What Is My Cat Trying To Tell Me

Why Does My Cat Stare At Me

While pet owners might find it convenient if cats could talk to them to express wants and needs, most cats only offer audible feedback in the form of meowing, trilling or hissing. But cats also provide lots of nonverbal communication, including stares, blinks, headbutts and rubs to make their affection known. Find out some reasons why your kitty might be staring at you.

Why Does My Cat Meow At Me

Did you know that when your cat meows at you, it is really just calling your attention to something? Perhaps you forgot breakfast or the litter box is full. Or they might just be calling another cat to play. Though since cats rarely meow at other cats, if you hear yours making distinct meows in your general direction, those sounds are probably intended for your ears.

They might meow to go out or to come in. They might meow to tell you that you need a lap cat today, or they might be thinking that you have been working too hard and need a break.

Note: If your cat is meowing at you more than usual , it’s a good idea to follow them and see if they lead you somewhere. This repeated meowing can help them let you know that they need more food, that the litter is full and needs to be cleaned, or sometimes even more drastic matters, such as the fact that maybe they just had kittens and want you to help protect them.

Is Your Cat Trying To Tell You Something

It would be unusual for any cat pawrent not to wonder about what your cat is trying to tell you. Dont you wish they could actually talk to us? Although cats cannot speak our language, they are amazingly communicative. If we just take the time to learn how to listen to what they are trying to tell us, then we can truly have some fascinating conversations with them.

Athena, Horatio, Abbie, & Augusta snuggled up and watching outside

Even though we may attempt to imitate a cats vocal sounds by meowing at them, cats dont normally meow to each other. However cats are highly intelligent and have learned that meowing to their human gets their attention. This sound can be translated into a variety of thoughts they wish to convey. Depending on the time of day, or the mood they may be in, or depending on the weather conditions, a meow could mean Feed me MEOW, I want attention MEOW, Its playtime, Let me out! or just a friendly Hello.

Abbie, Leo, Oliver, & Athena watching outside

Speaking of purring, some cats will purr while at the same time making little mewing sounds. This is a communication of extreme pleasure. The name I have given this most pleasing sound is churtling. If you hear your kitty churtling she is telling you she is experiencing total ecstasy.

Leo receiving kisses from his Mommy

FloridaWild Veterinary Hospital

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Things Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You

Even the biggest feline fan will admit cats sometimes do things that are a little…curious.

Theyre not as easy to understand as dogs, says Dr. Shian Simms, vice president of veterinary medicine at Bideawee, an animal welfare organization in New York City. They do a lot of things on their own terms.

But sometimes those curious behaviors are a cats way of communicating. Here are six feelings your cat is trying to express, and the signs that pet owners should watch for when observing their feline companions.

I Have Psychedelic Super Vision

Cats have very sensitive eyes that can actually see the UV spectrum. Their super-vision opens up to them a wild world of sights and patterns humans cant see, like psychedelic stripes on plant life and intricate colourations on feathers, perhaps explaining why cats get so fixated on things that, to us, seem utterly pedestrian. Some of the things they see that we cant? Along with patterns on animals and plants, they also see great fields of urine markers left by animalsso maybe its fortunate we dont share this super sight!

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Learning To Walk Like A Human To Replace Me

One of the things that spooks me the most is when my cat stands like a human. It just seems unnatural. Perhaps shes observing me so that when she finally does me in, she can replace me, take over my life, and act as if nothing happened. Its far-fetched, but you cant deny what you see with your own eyes.

What Your Cat’s Behaviors Body Language And Sounds Mean

Cheryl Simonds

I have owned cats for over 60 years. Between them and their vets, I have learned a great deal about how they tick.

If you’ve ever wondered what your cat might be trying to communicate to you with their behaviors, body language, and sounds, then this article will help you find some answers.

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Are Individual Meows Similar To Words In Human Languages

Meowing is a cat-to-human interaction that cats likely adapted from human speech, so why do cats meow? Does each meow have an identified meaning? Have cats developed the equivalent of a human linguistic pattern? Maybe.

Dr. Nicholas Nicastro, Ph.D. studied something very similar. He asked if humans could understand individual cat meows. For instance, could a person determine if the animal was asking for food, attention, or something else? In 40% of cases, experienced cat people could indeed interpret why the cat meowed. Dr. Nicastro could even detect certain meowing patterns that stayed consistent from cat to cat.

