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The way to tell how a cat is feeling is to look at its body language. An alert cat has an open, direct gaze, and points its ears and whiskers foward. If it is nervous too, the nostrils may twitch in trying to identify the scent. If the cat recognizes the scent as a friend, his tail will go straight in the air and aproach the person or animal in greeting. If the cat does not recognise the scent and finds it threatening it will act very differently. It will first freeze and stare at the intruder with a direct wide stare and the tail with flick back and forth. The ears and whiskers will be foward to try to continue identification. If the intruder approaches, the cat will draw its chin in close, to protect the neck area, flatten his ears and gradually turn its body sideways whilst begin to erect the hairs on its body to appear larger. If the intruder persist the cat will begin to snarl fiercely, lips drawn back to bare teeth and narrow the eyes. The muscles will be tense and ready for an attack. Tail movement is also a way to distinguish the feeling of a cat. A tail sticking straight in the air means contentment and usually can be noticed when someone the cat recognised enters the room. An erect tail with the tip slightly waving back and forth is a contented cat, but also one who will be annoyed easily. A tail violently lashing indicates an angry cat who may be ready to attack. This cat should probably not be touched because it may attack. It should be talked down until it resumes normal composure. Purring is another way to distinguish the cats feelings. Purring signals great contentment. A cat may purr when they are close to those they love, in response to petting, while eating, a friendly voice, or even just a look of aknowledgement from their owners. Kittens purr as they nurse their mothers. Some cats even purr when they are in pain, such as labor or durring a terminal illness. |
 A frightened cat  An alert cat  An angry cat  A tired cat |
