How to Speak Cat

A cat's tail is a very good indicator of mood.

Sign: The tail is relaxed, without much movement.
Meaning: Your cat is feeling calm and comfy.

Sign: The tail is wagging or twitching.
Meaning: Your cat is annoyed or angry. The harder the tail thumps, the worse mood your cat is in.

Sign: The tail sticks straight up, or almost straight up with a slight curve.
Meaning: Your cat is feeling friendly! Note: if the tail is also bristled, it is probably indicating aggression instead.

Sign: The tail is bristled.
Meaning: Your cat is angry and may attack.

Sign: The tail is very low to the ground or tucked between the legs.
Meaning: Your cat is is showing submissiveness (usually towards another cat).

The ears are also a good way to tell how your cat is feeling:

Sign: The ears are pointed back or laying flat against the head.
Meaning: Your cat feels threatened or aggressive.

Sign: The ears are perked up or pointed forwards.
Meaning: Your cat is alert and curious about sounds around him. He may be hunting/playing or simply in a good mood.

The dilation of pupils and the openness of the eyelids say a lot about how relaxed your cat is:

Sign: The pupils are dilated.
Meaning: Your cat is hyperattentive. He may be hunting/playing or afraid that he will be attacked.

Sign: The eyelids are half-open or your cat blinks very slowly
Meaning: Your cat is relaxed and amicable. He doesn't feel threatened, nor does he feel a need to threaten you.

Keep in mind that the dilation of pupils also depends on the amount of light in the room. If it is dark, even a relaxed cat will have dilated pupils.

Cats make a variety of noises, and what they mean can depend greatly on the context. However, there are some common noises:

Sign: Purring
Meaning: Most of the time, this means your cat is happy and relaxed. However, it can also mean many other things. Some cats will purr when giving birth or when they are in pain or distress.

Sign: Low-pitched, long meows
Meaning: Your cat may be upset.


Sign: Short, higher-pitched meows.
Meaning: Your cat is probably happy.

Sign: Growling, hissing
Meaning: Your cat is giving out a warning. This usually means he wants you to go away.

Sign: Yowling/screeching
Meaning: Your cat is very upset. If your cat is being left alone, he may want attention. If the cat is recieving a lot of attention, he might want you to back off. He could also be injured.

Many cats have their own dialect of kitty language. Pay attention to what your cat says and does in certain situations, and you can tailor the above advice to suit. Some cats will growl while enjoying a good head rub, for example, and others will give no warning signs before they attack. This advice is good in general. But there are exceptions to every rule.

For the purpose of this lens, we're going to assume that you want to befriend your cat. Some tips:

Your Eyes: To people, a large, open eye indicates youth and health. But your cat will interpret this as caution. A much friendlier eye is the "cat blink". Keep your eyes half-open and, when you have to blink, do so very slowly. This may take a bit of practice, but do not practice in front of the mirror if you are vain. Though this kind of blinking calms down cats, it will also make you look ridiculous to people.

Your Height: You are a lot bigger than your cat! Bring yourself down to the cat's level by sitting on the floor, and you'll instantly be less intimidating to a scaredy-cat.

Your Movement: Cats only need to be quick or sneaky when they are hunting. Therefore, if you make sudden movements or sneak up on your cat, he may be very startled! At the same time, a head-on approach signals aggression. If you find your cat turns tail when you come near, try approaching him slowly and to the front (but a bit off to one side). If your cat is very timid, it may be best to simply sit still and wait for him to approach you.

Your Noises: Loud noises are likely to scare your cat, especially if they sound like angry cat noises (eg., opening a can of pop sounds very similar to a hissing cat). Try to minimize the amount of noise in the room. Speaking to your cat softly may also help to soothe him.

It may be difficult to remember all of this at once, but don't despair. Most cats will give out a combination of signals at once, so being able to pick out one or two of them will be far more useful than if you could pick out none at all. Many cats are also used to the quirks of human body language, and will not be overly offended by your faux pas. But if you find yourself stumped when it comes to your kitty's moods, you might consider reading some books on cat behavior. These books will explain cat moods much more in-depth than possible in a short article like this, and I have found them very helpful in forging my feline friendships.