"What's wrong with her?" Man thinks, "What does he want?" the cat. Both are of the opinion that they have expressed themselves clearly. Not so easy to start a conversation. How to better understand cats?
Body language and sounds help cats understand
The two-legged friend is finally home again. You have to make yourself noticed right away. A joyful welcome. And another one. And another one. When it comes to greetings, many cats prioritize quantity over quality. It could be that you got stuck in the past in the last 30 minutes. And then, of course, the most important questions would have to be clarified right at the front door: Did you miss me just as much? And did you bring me something? New food? Maybe even a mouse ? Yes? Say did you? Hm?
The problem with the thing is: The person only hears meows and meows for minutes, while all the relevant questions and lavish declarations of love from his talkative roommate unfortunately remain hidden from him.
Cats, on the other hand, learn our language extremely quickly as long as we are consistent. What, for example, the threatening index finger combined with the word "Down!" means as soon as she jumps onto the dining table, Mieze understands after a couple of times. However, whether she feels like doing what she is told to do is of course a completely different question.
The sound makes the music
In general, it matters much less what you say than how you say it. Your cat will just as misunderstand praise in an agitated tone as it will a lovingly whispered reprimand. And no matter how good your arguments are. The four-legged friends can hear even the most subtle nuances. This is also due to the fact that cats are the creatures with the largest sound repertoire right after us humans.
By the way, the typical “meow”, especially uttered in front of an empty food bowl , is actually baby talk. In the wild, an adult cat would never, ever make that cry for help. However, our house tigers have learned that we have taken on the role of the cat mom when it comes to food and protection and consequently speak to us in baby talk.
When cats are among their own kind, they often don't need any words or noises to communicate. Communication can also take place entirely through scent and body language. It is therefore worthwhile for us to be good observers and to study our cats closely.
Understand body language better
NOT GORGEOUS: Both when aggressive and when fearful, the fur on the back bristle and the tail becomes a kind of bottle brush. It makes you appear bigger than you are. Especially if you also arch your back towards the hump.
ON THE ONE HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND: Your four-legged friend stands there slightly crouched and the tail whips violently back and forth. A sign of indecisiveness.
CURIOUS: Your cat is approaching you with its tail in a vertical position? A friendly "Hello, it's me!"
I'M FINE: Kitty slumbers blissfully on the couch, all fours in the air. She feels absolutely comfortable and safe.
DISGUISED: A bad-tempered or troubled cat will crouch in a crouch, forepaws tucked tight under chest. So she can jump up at any time or extend a clawed paw.
PLEASE: Cat sits upright on the clubs, eyes on you, meowing incessantly. That means she wants something from you.
Cat gestures and facial expressions
Understanding cats doesn't require learning the different sounds in a meow, nor the different pitches of purrs and hisses. Because what is most important when it comes to communication are gestures and facial expressions.
The carpet in the living room is full of soil, garnished with countless flower petals. This colorful "chaotic arrangement" was decorated with a potpourri of glittering shards. They were once a plant pot. Next to him is the artist. His head bowed, his tail slightly tucked in, he is embarrassed and silent, his eyes on the ground. In the human world, Mieze's hunched posture might be interpreted as a sign of remorse and humility. But what it actually expresses is something entirely different. Uncertainty. She knows very well that it is best to avoid contact with people now.
Another example: dinner with friends. Because the guests didn't want to leave their little West Highland Terrier alone for too long, they brought him along without further ado. The cat realizes this much too late, actually only when she staggers out of her booth , half asleep, and suddenly faces a white, hairy intruder. cat hump. Pointed ears. Raised paw. Hiss. All of this should make it unmistakably clear to the person opposite that, to put it mildly, they are not a welcome guest here. And as the four-legged boss of the house , she asks him to slip away.
