The Expressive Cat: How to decipher feline body language.

When your kitty is not resting on his favorite Armakat cat tree, he often causes us to wonder how to best communicate with him. Well, the first way to go about communicating with that furry little loved one is to understand how cats communicate with each other.

You can be sure there are natural modes of feline communication that have been well practiced by kitties for generations. Cats utilize a litany of instinctive expressions. These are physical, facial, and vocal cues that tell other cats what their state of mind is and if they feel safe, endangered, scared, happy, or aggressive. Further, misinterpreting these feline instincts and their methods of communication can result not only in bad feelings and mutual mistrust but in scratches and bites from our best friends.

For instance, it is important to note that cats and dogs communicate in opposite ways: An upright tail in a dog usually means he is ready for play. To the contrary, a cat’s twitchy, swishing tail usually denotes worry. Though flattened ears in a dog often denote submission, in a cat the same flattened ears often signal fear and a possible offensive attack.

A cat’s intentions can often be predicted by body postures, facial expressions, and vocal cues. Learning what these are holds the key to preventing aggression and building a deeper, loving bond with your cat. Plus, you’ll be able to figure out how your cat relates to his environment as well as to your family and friends. But first, you need to know what to look for.

The cat's tail movements and positions are the most expressive part of the cat's persona and the best way to gauge their mood. A tail held high and straight is a happy cat. A relaxed sway can denote a playful feline. A high tail that lashes back and forth indicates the cat is troubled, defensive, or potentially aggressive. If the cat's tail is low and between her legs, she is worried. A low tail that twitches side to side signals upcoming stalking behavior. If the cat wraps her tail around you, you can be glad because she is happy and content you are there.

Facial expressions and body postures, along with ear positions and vocalizations can all signify different emotions and cat-itudes. For much more on this fascinating subject, you can go to: https://moderncat.com/articles/expressive-cat/