Understanding Your Kitten’s Body Language
Bringing home a new kitten is one of the most exciting things a cat lover can ever experience. There’s nothing more delightful than playing with something so tiny and hearing it purr when being tickled. But while having an adorable feline around the house may be fulfilling, it can also be confusing.
This is because cats can be hard to read. Unlike dogs, they reveal their mood through body language. If you have recently adopted a kitten and want to be able to tell when your pet is happy, angry, confident, or anxious, it is important that you know the common body language habits of a cat.
Deciphering Your Cat’s Non-Verbal Body Language
Cats communicate with humans in two ways: verbally and non-verbally. Verbal communication is often easy to understand because it comes in the form of purring, meowing, and growling. Non-verbal communication, however, is trickier because it comes in the form of body language – something humans have to carefully observe to understand. According to ZooAwesome, cats have a lot of strange behaviors that can be better deciphered by an understanding of their wild social natures. But to be able to better read your kitten’s mind better, pay attention to its tail, eyes, body, and ears.
#1 Tail
One of the easiest ways to read a kitten’s mood is by looking at its tail. A tail that is lifted high vertically is an indication of a happy, friendly, confident, and comfortable feline. A tail that points low, on the other hand, may mean that your cat is feeling anxious or fearful. Meanwhile, a tail that extends flat may be a sign of a relaxed cat.
#2 Eyes
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. In cats, they are the windows to the mood. If your feline’s tail is unable to tell you what your pet is thinking, look at its eyes. A cat that is comfortable and trusting will slowly blink at you. You may communicate back at it by slowly blinking as well.
Another way to tell your cat’s mood is by observing its pupils. A relaxed cat will have typical-sized pupils, whereas a stimulated cat will have dilated pupils. By stimulation, your pet could be playful or happy. However, it may also mean that it could be angry or afraid.
#3 Body
A kitten’s posture can also say a lot about its mood. For instance, a cat that is stretched out, on its side, lying down, or voluntarily exposing itself means it feels safe. Meanwhile, a kitten with its back arched and hair standing up indicates it is fearful or angry. Additionally, a feline that is crouching down or in a ball shape means it is uncomfortable.
#4 Ears
Sometimes, observing your kitten’s tail, eyes, and body is not enough to understand what it is trying to tell you. Another place to look for mood signs is the ear. Cats that are relaxed, happy, and confident have ears that stand straight up and forward. Meanwhile, cats that are feeling angry or fearful have ears turned back or flattened to the sides.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been scanning for fluffy Himalayan or British Shorthair for sale, it’s important to understand that cats have different ways of expressing themselves. Their wants, needs and feelings may be difficult to understand at first, but once you have decoded their body language, it will be much easier for you to handle them and it can lead to a lovely fulfilling relationship.
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