Page 227 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

C A T C OMMUNIC A TION 225

TAIL SIGNALS
The most obvious signs of your cat’s mood are the visual signals he sends the way he is carrying and moving his tail will be a clear expression of the
out. Although he will give you signals with all parts of his body, one of the way he is currently feeling. Try to learn these different tail configurations
best barometers of his emotional state is his tail. When you look at your cat, and their meanings. Remember that his mood can change in an instant.

Flicking from Your cat is telling you Arched over A warning sign that he is
side to side that he is mildly irritated the back poised ready to strike

Thumping on A sign of frustration or Tucked between This tail position is a way of
the floor a warning signal the legs expressing submission

Curved like an With this tail-shape Horizontal or Everything is all right—he
“n” or low to and action, your cat is slightly low to is feeling calm and relaxed
the ground advertising the fact that the floor in a situation
and flicking he is feeling aggressive

Stand back—your cat
Strong lashing is not happy and he may Erect, sometimes He is feeling friendly and
interested in making
with a curl at
movements become aggressive if the tip contact with you
he’s approached
Hair fluffed out A sign of increased anxiety Pointing Your cat is literally
and standing and that your cat is feeling straight up quivering with joy and
on end threatened and vibrating excitement

Posture CAT SPRAYING
Your cat’s posture tells you one of two things: “go away” or Spraying is a perfectly natural
behavior, and you should not
“come closer.” Lying, sitting in a relaxed manner, or coming
punish your cat for doing it.
toward you indicates that he is approachable. A cat on his
back exposing his belly is not being submissive like a dog: this
is usually a fight posture that allows him to wield all his claws Smell and touch
and teeth. However, if he is also rolling from side to side, you Cats have a superb sense of
can assume that he is in a playful mood. Avoid touching his smell, so they use urine and
belly too much or you may get scratched or bitten. Wiggling scent to mark territory and
the rump is another sign that he is up for some fun. When leave messages for other
your cat is crouching—either looking sideways or with his tail cats. A cat that is not
wrapped around his body—he is neutered will spray to warn
looking for a chance to of his presence, threaten any rivals, and announce that he is
escape, pounce, or go on ready to mate. If a neutered cat still sprays, he is probably
the offensive. feeling anxious. Investigate what is triggering this behavior.
Cats also spread scent from glands on their cheeks, paws,
and tail by rubbing them on surfaces or other cats. These
scents mark territory and form social bonds. Cats that live
together will rub each other along the flanks or the head,
WARNING STANCE creating a group scent that alerts them to the presence of
When your cat stands
with rump raised or strangers. Your cat will also rub the members of your family
back arched, he is to mark you all as part of his “gang.” Cats sniff nose-to-nose
feeling threatened and when they meet; unfamiliar cats end the encounter there,
warning that he is but friendly cats progress to rubbing heads or licking each
about to attack. The
hair on his body may other’s face or ears. Scratching is another way of leaving
also be raised. scent, as well as being a visual signal of a cat’s presence.