Numerous scientific studies conclude that cats have an elaborate communication system (with hundreds of vocalizations) to tell humans what they want or need. However, sometimes you may not understand what your four-legged friend wants to tell you. So understanding your pet’s body language (and what it’s trying to tell you with its meows) could help you bond with your feline. Take note!
Analyze their body language
Like dogs, cats communicate with the movement of their tails. For this reason, it is essential that you know what it wants to tell you through the position of its tail . Some common positions may include:
- Tail up with a curl at the end: this indicates that your cat is happy.
- Waving or zigzagging tail: the kitten is excited or anxious).
- Tail lowered and tucked under rear: your cat feels scared.
- Tail around your leg: your cat is waving to you.
Look at their eyes
Your cats’ eyes can give you a lot of information about how they feel. However, you should bear in mind that if you stare at your cat without blinking, it could be interpreted as a threat or aggressive gesture.
If your pupils are dilated, you may feel very playful or excited. On the other hand, if you find him looking into your eyes, it means that he trusts you and feels comfortable with you. Similarly, a cat that blinks slowly may be showing affection, indicating that he is comfortable with whoever is around him.
Talk to your cat
Cats are always learning to communicate with us. Therefore, the more you communicate with your cat, the faster it will learn. If you repeat a word many times, over time he will learn what you are trying to tell him. For this reason, you may need to repeat the word ‘sleep’ every time they lie down on their bed.
Over time, the cat will begin to associate the sound of the repetitive word with actions, and will even go to bed before you tell it.
Use non-verbal cues
You can train your cat to understand words, but it will certainly instinctively understand non-verbal cues. For example, if your cat wants to snuggle on the side of the couch but is hesitant, you could pat the couch using a soft voice.
On the other hand, you must be consistent with the signals you send to your cat. A very common mistake is saying ‘no’ to pets while petting them. This is very confusing for the cat, so you should avoid it at all times.
Also, you should never yell at your cat as it will only scare him. To correct him, it is better that you say ‘no’ with a direct and resounding tone. The cat will notice your discontent and, over time, will correct its behavior.
