Never feel your communication with your cat is only one way, from you
to your cat. Cats are excellent communicators and once you take the time
to learn 'cat language', you will be surprised at just how much you can
understand.
Cat language and cat body language are as intertwined as they are
with humans. We not only hear what the people we are listening to are
saying, we see it with their body language. If you pay attention to your
cat, you will notice the same things happening.
First off, cats are very good communicators. Their vocabulary is huge
with the majority able to make more than 100 sounds. Try listening
carefully. There are the different types of purring, different hisses,
growls, meows and other gentle sounds that are hard to categorize.
By using these different sounds and combined with their body
language, owners can pick up a multitude of information about just what
is going on with their cat.
There are completely different sounds for 'I'm hungry' and 'I'm
hurt'. And the sound for 'where have you been' is different to 'let me
outside I need to pee'.
When cats communicate with with each other, the sounds of 'hi, let's
get to know each other' are vastly different to 'get out of my garden'.
It all comes down to observing and learning.
My cat Cassie is a great communicator. When I was unwell, she spent
most of the day sitting on my lap while I read. We both enjoyed this
time together and I learned a great deal about her body language and the
various sounds she made.
When I went back to working on my laptop each day, she kept coming in
to ask why I wasn't in my chair ready to pet her. If I worked later than
normal, she would be in the office 'telling me' it was past knock off
time. When I walk into the lounge room, she jumps on the arm of my chair
ready for when I sit down. We have little conversations where she meows
very gently and I meow back and stroke her. It's almost like saying 'how
was your day'.
At night she goes mouse hunting and the sound she makes as she brings
in her prize is very loud, as if she's saying 'look how clever I am'.
If she is hurt in any way, she lets me know through her body language
and I am able to take the appropriate action.
Her mother Tikki is also very good at cat language. As my daughter
now spends time away from home due to work commitments, Tikki will now
come and 'ask me' when she is due home. Again, this is a different sound
to the one
Cats are also extremely good at communicating with one another and
once again with humans, by their body language. Cat owners who are tuned
in to their cat's behavior can communicate extremely well, and this also
makes it a lot easier for the owner to train a cat to do particular
things or to behave better.
It also allows the opportunity to become a lot more aware of when the
cat is not feeling well and when a trip to the vet might be necessary.
Fortunately that is not too often if the cat has been well cared for and
given good nutrition because they are extremely resilient and even the
process of purring can help to stimulate healing properties within the
cat.
If your cat is making a sound and it is directed towards you then you
know it is trying to communicate with you and usually it is not too hard
to work out what it wants.
