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Written by Wendy Christensen
To assess a cat’s state of mind and emotion at a given moment, read her body language, and pay attention to her gait, posture and body position. Look at what her ears, eyes, and tail are doing. Here’s a little summary from my new book, “Outwitting Cats” (The Lyons Press):
Taking an "Instant Reading" of your Cat
Sometimes, you need to instantly assess your cat's mood, divine his current preoccupation and predict what he's about to do. His body language is your crystal ball.
Happy Cat, Greeting Human
A little "hop-step" dance
Tail held high over head
Stiff, quick flick of tail
Eyes wide
"Winding" and rubbing around your ankles
Head-bunting
High pitched, kittenish "squeak" or "mew"
Loud, expansive purr
Heading for the kitchen!
Happy Cat, Greeting a Cat Friend
Side-by-side, full-body slide-pass
Same movement, but cheek to cheek
Brief touching of noses, or sometimes, just whiskers: the "whisker kiss"
Brief lick at the top of the head; may be mutual
Sniff or brief lick just above tail
Tails are held upright, tails may sway gently.
Frightened Cat
Crouched low to the ground
Paws tucked in tightly to body
Pupils dilated
Tail tucked closely around or under body
Fur standing up, especially on tail
"Airplane ears" (wide and flat like wings), or slightly flared rearwards
Whiskers swept partially backwards against face
Hiss, or high-pitched whine
Aggressive Cat
Tail and rump elevated; head low to ground, head may sway from side to side; OR,
Crouched low to ground with forelimbs limbs poised for imminent attack
Claws extended, or alternately extending and retracting
Pupils dilated
Tail lashing from side to side
Fur standing on end in exaggerated spikes
Ears curved flat backwards against head
Whiskers swept closely back against face
Teeth exposed in snarl, lips curled back
Spitting
Low, rumbling growl, loud hiss, or growl-scream
Cat Under Threat but Standing His Ground
Standing stiffly, presenting his body sideways to the perceived threat (but poised to escape if possible)
Fur, especially tail, fluffed out to fullest extent (to maximize perceived size)
Pupils dilated
Ears partially flattened, or "airplane ears"
Hiss, or loud, penetrating sustained "Meow"
Anxious, Wary, Confused or Unsure Cat
Circling, frequent repetitive grooming, licking or paw-washing
"Airplane ears" and/or twitching ears
Flicking tail sharply, but not lashing it side-to-side -- a nervous twitch
Flicking tongue around lips
Querulous "squeaks"
I hope that helps clarify it for you!
Q: We are fostering this stray mum cat and her five kittens for an animal refuge. 2 of the kittens sometimes use the litter ( which is always well maintained) but on other occasions appear to be lazy and go near a wall. We are a little puzzled by this as we do all he suggested interventions to prevent these mishaps. They are now 8 weeks old.
A: With Mom and five rapidly-growing kittens, you need to be especially careful to be a “good provider,” as well as a diligent observer. There are several possible reasons why your two kittens aren't using the litter box consistently:
1) At eight weeks, they SHOULD have the litter box routine down pat – but they might be slow learners. Keep an eye on them and see if they catch up soon.
2) Five kittens plus Mom is a big group. You need to provide multiple litter boxes – at least three. (More is always better.)
3) At your kittens’ age, they’re starting to more intensely develop their social skills and establish their group dynamics. It’s possible that one of the kittens has emerged as a dominant kitten (or even a bully-in-training). He might be chasing two of the kittens away from the litter, intimidating weaker kittens, or “guarding” the box (or boxes). If you suspect this might be the case, place litter boxes in at least two locations (such as in two different rooms). If there’s a bully, he can’t be in two places at once. Multiple litter “stations” are always a good idea in any case – this strategy can prevent a lot of problems.
4) It’s also possible that the two errant kittens might be suffering from a urinary tract infection or other bladder irritation that causes them to urinate spontaneously, or dribble, or just not be able to get to the box in time. If I were you, I’d take the whole family into the veterinarian for a check-up, just to make sure all is well, health-wise. A medical problem ignored MAY clear up on its own, but meanwhile, the affected kittens might well form bad habits that will linger for a long time.
Whatever the reason for their indiscretions, it’s absolutely vital that you immediately clean and thoroughly deodorize all areas where the kittens have urinated. Once they’ve used a spot, the urine scent calls them back, broadcasting to them (and to all cats) that “This is an OK place to go.” Even if YOU can’t see or smell a thing, cats’ much more sensitive senses can. Use an enzymatic cleaner or other product specifically formulated to eliminate cat urine odor. Use plenty of the product, and follow label directions carefully. (My new book, “Outwitting Cats,” includes a list of cat-urine cleaners I have used successfully, and information on where to obtain them.)
Finally… Good for you for fostering those kittens and their Mom! I hope your two little miscreants “clean up their act” soon. But don’t forget that veterinarian visit! Make the appointment now, and get them to the clinic ASAP.
Herding Cats At Home - December 2004 1
Herding Cats At Home - December 2004 2
Herding Cats At Home - December 2004 4
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