cat language

shmoo

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I just wanted to post my undertanding of cats' different forms of communication... and I'm hoping people will post their ideas and correct me wherever I'm wrong about something...

meowing - "I want something" (food, attention, etc.)

hissing - a warning or threat ("leave me alone or else"), anger, aggression

growling - like hissing, but seems to be more a show of irritation than a threat

swishing tail - excitement, but not necessarily a happy excitement - sometimes it is more of a nervous excitement

peeing on things - marking territory

pooping outside of litterbox - I'm not sure

scratching - exercise or stress relief

Feel free to add to the list...
 

hissy

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Originally Posted by shmoo

I just wanted to post my undertanding of cats' different forms of communication... and I'm hoping people will post their ideas and correct me wherever I'm wrong about something...

meowing - "I want something" (food, attention, etc.)

hissing - a warning or threat ("leave me alone or else"), anger, aggression, response to pain, scared feeling threatened

growling - like hissing, but seems to be more a show of irritation than a threat again could be in pain, or scared.

swishing tail - excitement, but not necessarily a happy excitement - sometimes it is more of a nervous excitement, also on the hunt and watching prey

peeing on things - marking territory, ill, stressed,

pooping outside of litterbox - ill, stressed, or behavioral

scratching - exercise or stress relief, marking territory making it cat friendly

Feel free to add to the list...
Purring- contented, scared, in pain, even possibly ready to leave the world
 
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shmoo

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Purring can mean scared, in pain, or dying??? What??
 

middletown

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a cats purr is as comforting to them as it is to us.

Cats purr to communicate happiness contentment mostly.

However
when in extreme pain, suffering or being euthanized cats will purr.
When a cat is very scared or in an unusal place or situation, they will purr. You can usually tell from the rest of their body language what is going on though.
always watch the Tail and the ears of a new cat to see what kind of mood he is in.
I have noticed diferences in a single cats purr that appears to be similar to their many different "meow's" but i guess thats another thread.

Ill add to the list..

Licking:
Oneself: to clean or stress relief
Other cats: indicate dominance or submissiveness as well as social greetings.
Humans: stress relief as well as affectoin and greeting.
 

hissy

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Purring is also an early guidance system. It is how the kittens find the mother and her nipples, They follow the vibration of her purrs to get to the milk bar.
 
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shmoo

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Wow. I have "owned" 5 (soon to be 6) cats in my life and have never ever heard them purr for any reason other than happiness/contentment.

Licking other cats and humans is also a show of affection and caring ("mother-ing" if you will).
 

middletown

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Originally Posted by shmoo

Wow. I have "owned" 5 (soon to be 6) cats in my life and have never ever heard them purr for any reason other than happiness/contentment.
("mother-ing" if you will).
That in itself is a wonderful thing. You have never had your cat or yourself subjected to any of the other reasons cats purr.
 
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shmoo

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How does the sound of the "bad purr" compare to the sound of the "good purr"? Would I know the difference if I ever heard it?
 

stellacakes

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What about a sort of whining sound? My kitten does this. She doesn't meow very often, but she always makes these kind of whiny mmmm sounds (that's the only way I can think to describe them! They are adorable). She does it a lot when she's sniffing out new things, when she wants food, or when she's sleepy and comfortable, like a stretching. Does anyone else's cats/kittens make these sounds?
 

nekomimi

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"MRRRRRing" or "mreowling" --

Excited, playful, and you better grab a toy soon!


And as for the purring situation, Seth purrs when she's upset. It's very loud and noticeable when she's stressed. I usually just go by other signals to tell whether she's using it in a happy or stressful way. If she's using it to show she's happy, her eyes are usually half or fully closed, her ears in normal position.
 

middletown

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Shmoo

Please dont be worried or concerned about your cats purr now.
There is no "bad sounding" purr.
So if your cat is sitting beside you purring...its only because he/she is happy and loves you and where they are at. it is NOT an early warning sign for you to look for.
Cats will purr under circumstances you would not think they would. That is the "jist" of mine and Hissy's comments on purrs.

examples.
I found a cat that had its head hit by a car. poor fella had to be in missery from pain. But he purred the entire time it took to get him to a vet. From the momment he knew i wasnt a threat to the momment the vet tech called me to tell me he didnt make it.
One would not think a cat would purr, but he did. Why? not sure but it was comforting to me and i assume him too.


