by K. M. Crowley

Created on: March 22, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

Ever wonder what your cat would say if it could talk? Your cat's tail, whiskers, ears and fur speak volumes! Look for the following in your kitty's body language. Here is what he or she is trying to say:

The tail movements:

-Quivering: When the tip of your cat's tail is quivering it means slight irritation. If the whole tail is standing straight up and quivering, it means it is happy or excited. This whole-tail quiver happens sometimes before meals.

-Swishing and lashing from side to side: If the tail is swooping slowly and rhythmically from side to side, it means your cat is concentrating on something. If it starts to lash violently back and forth, kitty is getting very angry and is ready to attack - get out of the way! If the tail wagging falls somewhere in between these extremes, it means the cat is indecisive. Cats also swish their tails to get their balance before a big jump, and to "mesmerize" their prey. They can't see their pray unless it moves, so they swish their tail in an attempt to induce movement in their victim.

-Positioning: If the cat's tail is bent forward over it's head, it means the cat feels very happy and confident. When she waves it slowly and gently side to side, she is content. A few quick jerks of the tail in an upward movement is a greeting . . . your cat will do this to you as well as other cats.

Ear Positions:

-When the ears point forward and slightly out, your cat is relaxed but alert and listening carefully.

-Pointing fully forward and erect, you can bet your cat is about to leap up and investigate a sound.

-Twitching back and forth means the cat is anxious or irritated.

-Ears flattened down against the head mean the cat is ready to attack. Cats flatten their ears like this to protect them during fights.

-Ears in between the flattened position and upright mean the cat is almost ready to fight and not intimidated in the slightest. Look out!

What the fur tells us:

-Scared out of it's wits, the cat's fur will stand up all over it's body. This usually happens after he or she has been startled by a loud noise.

-Threatened by an attack of some kind, a cat's fur will only stand up along the spine, like a full-body mohawk, to make the cat appear larger than it really is to enemies.

Whisker Positions:

-Pointed forward and spread out mean your cat is tense and interested in something. The whiskers do this when the cat is asking for food or investigating an interesting smell or noise.

-Flattened to the face means your cat is feeling shy or intimidated.

-You cat is relaxed if the whiskers are relaxed.

Cats are such amazing and complex creatures, I doubt we'll never know quite what goes on in their minds. But they are endlessly cute and fascinating, aren't they?

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