Cat body language: how to understand and not offend

Cats communicate far more subtly than dogs. Their signals are brief, often lasting a fraction of a second, and they almost always mark a boundary rather than an invitation. The good news: once you learn to read them, a cat becomes remarkably predictable.

The tail is the main indicator

• Tail straight up, sometimes with a hook at the tip — a greeting and trust. The friendliest cat signal there is.
• Tail wrapped around the body — the cat is closed off and wants to be alone.
• Tail tip twitching — mild irritation or concentration.
• Tail thumping the floor — anger. Hands off.
• Tail bottle-brushed and arched — strong fear.
• Vertical tail quivering — great joy, often when greeting a favourite person.

Eyes and ears

The slow blink is the famous "cat kiss". A cat closes its eyes near you only when it feels safe. And it works both ways: look at a cat and blink slowly, and it will often answer in kind. This is the simplest way to introduce yourself to an unfamiliar cat.

• Dilated pupils in normal light — arousal, fear or play.
• Narrowed pupils with a tense posture — irritation, ready to act.
• Ears forward — curiosity.
• Ears sideways ("airplane ears") — anxiety, uncertainty.
• Ears flat against the head — fear or aggression. This is the last boundary.

Purring does not always mean "I feel good"

This is a common misunderstanding. Cats also purr when in pain or afraid — at the vet, after an injury, during birth. Purring is thought to work as self-soothing. So watch the posture, not the sound: is the body relaxed or tight, are the ears forward or back.

Why a cat bites in the middle of being petted

This is called overstimulation. Touch accumulates irritation, and at some point pleasant becomes too much. The cat does warn you — just very briefly:

1. 1The skin along the back twitches.
2. 2The tail starts moving.
3. 3The cat turns its head toward your hand.
4. 4The ears go back.
5. 5A bite or a swipe.

Where to pet and where not to

• Yes: cheeks, chin, base of the ears, forehead — where the cat has scent glands it marks with.
• Carefully: the back along the spine.
• No: belly, paws, base of the tail. A cat showing its belly is not asking you to rub it — it is showing trust. Those are different things.

How to meet a cat you do not know

1. 1Do not approach. Sit down and let the cat decide.
2. 2Hold out one finger at nose height and stay still.
3. 3If the cat touches your finger with its nose, contact is allowed.
4. 4If it turns away or stays motionless, it is not. Try later.
5. 5Never pick up someone else's cat without being invited to.

Signals people often misread

• Kneading with paws — deep comfort, a leftover of kitten behaviour.
• Rubbing its head on you — marking you as its own. It is a compliment.
• Bringing a toy, or sadly prey — a social act, an attempt to share.
• Sitting with its back to you — a sign of trust, not offence.
• Marking indoors — almost always stress or a health problem, not "revenge". Cats do not do revenge.