Ric
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by Middletown

Shmoo

Please dont be worried or concerned about your cats purr now.
There is no "bad sounding" purr.
So if your cat is sitting beside you purring...its only because he/she is happy and loves you and where they are at. it is NOT an early warning sign for you to look for.
Cats will purr under circumstances you would not think they would. That is the "jist" of mine and Hissy's comments on purrs.

examples.
I found a cat that had its head hit by a car. poor fella had to be in missery from pain. But he purred the entire time it took to get him to a vet. From the momment he knew i wasnt a threat to the momment the vet tech called me to tell me he didnt make it.
One would not think a cat would purr, but he did. Why? not sure but it was comforting to me and i assume him too.
Ric
My cats get extremely stressed when they go to the vet. They both meow very loudly while in the car. Last time Tri was at the vet he purred while waiting for the vet. I know it was a stress related purr because he was shaking at the same time. I like your idea that he was trying to comfort himself.
 
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shmoo

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Sounds like it was using purring as a way of soothing/calming itself, which, if you think about it, is right in line with it's "normal" purring... in a backwards kind of way.

Normally, they purr because they're happy... but when they are sick/dying/etc. they purr to help, well, make themselves happy/at peace.
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by shmoo

Sounds like it was using purring as a way of soothing/calming itself, which, if you think about it, is right in line with it's "normal" purring... in a backwards kind of way.

Normally, they purr because they're happy... but when they are sick/dying/etc. they purr to help, well, make themselves happy/at peace.
Makes sense.


...adding to the list - tail shaking - excitement (Tripod always shakes the tip of his tail when he is about to be fed)
 

zak&rocky

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Zakk is very vocal. He will make announcement mews when he jumps on the bed. I think he's saying "I'm here". He also has an I'm hungry meow. he also meows pitifully in the car.

Rocky has a squeaky meow, and it usually means he's annoyed about how you are touching him. He's a very passive cat with humans, except at the vet, where he growls constently, and at any dog he might see. He's good in the car. He is the only chatterer, and its usually if the laser pointer is on the ceiling where he can't get it.
Cookie only mews when he knows food is coming. Suzie meows when she is lonely and wants Cookie with her. She used to hiss at humans, but she is getting better.
 

lizch6699

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This is what I've heard and it makes sense. When a cat is hurt their bodies begin releasing endorphines just like when we're in pain. Endorphines are designed to give your body an extra boost when needed. For example, when you're excersicing your body releases endorphines and after running for some time you get really tierd, but then your endorphines kick in and give your body a second wind. Endorphines are also related to our 'happy' sensations. So when a cat is hurt it's endorphines are released to give the cat an extra boost of energy but in return it begins to purr because it's 'happy' nerves are firing too. Any thoughts/opinions?
 

charcoal

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Charcoal growls at people walking down the stairs in our apartment complex. He hears them through the door at night. He is saying "Leave my family alone or else!" He sounded just like a dog. It was too cute.
 
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shmoo

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Originally Posted by lizch6699

This is what I've heard and it makes sense. When a cat is hurt their bodies begin releasing endorphines just like when we're in pain. Endorphines are designed to give your body an extra boost when needed. For example, when you're excersicing your body releases endorphines and after running for some time you get really tierd, but then your endorphines kick in and give your body a second wind. Endorphines are also related to our 'happy' sensations. So when a cat is hurt it's endorphines are released to give the cat an extra boost of energy but in return it begins to purr because it's 'happy' nerves are firing too. Any thoughts/opinions?
Sounds like the more scientific version of what I was thinking
 
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