Cats 101: A beginners guide to what your cat wants

Cats are known for being mysterious and independent creatures but despite their cold demeanour they have won over humanity with their adorable antics and faithful companionship; and now reside in more than a quarter of the EU’s households. But did you know that cats have a unique "vocabulary" with their owner — each cat has a different set of vocalizations, purrs and behaviours? So, how can we gain more insight into the strange habits and behaviours of our favourite felines? Is there a language you can learn to communicate with your furry friend?

• Tail position

While a cat’s tails main function is to provide balance, a cat may also communicate its thoughts and feelings through the position of its tail. A tail held horizontally hints at a calm and relaxed mood. A high tail means that the cat is generally feeling a positive emotion (happy, confident, etc.) If the tail is slightly quivering whilst pointing upwards, it means they are really happy to meet you or another cat, while if the tail is pointed upwards in the shape of a hook or question mark that is a friendly invitation for you to interact with them. Alternatively, a tail pointing downwards would show negative emotions- If a cat has their tail hooked and pointing downwards it means that they are threatened and defensive while a tail pointing down would mean that the cat is potentially aggressive. Motion can also be a tell-tale sign of temper- If the tip of the tail is twitching, it’s a sign that the cat is either fascinated or irritated by something. This can be a sign of annoyance or a sign of playfulness if a toy is nearby. When a cat wags there tail in a rhythmical fashion from side to side, your feline is expressing hesitation or indecision. A more aggressive lashing of the tail is used to warn off other cats or humans and indicate the presence of a stronger emotion or a signal to a more dramatic action. If the tail is tucked between two legs the cat is scared or submissive to another cat or human. The most common tail position however, (at least in my experience) is your cat wrapping their tail around themselves. This would be the human equivalent to: “Thank you, I am fine on my own.”

• Vocalization

Cats have an incredibly diverse vocabulary-According to a study in 2019 cats have up to 100 different vocalizations while dogs only have 10. The classic meow that you will often hear is the "asking for something" sound and is generally mid-length and mid-pitched. The brief, high-pitched meow, known as a mewl, can be followed by rubbing against your legs and typically says "hello." A prolonged meow typically indicates that your furry companion wants something, like food. Meows that are frequent or high-pitched can be signs of excitement or pain in your cat, while l ow-pitched meows are a means for your cat to let you know you've done something wrong and show sorrow. As cat owners will tell you, one of the greatest triumphs of ownership is the first time your kitten starts showing their affection towards you vocally: purring. Here’s a little-known fact: a cat’s purr ranges within 20-140 Hz which is known to be medically beneficial towards humans. A cat's purr can not only lower stress, but it can also help laboured breathing, lower blood pressure, help heal infections, and even heal bones. Though purring is often associated with positive emotions and moments (grooming, relaxing, being friendly, etc.) cats also soothe themselves and other cats by purring during stressful situations. In a way, it’s a coping mechanism to relieve the anxiety during hard times. Domestic cats purr at a frequency of approximately 26 Hertz which helps tissue regeneration, so the next time your kitty comes up to you purring, pat them on the back and buy them a new toy. After all, it’s definitely worth investing in your own private doctor.

• Facial features

Pupil size, ear positioning, facial expression… There is simply so much to infer from a cat’s face, yet strangely enough, this is the communication type that we know the least of. Many facial expressions can be interpreted in multiple ways depending on the context while sometimes it remains completely ambiguous. Constricted pupils may mean that your feline is offensively aggressive, but it could also possibly mean that they are content (very confusing). Dilated pupils may be a result to your cat being subjected to intense light, while somewhat dilated pupils may mean your kitten is nervous or submissive. Fully dilated pupils, however, may show that your cat is defensively aggressive, or possibly playful. Very confusing, I know. Ear positioning can also be a key to cat language. When ears are slightly forward or to the side that usually means the cat is happy, relaxed, and content. Ears twisting back so only their acks could be seen would mean the cat is aggressive, while flattened ears usually show fear or defensiveness. If the ears are upright, the cat is alert, interested, while uneven ears signify listening for potential prey. If the ears are twitching the cat is nervous or agitated- this is the human equivalent to fiddling.

• Body

It is a common misconception that when your cat rubs their body against you, they are showing their affection towards you. Well… what are they doing then? What they're really doing is marking their territory. There are scent glands located on a cat's cheeks and head. These glands provide other cats with information about the cat who deposited the scent. They leave their scent around their territory by rubbing their body on what they consider their own. They're telling everyone that this is their territory, including you. Rubbing their head against you is also a sign of greetings.

Kneading is just as precious as purring is - and you have probably caught your cat doing it once or twice. It's a leftover behavior from nursing when they massaged their mother's breasts to make milk flow. Your cat does this when they are happy or content.

Though cats are mysterious creatures, there are keys to understanding the feline language if you observe their body language and facial expression carefully. Just like humans, these sensitive creatures need time to open up, but once they do, they are a very valuable companion throughout life.