Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

Theresa Berrett

Vocalizations in Cats

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Has your cat ever talked to you?  Cats have a wide range of vocalizations to communicate with and can vary their pitch, length, and volume depending on what they are trying to convey.  Cats’ auditory communications can be divided into categories:  social conflicts between cats, during sexual behaviors,  between mothers and youngsters, and interacting with humans.

Meowing

Meowing is actually a sound kittens make to get the attention of their mothers.  However, adult domestic animals tend to retain some juvenile characteristics.  Domestic cats have kept the meow as a way of communicating with humans.  With a meow they may be asking for something they need such as food, attention, or access to an area.  It is sort of an all purpose vocalizations which could indicate anything from a greeting, to a command, to an objection. We have become their surrogate mothers in this regard.  Adult feral cats do not meow because they don’t have us acting in that role for them.

Purring

Purring is normally associated with contented and relaxed cats, and while they do purr in pleasant situations, they often also purr while sick, injured or stressed.  It is now thought that purring is used as a way to convey contentment or appeasement, to self soothe, or to seek companionship.  Looking at the context can give you a good idea of why your cat is purring in different situations.

Chirrups and Trills

These sound like the combination of meow and a purr.  This is what mother cats use to greet their kittens upon return, or to get their kittens to follow them.  Domestic cats often use this to say hello to their people.  Of course, they may also be aching you to follow them to the food bowl!

Hissing and Spitting

Hissing is a pretty unmistakable sign of agitation and spitting is a more extreme or emphatic version of a hiss.  It is important to note that this is an involuntary defensive response.   A cat’s mouth is open and teeth are showing during a hiss. It is a signal to warn away would-be dangers.  Different cats will hiss in different situations, depending on how agitated they are.  Well-socialized cats tend to hiss less than a cat who has less experience with the world.

Growling and snarling

This is a long duration, low frequency vocalization.  Growling sounds more like a rumble, where snarling is a growl punctuated with a higher pitched sound.  These occur during aggressive interactions.  Sometimes a growl might also occur as a warning to another animal or person whom the cat thinks might take away a resource, such as food.

Yowling

This resembles a long drawn out meow or howl and can occur in two very different circumstances.  One is a female’s signal of willingness to mate to males in the area.  The other is to communicate intense discomfort, distress, or displeasure. Sometimes in elderly cats this can indicate disorientation or confusion.

Chattering

Chattering is made when a cat rapidly and repeatedly brings her teeth together.  It often happens when a cat sees a prey animal, thus eliciting her predatory instinct, but she cannot reach the prey.  This is often seen in cats watching birds or squirrels through a window.

All cats are different in the amount they tend to vocalize.  Some breeds are more vocal than others.  Cats sometimes become more vocal as they age.  This is thought to be due to either dementia or declining eyesight.  Hearing loss can also cause a cat to vocalize more frequently.

Why cats are different than dogs?

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It is really as simple as predator vs prey. Dogs are purely predators.  They follow directions from pack members while hunting and show clear body language because that is how they communicate as a pack.  Cats, on the other hand, are both predator and prey.  As prey cats are wary, they’re going to assume that there’s a reason to be scared. They go to fight or flight first, stop and assess the situation second. Dogs are more likely to first check out the situation first and see what the scene is, whereas cats are going to slink around the edges and give themselves a way to escape. Cats do hunt, but they’re also going to be wary of what’s happening. Cats are solitary hunters, and because of that they don’t have the same overt body language and communication that dogs have to let the other members of their pack know what they are thinking.  With that said cats body language can be understood, it is just much more subtle than dogs.

We have to view cats and dogs in totally different lights when we’re working with them and training them because of the differences in their status as prey or predator.  Cats are not trying to be elusive or secretive or spiteful.  They are doing what their biology tells them will keep them safe.  Any use of punishment techniques with a cat will terrify them and they are gonna assume that you are not safe.  

That is why positive reinforcement is so important in working with cats.  It increases your bond with your cat and gives them confidence that the environment they live in is safe.  It gives them a reason to want to work with you and a reason to not fear you. Any animal that lives in a state of fear or stress will start to show that fear and stress on the outside.  For cats that may be urinating outside the litterbox, spraying, or destructive scratching.  Using positive reinforcement training you can learn to communicate with your cat before any of these behaviors happen.  And in solving any stress or fear issues, positive reinforcement can help your cat to relax and learn to bond with you and gain confidence in their environment.

Vibrissae!  What are your cat’s whiskers telling you?

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Such a sensual sounding word, and it really is.  It is another word for cat whiskers.  The very thing they use to “sense” the environment around them.  Each whisker is equipped with tactile receptors that communicate both vibrations and touch.  They can detect a breath of air, they are so sensitive.  This can help them find prey by just movement. They are so important to a cat that they are the first hairs to develop before birth.  They are longer and thicker than other hairs and reach much deeper under the skin where they are in contact with nerves.

While cats do have eyebrow and chin whiskers, it is the movement of the muzzle whiskers that communicate a cat’s mood.   They can indicate anything from interest to fear to even pain. 

A relaxed friendly cat will have whiskers just slightly to the side.

An interested cat will have her whiskers perked forward and spread out.  This can also be an indication of a hunting cat.

An anxious or stressed cat will hold her whiskers slightly back, with increasing fear she will pull them back closer to her cheeks.

Whiskers pulled tightly back to the face, along with the ears, are a sign of defensive (fearful) aggression as par of the attempt to get smaller and protective of herself, and a cat will show offensive aggressive by pushing both the ears and whiskers forward much the same as hunting.

