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What is my pet telling me?

Cat body posture dictionary

How do your cat´s postures show how they feel? This blog post decodes your cat´s positions and movements. Part 7 of 15.

A vector illustration of Violet on a lime green rectangle. Violet is a medium-sized cat with white fur and only her left eye. Her left ear and tail are dark aubergine. She’s stretching facing right, with her front paws bending, her back rear up, and her tail waving up in the air, in front of a paper-textured off-white paw shape on the left side of the rectangle.

Pets are part of our families, but we speak different languages. To help you, we created a  pet language investigation method for you to understand your pet better.

For your investigation to create a successful translation and lead to many joyful interactions with your cat, we begin by gathering clues in your cat’s body language.

To dig deeper into the complete process of this investigation, check out our previous blog post on how to investigate pet body language.

Let's begin!

Look for the clues
Every clue is crucial and meaningful in studying the message your pet is sending you.  

Cat body posture dictionary

Learning about cat body postures and movements

A cat's body posture and movements adapt to your cat's perception of the environment. If they feel safe, their body is relaxed, but if they don't feel safe, they may try to look smaller or bigger.  

Neutral position

Neutral position

Your cat feels safe and relaxed.

Crouched position

Crouched position

Your cat is trying to make themself look smaller to avoid being seen as a threat and avoid conflict. Muscles are tense. They are fearful and defensive. 

Extended position

Extended position

Your cat is trying to make themself look bigger by puffing their fur. Their tail is bristled and raised, and they have extended legs and arched back. Their body is tense and held sideways. They are ready to defend themselves!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to check our previous blog post to find more clues:
 Cat Tail Dictionary
Cat Vocalizations Dictionary

That’s it! Observe your cat's body language. After some time, most steps will come to you naturally.  Keep an eye out for our next blog post. We´ll explore how all the clues come together to uncover your pet’s message.
 
 Thank you for reading!
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References
  1. Galaxy, Jackson (2017). Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat. TarcherPerigee Book.
  2. SCPA- Cat communication 101
  3. Hattori, Dr. Yuki (2020). What Cats Want. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  4. Liesbeth Puts (2021). THE HANDBOOK FOR A HAPPY CAT: Speak Their Language, Decode Their Quirks, and Meet Their Needs— So They’ll Love You Back! Kosmos Publishers

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