by Margaret Telsch-Williams

Created on: January 19, 2009   Last Updated: January 27, 2009

Anyone that knows cats knows they each have their own personality and ideas of a leisurely lifestyle. The saying seems true that dogs have owners and cats have staff, but aside from that notion that cats don't care about us, they do try to communicate with us. With cats it's all about body language; how their tails hang, if their ears are perked upward or flattened down. Some cat lovers hardly ever hear their cat's voice, while others of us don't go a day without listening to the kitty conversations throughout the house. But what are they trying to say?

When your cat meows it can mean anything from feed me to leave me alone. Sometimes their meow expresses they want to play and others are asking for permission to come up into your lap. The key is to listen to these meows and learn your cat's voice and what each meow means. Is the meow short and quiet or louder and grainy? It all means something different. Just like us, your cat talks when they want your attention. Be sure to answer them, and follow them if you must, to learn what it is that they are saying. Start learning their language, step by step and soon you will be able to "talk" to your cat.

In addition to the various meows, the purr of a cat is possibly the best sign of communication possible. The purr expresses pure enjoyment and feelings of safety and comfort. A seldom known fact is that your cat will never purr when they are alone, it is truly a message made just for you. If you have a purring kitty in your lap consider yourself a good feline parent. Once you know the language your cat is speaking in, it will be easier to know, anticipate, and meet their needs.

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