A short meow is a greeting, for instance, while a long and drawn-out one is a command. It would seem cats have developed a type of feline linguistics that mirrors human language in some respects.

What Is My Cat Saying

“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”Cat ChatTail

EarsEyes

Vocal Sounds

MovementsNow test yourself! See how many of these terms you know. All you have to do is . It will open in a new window/tab.Cats do lots of crazy things! Don’t you sometimes wish you could just know what they’re thinking? We do. Here’s your chance totell us what YOU think they might be thinking. We give you a picture, you tell us which of the choices given to you is the best idea of what the cat could be thinking. All answers are correct–it’s all your opinion! So get started! Just click here!

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My Teeth Need To Be Cleaned

Dental health is as important for your cat as it is for you. You need to make sure you are cleaning your cats teeth on a regular basis. Yes, this means brushing your cats teeth. No, this is not fun but it is necessaryand will very likely save you money on vet bills in the long run. Regardless of what type of diet your cats on, veterinarian Dr. Loridawn Gordon also recommends feeding your cat raw chicken necks. Its a great way to allow your cat to not only clean her teeth but get some natural calcium as well. There are many ways to naturally keep your cats teeth and gums healthy, so make sure your cats dental health is taken care of.

Not Eating: My Mouth Hurts

Not eating could be a sign of an oral health problem, such as a gum or tooth issue. Or it could be that shes sick of the brand of food or mad that you moved the dish, Werber says. Watch closely. If food is falling out of your cats mouth when it tries to eat, call the vet for an oral health check. If your cats just being a diva about its food, it will get over it eventually.

This post was brought to you by Cats Pride®.

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How To Handle Cats’ Meowing

Giving in to meow-demands tells the cat that pestering you is an effective means of getting its way.

There are health issues that can prompt excess meowing. Deaf cats, old cats suffering from feline Alzheimer’s, stressed cats suffering from , and those with thyroid, heart or kidney issues may yowl.

In otherwise healthy cats, though, the only way to extinguish this behavior is to totally ignore the cat. That means you don’t get up to feed her you don’t indulge in toe-tag games you don’t yell at her, spray her with water, or give any attention at all. Thats hard to do when shes paw-patting your nose, or shaking the windows with yowls.

Please Do Not Disturb My Nap On Your Laptop Or Keyboard

You people talk and talk about how much you need to work on the computer so you wake us up and push us off, but we know what youre really planning to do on them: watch videos of cats. Weird. Dont you humans realize that cats must get an average of 12 to 16 hours of shut-eye a day, or were just useless? Also, our delicate cat bodies need the warmth from your computer: Our ideal temperature is 20 degrees higher than that of you humans. If we are looking to cool down, check that its safe for us to drink milk.

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Signs That Your Cat Might Be Sick

In general, your cats’ behaviorsas puzzling as they might sometimes be to youare often just part of who they are and how they express themselves, and thus shouldn’t be cause of too much worry on your part. There are, however, a few indicators that might point to your poor feline potentially feeling a bit under the weather and/or in need of some medical attention.

Here are some important signs to watch out for:

How Can You Tell If Your Cat Wants Something From You

If your cat is anticipating something that they normally get from you, , they are likely to display some of the following body language:

• Your cat may be very focused on you, behaving in a way that is aimed to get your attention.
• Their tail may wave gently and rhythmically from side to side, but it should not be swishing/thrashing or thumping.
• Your cats tail may be held completely vertically it may even look slightly puffed up or appear to quiver a little at the base.
• Your cat may produce a louder, frequent, more urgent and less pleasant-sounding meow. Their purr might also be higher pitched, more urgent, and less pleasant-sounding.
• Your cat may rub against you .
• Your cat may follow you around and weave in and around your legs while being very responsive to your movements.
• Your cat may climb up or jump onto you or raise up their front legs to place their paws on you.

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Are There Subtleties To Meows That Are Out Of The Human Hearing Range

Unlike elephants whose rumble is so low human ears cant pick it up, cats dont vocalize outside human hearing range. They can, however, hear much better than either humans or dogs.

Not only can cats hear the rustle of a treat bag from across the house, but they could hear it five times farther away than we ever could. Their ears are so precise and attentive they can determine the size and distance from their prey in .06 seconds. Plus, they can hear much higher frequencies than humans can. Theres no evidence that they are meowing at those same piercing pitches, though.

