Install
Body Language & Communication terms
Reading cats: body language, tail and ear signals, purring and meowing, how cats communicate with people and each other, what cats are telling us.
AllogroomingOne cat licking another, usually around the head and neck, which strengthens bonds between cats that live together.Body languageHow a cat shows mood and intent through its tail, ears, eyes, whiskers, posture and fur.BuntingA cat pressing its head, cheeks or chin against a person, object or another cat to leave scent and say hello.ChatteringThe rapid clicking of the jaw and teeth, often with chirps, that cats make when watching prey they cannot reach.HissingA sharp, breathy warning sound a frightened or angry cat makes to tell another animal or person to back off.KneadingThe rhythmic pushing of a cat's front paws against a soft surface, a habit that starts in nursing kittens and usually signals comfort.PiloerectionThe upright bristling of a cat's fur, most often a sign of fear or arousal, which makes the cat look larger.Redirected aggressionA sudden attack on a nearby person or pet by a cat that is highly aroused by something it cannot reach.Scent markingHow a cat leaves chemical messages on objects, people and places using glands in its face, paws and body, and in its urine.Slow blinkA relaxed half-closed blink that cats use to signal comfort and goodwill, and that people can return.Tail languageWhat the position and movement of a cat's tail reveal about its mood, from a friendly upright tail to a lashing one.TrillingA short, rolling, rising sound cats use as a friendly greeting, copied from the way a mother calls her kittens.WhiskersThe long, stiff, touch-sensitive hairs on a cat's muzzle, brows, chin and forelegs that help it sense nearby objects and air movement.