In our previous column, we covered a little about feline communication, but since there's so much to cover, let's get right back to it. We'll start with the "purr" that cats make. Did you know that felines are the only animals that make this sound? And not just your little tabby or tuxedo, but also larger ones like our native Florida panther makes this sound too.
No one really knows exactly how cats make this sound, but it is generally associated with being content. When my cat Deano purrs in my lap, his whole body vibrates with the sound. He's telling me that he's really comfortable and content.
Some cats get so excited in their comfort that they drool. Sure, it's a bit messy — but your cat certainly doesn't mind. Interestingly, cats don't purr when they are alone. You see, purring is a form of communication and cats are too intelligent to waste energy talking to themselves.
Your cat's whiskers can also communicate his feelings. Bent forward means he's relaxed; bent backwards indicates discomfort or alarm. It's important that he have his whiskers back and out of the way in case he wants to bite.
A cat's tail can tell you a lot too. A straight up tail means, "I like you." When his tail is down and relaxed, he is relaxed too. Straight up but slightly bent over at the tip says, "I'm not sure about things."
When the tail is swishing back and forth, it's not wagging happily like a dog's; rather, it means, "I'm mad." If the fur is standing up at just the base of the tail and the tail is still down, it means, "I'm worried" — likely, there is another cat, dog or other outsider approaching his territory.
The face can also communicate your cat's disposition. For example: ears up, eyes wide, pupils narrow and whiskers forward say he's relaxed. However: ears a little down, pupils small and eyes centered indicate mild alarm.
Last but not least, the most important pose to respect and recognize is the "Halloween" pose — back arched up, fur standing up all over the body, tail raised and/or twitching, ears and whiskers back, and mouth open (and often letting out a disturbing yowl).
This cat is primed to attack, so watch out. Though he is addressing his attention towards the cat on the other side of the window, if you get too close, you could well receive his attack.
This is called transferred aggression. There are just too many strong signals and hormones raging, so if your furry little buddy gets like this, best to steer clear for a little while.
