Cat Chat: How Cats Communicate

When your cat meow, do you know what your cat wants?        

You might not even have an idea if you are new to cats, and have not been around them a lot.

Cats meow. But there are different types of meows for different meaning of what your cat wants from you. This is particularly true if your pet is a Siamese cat, which is very vocal. In one instance, one Siamese cat meowed so loudly and determinedly just so to tell its owner that he wants to play a game of hide and seek. So whenever the cat used this “unique meow”, the owner will recognize it immediately and playfully seek to find the hiding cat.

Indeed, Siamese cats have a human-like voice and is especially so when it is in heat. So don’t be surprise when you hear a human greeting in the middle of the night, it is most probably your cat greeting you. Otherwise, it also resembles a human baby crying.

All cats use their voices one way or another, especially so if it wants to covey through their “cat chat”. The differences in tones, intensity, pitch and even the speed of the voice all says a lot about the cat’s feelings. Slower meows means the cat is confident and relaxed whereas quicker meows indicates anxiousness or frightened.

Cat purrs are a unique yet favorite way for the cats to communicate. Cat purrs whenever it is contented or just in the mood to be sociable.

But your cat will also purrs when he is feeling nervous, a little jumpy or in great pain. Some experts determine that a purr may be a form of “meditation” for cats and is very comforting to them. If this is absolutely true, then it is the equivalent of our “Ohm” when we meditate.

When you have gained enough trust from your cat, your cat will eventually roll over its back, exposing the stomach area. This behavior is the ultimate form of submission. You should be honored. However, it does not means that your cat want his tummy to be rubbed, so be careful about it. A cat’s true feelings are exposed through the subtle way in how he holds his tail. Cats unlike dogs, which likes to wags its tail when it is happy, the cat will be actually annoyed or just confused.

A puffed up tail shows that your cat is feeling fear. Your cat’s tail will become at least twice its normal size. There’s something that could have frighten it such as fighting with another cat, or something had just startled him. A cat’s tail that is held up high indicates that a cat is feeling very good about himself and a little lower indicates being relaxed and somewhat content. A third eyelid is a layer of skin that surrounds the cat’s eyes. You can only see it if your cat is either very ill, especially running a fever or extremely content and sleepy.

Other behavior can also tell you if your cat is sick as he won’t be acting his normal self. Take your cat to the vet if this continues for a few days. Cats are very good at pretending and disguising their illness. This is because their ancestors, many thousands years ago, did not live very long when ill. So they will try to keep up the guise to survive as long as possible.

The third eyelid is also important in gauging when he’s very content and near the sleeping point. But pay attention to some other body language as it might indicate otherwise.

Your cat really loves you if it head butts you. You can try it back on him but not very hard of course. You will soon discover that he really enjoys this and starts to build a solid bond together.

Another indication that your cat want to show affection is through his lick. His mind had already associated the lick with love as he is being licked at by his mother when he was born. So be mindful not to jerk away when that sandpaper-rough tongue touches your skin so that you won’t hurt your cat’s feelings.

Cats are smart. Some experts even theorize that some cats is as smart as a two-year old human. So just wait and pay attention. Very soon you and your cat will have your own cat secret talk which will be most enjoyable and satisfying.