Decoding Your Cat: Understanding Their Hidden Signals and Behaviors

Written by: Daria Fuks

While many people prefer dogs to cats because dogs can often be more affectionate, cats’ mysteriousness and laid-back nature often draw many people in. Cats are overall more independent and may feel distant at times, but they care for their owners just as much. In fact, cats are highly communicative animals, often preferring to vocalize rather than cuddle. But how exactly can you decipher your cat’s signals and connect with them further? Understanding these adorable animals is actually much simpler than you might think.

Understanding what a cat’s tail means is key to knowing how they are feeling. For starters, if their tail is upright with their fur standing up, stay back because they are most likely in defense mode, meaning angry or frightened. However, if the tail is sticking straight up but the fur is flat, that means your cat is feeling happy, excited, or even curious. These signs are very similar to each other, but paired with other body language, the cat’s emotions are very clear. The most important sign to remember is when a cat’s tail is wagging or thrashing back and forth. This means that your cat is very distressed and angry, and it is an indication to stay clear. Lastly, a low tail, tucked between a cat’s legs, means they are in need of comfort and are feeling very anxious.

Finally, we all know how cats are experts in “making biscuits”, but why do they do this odd behavior? This is something they learn when they are kittens, kneading their mom’s milk to make it flow more smoothly. This behavior persists throughout their life, continuing to perform the motion on things like pillows or any soft surface. This generally means that your cat feels very comfortable with you and is extremely happy.