Cat’s tend to be very stoic when it comes to pain. Being the prey animals that they are, it is best to hide your weakness from predators.  But whiskers pushed forward can be an indicator of pain.

Cats can get “whisker fatigue” which means they get worn out by just feeling too much.  Kind of the same way I get at the end of a long day and it feels like everyone is talking much more loudly. This may be why your cat does not like to eat or drink out of a deep bowl.  It is always a good idea to provide something shallow, just to increase the wellbeing of your cat.  

Never cut your cat’s whiskers, this can impair their ability to navigate the world around them and can be painful.  This goes for pulling whiskers too.

Is July 4th your cat’s least favorite holiday?

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It is not just from sudden booms from fireworks, but holidays in general tend to take a toll on cats.  Cats derive a huge amount of security and comfort from things being predictable.  Any holiday that changes the normal events of the day is harder for our feline friends.

Here are some things you can do to help your cat to adjust to holidays.

Create a cozy hideaway – Offer a secret place to hide that is comfortable and cozy.   Maybe a familiar bed or blanket in a private cat only spot she can dash off to as things get going in your household. A clock wrapped in a blanket can offer a reassuring tick or vibration. Using feline pheromone spray on the blankets also can sometimes help.

Play some soft classical or species specific relaxing music – Research suggests that cats find music calming.  Don’t make it loud to drown out the fireworks though!

Close the curtains – The flashes of light and the extra activity outside can be disturbing to cats.

Take a deep breath – Don’t react to the extra load of having more going on or to the sounds of fireworks.  Your cat will take his cues from you about staying calm.

Consider veterinary help – If you know your cat reacts to fireworks or the extra activity from past experience, ask your veterinarian about temporary anxiety medications.

Offer something new – Try a brand new toy or scratch pad, distraction is…well distracting.

Keep the drinks away – Alcohol is sometimes a part of the 4th of July celebration, but keep those drinks out of paws reach. Alcohol can intoxicate your cat.  It can quickly become a life threatening emergency such as respiratory failure.

Watch the door – With more outdoor activity and guests coming and going, do your best not to let your cat out.  It may be especially difficult to coax her back inside at this time. Warn your guests to be on the lookout for your pet as they go in and out.

Make sure your cat is microchipped – In the unfortunate event your cat does get out and ends up at the local shelter they can scan and find your information immediately and get your friend back to you.  Remember to keep your chip information updated also, otherwise it is just a number on a microchip.  Without a microchip no one will have any easy way to identify your pet.  Collars and tags can also be helpful, but can be snagged on a tree or branch and be lost.  For cats, stretchy collars with a phone number printed on the collar are best.

Cat Eyes!

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Cats get a bit trickier than dogs here.  Dogs evolved to work together in packs so their facial expressions are more obvious for the sake of communication with the pack.  Cats, on the other hand, are solitary hunters and don’t need for others to know what they are thinking as readily.  Still cats’ eyes do help to communicate their mood and even can help you know if they are in pain.

A relaxed cat will have their eyes partially or completely shut, they appear to be in a state of delight and contentment.  They do not tend to make direct eye contact, but if they do they punctuate it with blinks.  Sometimes your cat will squint in enjoyment of scritches and cheek rubs, this is a sign of love and trust. When your kitty slow blinks it is a sign of acceptance and comfort.  Directing a blink at you means she trusts you and can, therefore, not need to pay too close attention to you.  You can direct a sweet lovey slow blink in return.  Slow blinks from you are also a good way to meet a new cat and indicate your acceptance of them.

A prolonged direct stare without blinking indicates a threatening or confrontational signal.  Aggressive cats will direct a hard stare at the one they are attempting to threaten.  This is the cat to give space to, and avoid direct eye contact with in order to avoid injury. 

Fearful cats will often direct a wide eyed stare with a furrowed brow at what they are afraid of.

While diverting eye contact is an appeasing gesture toward another.  If you are facing a potentially aggressive cat, you can divert your eye contact, and back down, so to speak.

Cat pupils can also dilate and constrict depending on the light, but also depending on their state of arousal.  

Constricted pupils are expressing contentment for the most part.  But constriction can also occur during offensive aggression.  This is important communication in multi-cat households.  The would-be aggressor can use a direct stare with pupils only slightly dilated to indicate to the others they get access to resources first.  This is a subtlety that humans often miss before any aggression actually breaks out.

Dilated pupils are associated with states of arousal such as fear, excitement, overstimulation, play, or defensive aggression.  However, dilated pupils can also be a tell for pain in a cat.  Cats often do not show pain in other ways being potential prey items.

What are your cats ears telling you?

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Imagine if humans had cat ears and we could easily see each other’s moods.  Imagine driving up to a 4 way stop and all you had to do was glance around to see what each of the other drivers were thinking.

Your cat gives you some pretty visible clues with her ears as to what she is thinking and feeling.

Cats can move their ears independently of each other. Rotate them 180 degrees, as well as move them up and down on their head.  They have 32 muscles that control their ears to our 6!

Ears pointed forward or slightly outward are neutral and relaxed as she listens to the world around her.

Ears pointed held to the side or pinned back indicate fear or aggression.

Ears perked forward show interest. They can show focus. This kitty is intensely interested in something in the grass, maybe a mouse.

One or both ears swiveling in one direction usually indicates when a cat is paying close attention to noises coming from that direction. Cats ears can help them to triangulate exactly where a sound is coming from.

Sometimes both ears rotated back is known as airplane ears. It can indicate arousal, meaning “I want to play” or “I’m scared”, or even “I’m annoyed, watch out”