Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

Cat Communication

Answer Your Cat’s Question Day

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More than 600 million cats share the planet with us, and although we have cohabitated for close to 12,000 years, cats and humans don’t always understand each other.  Researchers at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine say that a cat’s brain is more similar to the human brain than to a dog’s brain, yet feline behavior can be baffling.    

In celebration of Answer Your Cat’s Question Day (January 22nd), take a little more time than usual to tune in and connect with your favorite kitty cat.  You may uncover a question or two she has been dying to know the answer to, and in the process, you may unlock some of her puzzling behavior. 

  1. Why do you keep on petting even when I have had enough? 

Snowball is purring and you are enjoying the touch of her soft silky fur against your fingertips.  Suddenly, hyper-dermic-like teeth penetrate your arm!  A love-bite?  Maybe, but some behavior experts refer to this as petting-induced aggression and Snowball’s response is simple, “I’ve been annoyed by your constant petting and you didn’t stop.”  Although your canine pal may let you continue on and on and on with a belly rub, cats are not small dogs.  They are different creatures altogether, and the non-stop pressure on their tender bodies has its limits.  Pay attention.  Your cat will give you signals:  flattened ears, whiskers pulled back, pupils dilated, and a whipping tail, all mean it’s time for a break! Taking a different cue from your kitty though, is understanding her head-butting or bunting, which is a form of feline affection.  Cats have scent glands at the base of their tail, between their toes, under their chin, along their temples on their ears, and at the corners of their cute little feline mouths.  With so many scent glands on your kitty’s noggin, her bumps are nudges of endearment as she is marking you as her territory. 

  1. Why are you obsessed with my poop but get upset when I pee on the carpet? 

My precocious furry friend, I’m worried about you!  What goes in, must come out, and it should look a certain way if you are a healthy kitty cat, so although your poop is not my favorite thing to look at, I’m trying to keep tabs on your health.  If you don’t poop often enough, too frequently, if it is runny, dark, or has blood, mom or dad needs to get you checked out by your vet.  The same goes for your pee.  You know your manners by now, and I know you’re not trying to be a bad kitty, so if you’re not answering nature’s call where we agreed upon (in your litter box), that must mean you can’t make it there in time and might have a Urinary Tract Infection or other problem.  I know that cats are finicky and like a clean bathroom, so I will do my best to clean your box regularly, provide you with your privacy, and use the litter you like best. 

Here are some more questions your cat may have for you:

Why do you love taking photos of me with that flashing camera every day?

Why do you keep bringing different people into the home?  It makes me nervous.

Why don’t you let me outside?

Proper Introductions

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You have a loving relationship with your sweet kitty, why not increase the love and offer home to another cat or kitten?  Then they could have a friend to play and cuddle with! Suddenly your sweet and relaxed kitty is angry, hissing, and chasing the new cat and possibly even not using the litter box!  What happened there?  Is it possible to add another cat to your household peacefully so everyone gets along?  And what about when two cats who previously did get along suddenly don’t?

With time and proper introductions, or reintroductions (for the former companions), cats can learn to peacefully get along.  Domestic cats are social and do benefit from companions, but it does require a delicate process to help them start off on the right paw.  Cats do not work things out on their own, as can be a common belief.

In the case of cats who used to like each other, but suddenly changed, it may take some detective work to discover the cause of the rift.  It could be a matter of something that scared one or both of them and that fear was displaced onto the other cat.  It could be an internal difficulty, emotional or physical, with one cat causing her to not feel good and just needing more space.  It could be a need to change the environment to accommodate the changing social needs of younger cats as they grow.  Maybe one cat had to leave the house for a while and now that she is back, they don’t seem to recognize each other.  There are lots of scenarios that might cause cats to go from companions to combatants.  In order to have a successful reintroduction it may take a veterinary visit and some work to discover, if possible, the cause of the difficulties.  Without removing the problem a reintroduction will not change anything.

Successful introductions require patience and plenty of time.  Rushing it could cause things to go backwards and become more difficult.  Here are some tips for introducing cats to each other in a safe and happy way.

What we are going to do here is desensitization, gradually exposing each cat to the other starting with scent.   And counterconditioning, which is pairing something positive such as play or treats with the other cat creating a positive association between them.

  1. Start before bringing the new cat home, or to separate companions who are having a difficult time.  Set up a safe room with all the things a cat needs to keep him comfortable; 2 litter boxes, food and water, a place to hide, a place to climb or play, and new toys.   The litter boxes, food, and water should be placed as far apart from each other as possible. 
  2. Cat’s inhabit a very olfactory world, so first introductions should be through scent.  Use a soft sock (a clean one of yours will have your scent also) on your hand and gently rub one cat, particularly the cheeks and head where his calming pheromones are, just like you are petting him.   Place that sock in the area of the other cat and place some treats near the sock. Do this process again in reverse with another sock for the other cat.  Repeat the process of adding fresh scent for a few days to make sure no one is reacting to the socks.
  3. Create a group scent through allogrooming and allorubbing, or hugging and kissing for cats.  Allogrooming and allorubbing are how cats share scent with each other to create a group scent.  Only here you are going to be using a soft brush or sock to share scent between cats.  Again add in the treats to keep the positive connection to the other cat’s scent. Be cautious and slow here, if anyone reacts to the other’s scent, back up a little and give them more time.
  4. Once they are used to each other’s scent, trade places with them for a little time, giving them each a chance to explore the other cat’s “territory”.
  5. Gradually introduce them through sight next.  Start by feeding them on opposite sides of the door.  Once they are relaxed, add in feeding them on opposite sides of a barrier they can see through, such as a baby gate.  You may have to start with them quite a ways away from the barrier at first and then gradually move them closer until they are eating in a relaxed way in close proximity.  Again, if there is any stress by either cat, there is no harm in backing up a few steps and giving them more time.  Eventually, you can remove the barrier and let the cats eat near each other with supervision.
  6. From here it is a good idea to always supervise interactions for a time, but allow the cats to be loose together.  While you are not able to supervise, I would suggest keeping them separate until you are confident they are able to manage together.

