Reading Your Cat'S "Body Language" printable pdf download

Reading your cat’s “body language”

Cats use different body postures to communicate their emotions. Below are some typical postures you may observe in your cat.

When observing your cat, try to get an idea of its usual attitude when alone and in contact with other animals, including people.

As cats become more anxious about their surroundings, they will try to avoid contact with threats. Their score may change very

quickly depending on the seriousness of the threat. The highest scores usually are seen only when escape is not possible.

Score

Body Postures

Head Postures

Activity – sleeping or resting, alert or

Head – laid on surface or

active, may be playing

over body, some

Body – lying on side, on belly or sitting;

movement

if standing or moving, back horizontal

Eyes – closed to open,

Breathing – slow to normal

pupils slit to normal size

Relaxed

Legs – bent, hind legs may be laid

Ears –normal to forward

out; when standing extended

Whiskers – normal to

Tail – extended or loosely wrapped; up

forward

or loosely down when standing

Sounds –none, purr

Activity - resting, awake or actively

Head – over the body,

exploring

some movement

Body – lying on belly or sitting; if

Eyes – open normally,

standing or moving the back is

pupils normal

horizontal

Ears – normal or

Breathing – normal

erected to front or back

Alert

Legs – bent; when standing extended

Whiskers – normal to

Tail – on body or curved back; up or

forward

tense downwards when standing; may

Sounds –none or meow

be twitching

Activity – resting or alert, may be

Head – over the body or

actively exploring, trying to escape

pressed to body, little or

Body – lying on belly or sitting; if

no movement

standing or moving the back of the body

Eyes – wide open or

is lower than the front (“slinking”)

pressed together, pupils

Breathing – normal

normal to partially

Legs – bent, hind legs bent and front

dilated

Tense

legs extended when standing

Ears – erected to front

Tail – close to body; tense

or back

downwards or curled forward, may be

Whiskers – normal to

twitching when standing.

forward

Sounds – none, meow, or

plaintive meow

Activity – alert, may be actively trying

Head – on the plane of the

to escape

body, little or no

Body – lying on belly or sitting; if

movement

standing or moving the back of the body

Eyes – wide open,

is lower than the front

pupils dilated

Breathing – normal or fast

Ears – partially flattened

Legs – under body, bent when

Whiskers – normal to

Anxious

standing

forward or back

Tail – close to the body; may be curled

Sounds – none, plaintive

forward close to body when standing.

meow, growling, yowling

The tip may move up and down or side

to side.

Activity – motionless, alert or crawling

Head – near to surface

Body – lying on belly or crouched

motionless

directly on top of all paws, may be

Eyes – fully open, pupils

shaking; if standing the whole body is

fully dilated

near to the ground, may be shaking

Ears – fully flattened

Breathing – fast

Whiskers – back

Fearful

Legs – bent; when standing bent

Sounds – none, plaintive

near to surface

meow, growling, yowling

Tail – close to the body; curled forward

close to the body when standing.

Activity – motionless alert

Head – lower than the

Body –crouched directly on top of all

body

paws, shaking. Hair on back and tail

Eyes – fully opened,

bushy.

pupils fully dilated

Breathing – fast

Ears – fully flattened,

Legs – stiff or bent to increase

back on head

Terrified

apparent size

Whiskers – back

Tail – close to body

Sounds – none, plaintive

meow, growling, yowling,

hissing

Reading Your Cat'S "Body Language"

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