Be A Cat Detective And Get Investigating

Like humans, cats can often send mixed messages and their body language can be confusing. Sometimes their tail will be held high but theyll be in a bad mood. Sometimes their whiskers will be drawn back but theyll be perfectly happy.

This article is a good starting point, but the best way to decode what your cat is saying to you is to watch them carefully and figure out for yourself what body positions are associated with what mood. In addition, studying your cat’s vocalisations can also help decode what they’re trying to tell you.

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How Can I Make Sure My Cat Is Happy And Excited

Similar to humans, you can keep your cat happy by ensuring that their basic needs are met, ensuring they have the opportunity to engage with humans and different fun things like toys and activities on their own terms. A healthy cat is a happy cat, so its important to cater to their emotional needs as well as helping them keep physically fit and healthy.

Reasons Your Cat Keeps Meowing At You

1. To Get Your Attention, Duh!

Kittens use their meow when they are born so that their mother can hear them since they do not yet have the ability to see. As they grow older they learn to reserve their meows and usually only divvy them out when they are wanting attention. Fun fact: Cats rarely meow at one another, and use their meows more when communicating with their human.

Source: Sylvie via Flickr

2. I Want To Go Outside, Please

This one is usually a sweet meow, but loud enough to grab your attention. Whether they are by a window or perhaps the door forging an escape plan the minute it opens, this particular meow is meant to say they want to go outdoors to explore.

Source: Ray Dumas via Flickr

3. Midnight Meowing

Cats are known to sleep roughly 16 hours a day, and as no surprise sometimes cats can become most active at night. If you happen to hear some squirrelly meows come the midnight hour, this means kitty cat is ready to play although this might be the last thing you can think about doing while trying to catch some shut-eye.

4. Feed Me, Like Now

Every cat owner knows this bellowing, loudmouth meow all too well. When your cat is hungry, they are not shy about getting what they want. Until their desires are satisfied they will meow their butt off to grab your undivided attention. And if you accidentally left the store without grabbing their food, well, you better turn right back around, pronto!

Source: David J Laporte via Flickr

5. Something is Really Irking Them

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What Is My Cat’s Body Language Telling Me

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If your cat has ever flicked her tail at your leg or tilted her head to the side and stared at you for no apparent reason, you probably found yourself wondering, “What Is My Cat’s Body Language Telling Me?”

Verbal language in the form of hissing, growling and meowing are common ways in which your kitty communicates with you. After being roommates for a while, you can start to understand what she’s communicating. Non-verbal cat body language, however, can be trickier to decipher because as pet parents know well, cats are notoriously sly and expect you to read their kitty-cat minds.

Because they are such expressive creatures, cats can convey a lot of emotion without saying anything at all. It’s easy to lose hours of your life looking at fun, crazy photos of cute cats posted on any of the innumerable websites out there. Many of said images are captioned with what their pet parents think the cat is trying to tell them. Make sure to pay close attention to her non-verbal cues, there are a few ways to figure out what it is your kitty is trying to tell you.

Being At The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time

If youve never tripped over your cat, youre probably some kind of ballerina or gymnast or something. My cat has a habit of being under my feet at the worst times, like around the stairs or when Im carrying dangerous objects. Is it intentional? Probably not. But if my cat did want me dead, shed be doing a pretty good job of trying to kill me.

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I Am Cat Let Me Scratch

Just like you clip and file your nails so they dont reach Guinness Record lengths, we cats must maintain our claws. One cat behavior is by scratching, which helps us remove dead nail growth. There are two other important explanations behind why we scratch: We do it to mark our territory or to stretch . Sadly, when a sofa or rug becomes our favorite spot to scratch, some of you resort to declawing us. We beg you not toit would be comparable to your having the ends of your fingers cut off. Instead, get us a nifty scratching post , rub it with a little catnip, and give us a treat whenever we use it. If you notice a change in our active behavior, it could be one of the 11 cat cancer signs you need to look out for.

Cat Has Extreme Weight Loss

Is your cat so skinny that you can feel their bones when you pet them? Well, weight loss is another common sign that a cat may be dying.

Many chronic conditions can cause weight loss in their later stages, as well as improper absorption of nutrients. If your elderly cat is experiencing severe weight loss, it may be time to think about saying goodbye.

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