PoCats
Cat body language decoder
There is a cat in front of you. Read three things about it and find out what it is asking for.
This is a guide, not a guarantee. A cat in pain or a cat that has been frightened recently can look calm and still bite. If a cat looks injured or in distress, contact a local vet or rescue rather than handling it.
The three signals worth learning
The tail is the headline. Straight up is a greeting. A hook at the tip is a greeting with a smile on it. Low is uncertain, tucked is frightened, puffed is alarmed, and flicking is irritation that is about to become a scratch.
The ears are the volume. Forward means interested. Sideways, sometimes called aeroplane ears, means worried. Flat against the skull means stop, immediately.
The eyes are the tone. A slow blink is as close to a compliment as a cat gives. A hard unblinking stare is a challenge, which is why staring at a nervous cat makes it worse. Enormous round pupils in ordinary daylight mean arousal, and arousal can go either way.
Read all three together. A tail up with flat ears is a cat in two minds, and the ears are the half you should believe. The longer guide covers whiskers, kneading, chirping and the belly trap.
Every signal, and what it means on its own
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Straight up | A greeting. The most reliable friendly signal a cat gives. |
| Up with a hook at the tip | A greeting with warmth in it. This cat is pleased to see you. |
| Held out straight and still | Alert and undecided. It is gathering information about you. |
| Low, near the ground | Uncertain or wary. Do not close the distance. |
| Tucked under the body | Frightened. Give it a way out that is not past you. |
| Flicking or thrashing | Irritation, not pleasure. If you are stroking it, stop. |
| Puffed up like a brush | Alarmed. Back away and stop looking at it. |
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Pricked forward, at you | Interested. This is the frame worth photographing. |
| Neutral and relaxed | Comfortable. Nothing is worrying it. |
| Turned out to the sides | Worried. Sometimes called aeroplane ears. |
| Flattened back against the head | Stop now. This is the last warning before a swipe. |
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Blinking slowly at you | As close to a compliment as a cat gives. Blink slowly back. |
| Half closed and soft | Relaxed and settled. |
| Wide open, watching | Alert. Reading you rather than greeting you. |
| Locked on, unblinking | A challenge. Staring back makes a nervous cat worse. |
| Pupils huge and round in daylight | Aroused, which can go either way. Give it room. |
Read all three together, and when they disagree believe the ears. A tail up with flat ears is a cat in two minds, and the half that will act is the half nearest the teeth.
What does it mean when a cat slow blinks at you?
It is the clearest friendly signal a cat gives a human. A slow blink means it is relaxed enough to close its eyes near you. Blink slowly back and many cats will repeat it.
What does a tail straight up mean?
A greeting. A cat approaching with its tail upright, sometimes with a small hook at the tip, is telling you it is comfortable. It is the single most reliable green light in cat body language.
Why is the cat wagging its tail?
Unlike a dog, a cat flicking or thrashing its tail is irritated or overstimulated, not pleased. If it starts while you are stroking it, stop stroking.
A cat rolled over and showed me its belly. Can I touch it?
Usually not. A belly display is a sign of trust, not a request. Most cats dislike having their stomach touched and will grab your hand with all four feet to tell you so.
Read a cat, then keep it
PoCats turns the cats you meet into cards cut from your own photographs.
