What are your cat’s trying to tell you?

- What Are Your Cats Trying To Tell You? (Part 1) Just like us, cats have their own unique way of communicating. Learning to interpret their body language will lead to an even better relationship language between you and your cats. Not only will you understand their needs, but by responding appropriately, you'll help your cats feel happy and secure. In this article, Dr. Pru Galloway helps us to understand some curious kitty characteristics and explain why they might happen.

1. You have one cat who seems to fight a lot with your other cat. He jumps on her and lightly bites her, but the other stays still and accepts it.  This silent behaviour is actually acknowledgement by your other car, or the aggresor's dominance. They are play fighting, but the message of dominance is very real. 

2. Your cats often walk up to each other and sniff each other's rear ends.  Don't be alarmed. Cats have a strongly developed sense of smell and are sometimes attracted to the rear end by scents from the anal gland or faeces. It is simply investigatory behaviour that is entirely normal to your cat. There are various theories as to why they "investigate" each other in this way, but it appears to be a phenomone-based way of identifying their fellow species. 

3. One of your cats miaowa to be let out, but after you open the door, he just stands on the doorstep wagging his tail from side to side.  Be patient, this means you might need to wait a while for your cat to make up his mind. Unlike their canine companions, feline tail wagging is usually a sign of conflict. It could also be a warning that your cat is becoming impatient. For example, if you're cuddling him and he starts to wag his tail, it makes good sense to put him down as he's telling you he's had enough. Failure to do so may result in a scratch.