While this seems like a lengthy process, and it really is, it is worth the peace in the household you will have.  Some cats will never become best friends, but they can learn to live comfortably together without conflict.

Scent and Touch in Cats

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Imagine if you were to walk out your front door in the morning and take a deep breath and breathe in all the neighborhood information.  The neighbor on your right is not feeling well today, and the neighbor on your left took the dog out for an early walk and went down the trail across the street.  And what is that?  Someone you don’t know walked by, but with something yummy and they went to the door of the ill neighbor, maybe bringing them some soup.  On your morning walk you pass another neighbor and hug, making sure to share your scent to reinforce your friendship. This is the scent and tactile (or touch) world of a cat.  Cats have twice the olfactory cells that humans do, allowing them to use their nose to navigate the world around them. Cats use both touch and scent to communicate, maintain social bonds, and defend their territory.  They have scent glands all over their bodies concentrated on their flanks, face, and paws.  Cats living in a social group will have a group scent that both identifies the group and individuals within that group.  They leave these scents on surfaces in their environment.

Have you ever seen your cat open her mouth, curl her lips up, and pause with it open while sniffing something?  Cats have a special receptor called the vomeralnasal organ located in two small sacs just above the hard palate in the roof of their mouth.  It has ducts to both the nose and mouth.  When they are smelling a particularly interesting scent, a cat can open their mouth and breathe in some of the scent to get a better smell. This is called a flehmen reaction.

Allorubbing

Has your cat ever insisted on rubbing her cheeks on something you are holding or even on you?  That is a good thing.  This is called allorubbing, in particular “bunting” or “chinning”, rubbing their chin or cheeks or head on you.  These are expressions of affection and a way for your cat to say “ you are mine”. Facial scent glands allow cats to mark and lay claim to objects in their home range. Allorubbing is the act of rubbing any part of the body against an object or another animal.  When cats are separated from you or one another they will engage in allorubbing when reunited to mix scents and to express affection.  If you have a multi-cat household and they need to be separated for a time.  It can help to reintroduce them to each other by using a cloth to rub each cat, particularly on the cheeks, before putting them together.  Cats view the world much more through scent than visually and this can help them to “recognize” one another.

An interesting aside, male cats will allorub both male and female cats, but female cats will only engage in allorubbing with other females.

Allogrooming

When your cat licks or grooms himself or another cat, he is sharing scent from his saliva and scent glands around his mouth.  This is called allogrooming and can help to establish an overall scent for a group, as well as reinforce social bonds.  (I don’t highly recommend licking your neighbor though!)  Cats will groom any species with which they have a friendly social relationship, including you.

Kneading

Kneading, also known as “making biscuits”, is a behavior left over from kittenhood.  When a kitten rhythmically presses her paws on either side of her mother’s nipple it stimulates the flow of milk.  In domestic cats, this behavior continues into adulthood when a cat feels safe and comfortable in their environment.  A soft blanket, pillow, or lap are popular spots to knead.  A person’s larger size and warmth might evoke the feeling of a kitten beside her mother causing her to knead in an expression of affection toward her person.  Cats do also have scent glands in their feet and this is another way of claiming you as theirs.

Since this is an expression of affection and an instinctive behavior, cats should never be reprimanded for kneading. Owners can keep claws clipped or provide a barrier, such as a blanket between the cat’s paws and skin or clothing.

Scratching

Contrary to popular belief, cats do not scratch items merely to sharpen their claws.  Although it does help to dislodge the worn sheath on the outside of claws as they grow,  it is also leaving a scent to mark the area.  This is why your cat may scratch the side of the couch where you sit.  They are letting other cats know this is their territory with you.

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.

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”

Cat Communication

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Cat Tails

It is always a good idea to get to know what your cat is thinking. Most of us intuitively understand them, but it can help to know the various ways a cat can communicate. Keep in mind it is a good idea to note the context in which a cat is displaying certain body language to fully understand what they are communicating.  They communicate visually through body language, auditorily through vocalizations, tactile (touch), and through scent.  Overall communication can be put into 3 categories:  distance increasing (antagonistic), meaning the cat wants to get away.  Distance decreasing (affiliative) meaning the cat wants to be nearer a person or object.  Or simply neutral with neither a desire to get away or move closer.

I will start with visual communication, beginning with the details, then putting it together with whole postures.


Tails

Cats’ tails are quite effective in helping a cat to balance, but they also say quite a lot with their tails.  


A neutral tail is generally horizontal or slanting slightly down, this can indicate the cat is confident and relaxed, yet alert.  

An aroused cat will have a twitching, waving, wagging or flicking tail.  Arousal could mean agitation for a number of different reasons such as fear, aggression, or playfulness.  Sometimes a cat can exhibit arousal while stalking prey with almost complete stillness except for a tiny twitch at the tip of the tail.

It is a good idea to approach a cat with a thrashing tail with caution as this indicates extreme arousal that could result in attack.

They can communicate excitement with a quivering tail, of course this can also indicate spraying urine.

A tail tucked close to the body or between the legs indicates fear. Although relaxed “loaf” cats will also hold their tails close, it is often not pressed against the body tightly.


A standing straight up, puffed “bottle brush” tail is a show of fear or defensive aggression.  

While a hooked L shaped tail indicates offensive aggression (ready to attack).  

A tail held high is a confident and friendly greeting, particularly if it is in the shape of a question mark.  A high quivering tail is excited to see the person or object.