
| Licking Lips/ flicking tongue | Appeasement, solicitation of reassurance |
| Raising forepaw | Solicitation of attention |
| Paws out, front end down, rump up and tail wagging | Invitation to play |
| Mounting or pressing on back and shoulder of another dog | Challenge, marking, claiming |
| Licking at corners of another dog's or person's mouth | Anticipation, solicitation |
| Blowing out cheeks/lips | Anticipation, anxiety (if very fast) |
| Popping or snapping of upper and lower jaw | intention to comply as last resort. |