Reading Feline Body Language Rolan Tripp, DVM. © Rolan Tripp, DVM 2 Purring Contentment May occur...

Reading

Feline Body LanguageRolan Tripp, DVM

© Rolan Tripp, DVM 2

Purring

• Contentment• May occur when in pain or just before

dying• = “Seeking companionship”


Feline Greeting Postures

• Many cats roll to greet

• Exposing vulnerable belly is a sign of trust

• Tail straight up is “willing to interact”.


Feline Greeting Postures - Tail• The tail base

up is confident• Tail tip up or

curved is willing to interact or friendly

• Tail swishing is Conflict.


Feline Greeting Postures – Head Rubbing = “Bunting”

• Pheromone Production– Cheek Glands – just above each lip

• Tends to rub/mark objects with cheeks

– Pre-auricular Glands = just in front of each ear

• Tends to rub/mark beings with head

• This is the basis for “Feliway” product.


““Feliway”Feliway”“Feline Facial Pheromone Analog”…

Changes the site from a urine mark target to a cheek mark target

Calming effect.


“Attentive Anxious”

• Eyes focused

• Ears forward focused

• Whiskers forward

• Weight on rear quarters for rapid response

• Tail twitching.


Defensive Postures

• Cat attempts to look BIGGER– Arched back– Fluffed tail– Piloerection– Nails exsheathed

• Look at leg position– Full extension = confident– Crouched low = insecure, fearful


Defensive Aggression - Pariah threat posture• Low ranking

threatened cat

• Crouched front legs

• Ears back• Teeth bared• Sign of fear

and insecurity.


Defensive Aggression“Lateral Threat” Posture• Cat uses every

possible technique to appear larger:

• Piloerection (Fluffed)

• Arched back

• Turns to side to seem BIGGER.


Defensive Postures

• Full defensive aggressive posture– Laying on back– Teeth bared– Front and rear claws

exsheathed and ready

– Tail switching for balance and communicating anger


Offensive aggression• Eye to eye

• Ears forward

• Tails out and back - swishing for balance and communication

• Low center of gravity

• Piloerection

• Forward whiskers.


Flehmen posturing

– “Volmeronasal Organ” is a secondary olfactory system

– Odors enter near the hard palate inside the mouth

– Used for special odors like urine or reproductive pheromones


Female Reproductive Posture

• Male is selected, allowed to approach

• Female in estrus assumes “lordosis” pose

• Tail to the side

• Presents ano-genital area for sniffing

Female in “Lordosis” pose


Male Reproductive Posture• Tom does

neck bite to stabilize female and protect self

• Treading and stepping movements position pelvis for coitus


Urine Marking = “Spraying”

• Cat backs up to target

• Tail is straight up and quivering

• Small amounts of urine are sprayed up and out to mark object


Marking territory with paws

• Leaves scent mark from pads

• Plus visual mark from claws

• Also satisfies need for stretching and sharpening claws.

Please let me out!

(Kitten in Kennel)

Tail: Base up, tip up

= Friendly, willing to interact

Ears: Forward and up

= Focused, willing to interact

Body: Climbed up and forward

= Willing to interact.

What is this kitten saying?

“Thanks for letting me out. Now stop threatening me.”

Tail: Up and curved forward = Very willing to interact

Ears: To side and back = Uncertain

Head: Turned partially away = Slowing interaction

HUMAN: Back arched; Staring; Claws and teeth exposed;

= Trying to be friendly; actually being threatening

What is this kitten saying?

Kittens in Kindergarten

(Don’t know each other)

Orange Kitten on right…

Tail: Base up, tip straight

= Confident/Neutral

Ears: Full front

= Alert, focused, confident

Body: Back mildly arched

Body: Rump setting down = slowing rate of interaction. (SIT is a STOP message).

• B&W Kitten on Left…

• Tail: Base up, tip up = Very willing to interact

• Ears: Up, forward = Interested and focused

• Body: Arched back = Trying to intimidate.

• Body: One paw raised = Impending (undetermined) change of behavior

Kittens in Kindergarten

(Don’t know each other)

Grey Kitten on right…

Tail: Base up, tip straight

= Confident/Neutral

Ears: Full front

= Alert, focused, confident

Body: Head turned

=some new interest

Body: Neck and shoulder exposed to new cat

= no worry of attack (confident).Striped Kitten On Left…

Tail: Base Down, Tip up = Cautious but willing to interact

Ears: Out + back = Anxious and uncertain

Body: Approaching slowly at an arc = Non-confrontive approach


• Paw raised is a threat

• Tail Tucked says no contact please

• Ears straight out = ½ way between fear and attack

• Backed up to wall, ready to spring

• Dog is looking away, ears fully up, debating options.

Dog confronts

cat. What is

cat signaling?


One stressed cat in a happy group

• Orange tabby has tail tucked which is unfriendly

• Shoulder, ear position give away threat

• Target of threat is unfazed suggesting senior status

• Stressed cat is thinnest of group.


These cat tails signal

coming and going.Overall -

lack of social

tension.

• Cats entering group have tails up

• Cat leaving has lower tail

• Orange tabby in rear is signaling an alliance by contact– He is fully stretched out facing away; belly exposed = high

trust


Affiliative Behavior (Cats are social!)


Unwanted Male Cat Behavior


Questions?

Reading Feline Body Language Rolan Tripp, DVM. © Rolan Tripp, DVM 2 Purring Contentment May occur...

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