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Communicating with your cat is not simply a parlor trick you can perform to amuse your dinner guests.
It's an important part of training your cat and reinforcing your bond with her.
Teaching your cat simple commands like "DOWN" and "NO!" will make her a better pet, while words like
"Treats!" and "Dinner!" will help her associate you with something pleasurable.
Cats rarely vocalize with other cats (other than to hiss and growl at trespassers); they reserve verbal
interaction for humans.
Feline language is a complex mix of facial expression, tail position, ear position and other forms of body
language in addition to scent and sound. Cats learn to make demands of us by observing which of their
sounds cause which human responses.
Understanding Your Cat
Some cats (like the Oriental breeds) are vocal and have extensive vocabularies. Other cats scarcely
"speak" at all, or have a one-size-fits-all yowl that covers all the bases.
Whether your cat is vocal or not, she will be fluent in body language, a key component of her
interactions with you and other animals. By tuning in to both her body and her voice, you can learn to
differentiate between "Feed me" and "HELP! Timmy's in the well!"
The following vocalizations are fairly common to most cats:
Multiple meows: "I'm so happy to see you! Where've you been? I missed you!"
Mid-pitch meow: A plea for something, usually dinner, treats, or to be let outside.
Drawn-out mrrraaaaaoooow: "Did you forget to feed me, you idiot? I want dinner NOW!" or
similar demand.
Low pitched mraaooww: "You are so lame. The service around here sucks," or similar
complaint.
Purr: Most often a sign of contentedness, but can also be used when in pain or afraid -- an
instinctual response to hide weakness from predators.
Hiss: "Steer clear. I'm angry and I'm not afraid to draw blood."
Clicking sounds: Cats who are tracking prey will make a distinctive clicking sound.
Tail fur sticks straight up while the tail curls in the shape of an N: Extreme aggression.
Tail fur sticks straight up but the tail is held low: Aggression or frightened.
Eyes:
Head:
Rubbing head, flank and tail against a person or animal: Greeting ritual, ownership claim
Licking: The penultimate sign of affection. Or an indication that you need to clean up after a
sardine snack.