Pay Attention Human - Learn What Your Cat Wants From You

Wondering if your cat is hungry, needs its own space or wants your attention? “But I don’t speak cat? How am I supposed to know? It says, “meow” to everything.” Is that what you are thinking? 

Worry no more, as we bring to you the ultimate guide to knowing what your cat is demanding, so better pay attention human because you don’t want to end up getting scratched or facing that cat-titude. Be the purr-fect human for your cat and earn the love that you desire from this fuzzy creature.

If you are facing some trouble with understanding what your cat might want, don't worry because it's only natural. Focus instead on your cat’s responses to know better of these feline requirements.

Meows And Meanings

Despite the fact that a cat’s only response to everything is “meow”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it always wants food. Every sound of a cat has a different meaning and here is how you can differentiate between them.

Chirps And Trills

This is usually meant for a commandment to follow the animal. If your cat chirps or trills at you, it means it wants you to follow them to their food bowl maybe. If you own more than one cat then you might experience listening to this sound often as cats might use it to converse with each other. A mother cat also uses this sound for her little ones to follow her.

Purring

Purring is usually a sign of contentment. Cats mostly purr when they are happy. Sometimes, a cat purring may be reflective of the fact that the animal is sick or in pain and is purring to comfort itself.

Growling, Hissing Or Spitting

This usually conveys that the cat is irritated, frightened, angry or aggressive.

Yowls Or Howls

These sound like prolonged and loud “meows”. Yowls or howls suggest that your cat is in some kind of distress, stuck somewhere or needs you to find something. Find your cat immediately. In case you have an unneutered and unspayed cat, the sounds are referred to mating behaviour. If your cat is elderly, it might be suffering from dementia, which makes them annoyed and results in such sounds.

Chattering Or Twittering

It is a sound that your cat makes when sitting at the window or at play outside the house. The sound is in response to watching other creatures like birds and squirrels.

Body Language Basics

In addition to the sounds, you can understand your cat better by paying attention to these physical displays:

• ·      Arched back, standing fur: shows anger or fright.
•         Arched back, flat fur: Demands or welcomes your touch.
•          Lying on back purring: shows relaxation.
•          Lying on back growling: shows dissatisfaction or anger.
•          Erected tail, flat fur: shows happiness, curiosity or attentiveness.
•          Tail straight up, quivering: shows excitement or signs of mating behavior.
•          Tail held low and tucked between legs: shows insecurity

Cats display these responses to let you know of their conditions. It's now your job to focus on how your cat is acting and fulfil its needs respectively.

Paul Haines is the author of “My Life With Pets Blog” where he shares his life experiences involving his family and pets.  In addition to his blog, he is the creator and owner of the website BarkAndSqueak.com.  BarkAndSqueak.com is an educational and fun site dedicated to all types of Pets. You can visit the site at http://www.barkandsqueak.com.