Cat behavior
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Cat behavior is how cats interact with other cats, animals, and environment.
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[edit] 'Language'
Cats have a unique 'language' that consists mainly of body actions and occasionally, vocal calls.
[edit] Body language
- Disgust - Lifting and subsequent shaking of a paw or paws. The more paws, the stronger a feeling is indicated; this can sometimes be a four paw affair with each paw being lifted and shaken in turn. This is possibly related to the identical action that's displayed after stepping in water.
- Agitation or Aggression- The swishing or sweeping of the tail in a wide swath, mid-air or against a person. And if the message isn't getting through, the cat may simply leave the room.
- Contentedness - Kneading with the paws on a person or, for example, a favorite blanket or sleeping spot. Young kittens knead their mother's nipples to stimulate the feeding reflex in her so that her milk flows for the kittens to suckle on. Cats may knead for a short or extended period of time, the extended period sometimes interpreted by people as a sign of discomfort or restlessness, but it is more likely the cat is happy. Most cats will demonstrate this for about ten minutes at the longest.
- Relaxation - Sprawling on the side or back and, possibly, rolling about; this may be seen, for example, when a person enters the room or stirs from his seat. The cat may display this at the same time as the person's movement.
- Affection - A pressing of the face or top of the head against a person's body, leaving a scent as a marking of territory.
- Submission - Upon being approached, it will fall down on its side, indicating it is not seeking attention but is unwilling to put up a fight.
[edit] Vocal Calls
- Greeting - A particular sort of vocalization, such as a low meow or chirp, possibly with simultaneous purring.
- Distress - Mewing is often a plea for help or attention often made by kittens. There are two basic types of this call, one more loud and frantic, the other more high-pitched. In older cats it is more of a panicky repeated meow.
- Attention - Often simple meows and mews in both older cats and young kittens. A commanding meow is a command for attention, food, or to be let out.
- Protest - Whining meows.
[edit] Righting Reflex
The righting reflex is the ability for cats to land on their feet with little or no injury. They can do this more easily than other animals due to their flexible spine and lack of a collar bone. Cats also use vision and/or their vestibular apparatus to help tell which way to turn. They then can stretch themselves out and relax their muscles. Cats do not always land unharmed. They can break bones and die from excessive falls.
