{"id":9011,"date":"2023-08-14T15:46:18","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T13:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.profeline.de\/?p=9011"},"modified":"2023-08-14T15:46:18","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T13:46:18","slug":"understanding-cats-better-body-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.profeline.de\/en\/understanding-cats-better-body-language\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding cats better – body language"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 2 – The Body Language of Cats<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cats communicate not only acoustically but also through their bodies, sometimes very subtly and almost imperceptibly for us humans. Therefore, it’s even more important to be able to interpret our cat’s more obvious signals.<\/p>\n

The tail position of the cat<\/strong> conveys a lot about its mood. An upright tail that moves lightly and gracefully back and forth signals a friendly greeting. A slight trembling in this position indicates excitement. However, the faster the tail starts moving, whipping around, the higher the excitement and the more aggressive the mood. Puffing up the tail or the back ridge is a gesture of threat. If the fur all over the body stands on end, it indicates fear.<\/p>\n

However, the biggest indicator of mood is found in the head area. All parts of the head reflect the cat’s mood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cat’s mood is best recognized through its ears. When the ears<\/strong> are upright and pointing forward, it’s a sign of a friendly, curious mood. The further the ears turn back and bend towards the head, the tenser the mood becomes.<\/p>\n

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Boris and Lilly from Profeline in a private moment of “playful aggression”.<\/p><\/div>\n

Also, the facial whiskers<\/strong>, or vibrissae, provide insight into the cat’s mood. When stretched forward, they indicate curiosity, readiness for action, but also an imminent attack. Pulled backward means “don’t come too close,” the cat wants its space or isn’t feeling well. They also pull them back when sniffing.<\/p>\n

When the eyes<\/strong> of the cat are wide open and are fixated on you or another cat, caution is advised. It’s provocative and could signify an attack, but also fear or vigilance. Half-closed eyes or a blink indicate the cat’s smile, a friendly gesture. Dilated pupils indicate fear, surprise, defense… or it’s dark \ud83d\ude09. Narrow, slit-like pupils are shown by the cat when interested, tense, or threatening… or when the sun is shining \ud83d\ude09.<\/p>\n