How well do YOU know your cat? The 13 secret signals felines give their owners trends now
Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner's demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth.
In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language.
In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin - with the help of animal behaviourists - explains how to interpret your pet's movements.
Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.
Our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language
1. Spraying urine on a wall/object
This signifies that your cat is feeling stressed or uncertain, perhaps following changes to its environment.
By plastering its own scent, it is trying to make the area feel like home again.
Spraying urine on a wall or object signifies that your cat is feeling stressed or uncertain, perhaps following changes to its environment
2. Rubbing its face against walls or objects/using claws to knead and scratch
Your cat is actually transferring chemical signals from its face and toe glands that it feels comfortable in that space.
It will pick up on the signals that it leaves when it returns. It provides familiarity and comfort as it tells the cat it has been there before or lives there.
Your cat is actually transferring chemical signals from its face and toe glands that it feels comfortable in that space
3. Lashing its tail
While dogs wag their tails when they are excited, a cat lashing its tail from side to side could mean it is overwhelmed, overstimulated or frustrated.
It can mean it is excited, too, depending on the context.
4. Whiskers spread forward
Even the small movements of its whiskers can indicate a cat's mood. When they are spread forward and away from the face, the feline is in a curious or excited state.
It may also be measuring the distance between itself and a nearby object.
5. Whiskers pushed back
However when the whiskers are pushed backwards
