Reading
Feline
Body
Language
Rolan Tripp, DVM
Body Language Terminology
• Distance increasing behaviors
vs. Distance reducing behaviors
• Concordance of Signals = many
signals all giving the same
message.
vs. Discordance = body language
giving conflicting messages.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
2
Purring
•
•
•
•
Contentment
May occur when in pain or just before dying
= “Seeking companionship”
= Distance decreasing
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
3
Feline Greeting Postures
• Many cats roll
to greet
• Exposing
vulnerable
belly is a sign
of trust
• Tail straight up
is “willing to
interact”.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
4
Feline Greeting Postures - Tail
• The tail base up is
confident
• Tail tip up or
curved is willing
to interact or
friendly
• Tail swishing is
Conflict.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
5
Feline Greeting Postures –
Head Rubbing = “Bunting”
• Pheromone Production
– Cheek Glands – just above each lip
• Tends to rub/mark objects with cheeks
– Pre-auricular Glands = just in front of each ear
• Tends to rub/mark beings with head
• This is the basis for “Feliway” product.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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“Feliway”
“Feline Facial
Pheromone
Analog”…
Changes the site
from a urine mark
target to a cheek
mark target
Calming effect.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
7
“Attentive Anxious”
• Eyes open, focused
• Ears forward focused
• Whiskers forward
• Weight on rear
quarters for rapid
response
• Muscle tone
• Tail twitching.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
8
Recognizing
Feline Aggressive
Body Postures
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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© Rolan Tripp, DVM
10
Defensive Postures
• Cat attempts to look BIGGER
–
–
–
–
Arched back
Fluffed tail
Piloerection
Nails exsheathed
• Look at leg position
– Full extension = confident
– Crouched low = insecure, fearful
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
11
Defensive Aggression Pariah threat posture
• Low ranking
threatened cat
• Crouched
front legs
• Ears back
• Teeth bared
• Sign of fear
and insecurity.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
12
Defensive Aggression
“Lateral Threat” Posture
• Cat uses every
possible technique to
appear larger:
• Piloerection (Fluffed)
• Arched back
• Turns to side to seem
BIGGER.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
13
Defensive Postures
• Full defensive
aggressive posture
–
–
–
–
Laying on back
Teeth bared
Whiskers back
Front and rear claws
exsheathed and ready
– Tail switching for
balance and
communicating anger
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
14
Cat-Cat Aggression Postures
• Eye to eye
• Ears forward
• Tails out and back swishing for balance
and communication
• Low center of gravity
• Piloerection
• Forward whiskers.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
15
Flehmen posturing
– “Volmeronasal
Organ” is a
secondary
olfactory system
– Odors enter near
the hard palate
inside the mouth
– Used for special
odors like urine or
reproductive
pheromones
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
16
Female Reproductive Posture
• Male is selected, allowed to approach
• Female in estrus
assumes
“lordosis” pose
• Tail to the side
• Presents
ano-genital area
for sniffing.
Female in
“Lordosis” pose
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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Male Reproductive Posture
• Tom does neck
bite to stabilize
female and
protect self
• Treading and
stepping
movements
position pelvis
for coitus.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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Urine Marking = “Spraying”
• Cat backs up to
target
• Tail is straight up
and quivering
• Small amounts
of urine are
sprayed up and
out to mark
object
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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Marking territory with paws
• Leaves scent mark
from pads
• Plus visual mark
from claws
• Also satisfies need
for stretching and
sharpening claws.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
20
What is this kitten saying?
Eyes: Focused
Ears: Forward and up
= Focused
Nose: Up and forward
= Focused
Throat: Solicitation
Body: Feet off ground
= Non-threatening
“Please let me out!”
Tail: Base up, tip up
= Friendly, willing
to interact
What is this
kitten saying?
“Thanks for
letting me out.
Now stop
threatening
me.”
Eyes: Looking away = Disinterested, or disarming
Ears: To side and back = Uncertain
Nose: Turned partially away = Distance increasing
Tail: Up and curved forward = Distance decreasing
(Above include discordant signals)
HUMAN: Back arched; Staring; Claws and teeth exposed;
= Trying to be friendly; actually being threatening
Kittens in Kindergarten
(Don’t know each other)
Orange Kitten on right…
Eyes: Focused = Attentive
Ears: Full front
= Alert, focused,
confident
Body: Back mildly arched
Body: Rump setting down
= slowing rate of
interaction
(SIT is a STOP
message).
Tail: Base up, tip straight
= Confident/Neutral.
•
B&W Kitten on Left…
•
Eyes: Focused = Attentive
•
Ears: Up, forward = Interested and focused
•
Body: Arched back = Trying to intimidate.
•
Body: One paw raised = Impending (undetermined) change of behavior
•
Tail: Base up, tip up = Very willing to interact
Kittens in Kindergarten
(Don’t know each other)
Grey Kitten on right…
Eyes: Turned
=some new interest
Ears: Full front elsewhere
= Alert, focused,
confident
Nose: Whiskers forward
= Confident
Body: Neck and shoulder
exposed to new cat
= no worry of attack
(confident)
Tail: Base up, tip straight
= Confident/Neutral.
Striped Kitten On Left…
Eyes: Focused = Attentive
Ears: Out + back = Anxious and uncertain
Nose: Whiskers out = Gathering data
Body: Approaching slowly at an arc = Non-confrontive approach
Tail: Base Down, Tip up = Cautious but willing to interact
Dog
confronts
cat.
What is
cat
signaling?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eyes: Wide, pupils dilated = High arousal
Ears straight out = ½ way between fear and attack
Throat: Growl = Distance increasing
Paw: Raised = Impending change; Threat
Body: Tense; Backed up to wall = Ready to spring
Tail: Tucked = Distance increasing
Dog is looking away, ears fully up, debating options.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
25
One stressed cat in a happy group
•
•
•
•
Orange tabby has tail tucked which is unfriendly
Shoulder, ear position give away threat
Target of threat is unfazed suggesting senior status
Stressed cat is thinnest of group.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
26
These cat
tails signal
coming
and going.
Overall lack of social
tension.
• Cats entering group have tails up
• Cat leaving has lower tail
• Orange tabby in rear is signaling an alliance by contact
– He is fully stretched out facing away; belly exposed = high
trust
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
27
Affiliative Behavior
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
(Cats are social!)
28
Unwanted Male Cat Behavior
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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Questions?
© Rolan Tripp, DVM
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