| Cats are very communicative with body language and | | | | comfort itself. It is not usually seen in adult cats. My |
| sounds. They are often stereotyped as being distant | | | | Diamond does this when I hold her. I felt she may |
| and uncommunicative because of their solitary nature | | | | have done this with her "cat mother," while nursing.o |
| and independence. I doubt the cats who live in the | | | | Leg rubbing: This is natural marking behavior for cats. |
| wild communicate the same as our domesticated | | | | Taz does this while I am at the sink preparing their |
| cats. It is my opinion; the domesticated cat probably | | | | food. Fairy is on top the counter, and Taz is at my |
| learns how to communicate with body language and | | | | feet, rubbing his face against my legs. Cat |
| sounds from their human companions and other | | | | behaviorists say the cat is covering you with |
| companion animals. | | | | pheromones from glands on their face so you and |
| My Persians, Taz and Fairy, are now 8 months old. | | | | everyone else in the space will have a comforting |
| They are starting to communicate more than when I | | | | group odor. It can also obtain favorable attention for |
| first got them at 8 weeks old. It is truly interesting | | | | the cat which leads to petting. I just assumed Taz |
| to sit quietly with them and observe what they have | | | | knew something was happening especially for him |
| to say to me through their eyes and body language. | | | | that he liked very much and he was actually petting |
| Of course, I probably interpret what they are saying | | | | me for preparing his meals.o Hissing: A hissing cat is |
| according to my own feelings, background and the | | | | not happy at all and a warning that you better leave |
| specifics of my own personality. | | | | her alone. Fairy is the only cat so far that has made |
| At times, Fairy hardly acknowledges I am in their | | | | some horrendous hissing sounds at me. This was |
| space, and then at other times, she will make it a | | | | during her bath. In general, cats hate water. |
| point to put her paws on my knees while making | | | | Unfortunately, they do have to be bathed from time |
| direct eye contact with me, she seems to be saying, | | | | to time. A Persian cat does well with a bath about |
| "I want to sit with you." I pick her up; she looks | | | | every two weeks. I spoke softly to Fairy, made |
| deeply into my eyes with her eyes wide open and at | | | | very slow movements, turn the water on first while |
| times starts to pat me on the shoulder with one of | | | | talking softly to her, wrapped her in a towel, allowing |
| her paws. I feel like she is possibly saying, "I really like | | | | only her head out until she was relaxed enough at |
| you, mom," or "I love you." She is purring the entire | | | | the sink and the running water to unwrap her and |
| as well. The visit lasts for 5 minutes or so and then | | | | then preceded with the shower. She still was |
| she jumps down returning to her window perch or | | | | unhappy, but got over it. After her bath, she hated |
| some other favorite spot in her space. | | | | to be dried as well and would kick her feet as if to |
| Fairy also interprets my body communications and | | | | sling the water back in my face. She tolerated things |
| knows exactly what is going to happen. When I am | | | | until dry, and then she was soooo happy, she began |
| at her sink, preparing to put their daily treat of soft | | | | to roll on her back and purr. The cats love how they |
| Fancy Feast food in their bowls, she comes quickly | | | | feel after a bath, but very much hate the water and |
| to start nibbling in her bowl. Fairy eats her treat from | | | | bath time. It takes some patience, but they learn to |
| the sink (this sink is in the cat cattery area and | | | | tolerate it after awhile. |
| separate of my own). At other times, at the sink, I | | | | Animal experts say when a cat rolls over and bares |
| prepare their face cleaning powder and liquid. Fairy | | | | their belly, he or she is giving you the ultimate |
| knows this is not something she can eat. She | | | | compliment, and it is their way of saying they trust |
| observes to see what I am doing and when she | | | | you. I received Fairy's message after her bath and |
| determines it is not her meal, she does not even try | | | | blow dry as just this - a compliment, or like saying |
| to come near the sink. She learned the difference in | | | | "thank-you, I do feel better now." |
| what I was doing at sink by observing my body | | | | While on the subject of cats and water, just why do |
| language. I said nothing to her in words. | | | | many cats hate water? Some theorize there are |
| Anyone who thinks only dogs are communicative is | | | | several reasons for this that includes:o Cats descend |
| quite misinformed or misguided. Cats communicate | | | | from arid regionso Have land-based preyo Are fussy |
| very effectively. We just have to quietly observe | | | | groomers (think there is no further need to clean |
| and listen to what they have to say. Of all three cats | | | | them since they constantly clean themselves) |
| I have now, Fairy is the only one who wags her tail | | | | Animal experts say our modern house cats lived in |
| like a dog when she is feeling happy and content. | | | | the semi-arid regions of Africa. These wild cats |
| The following is a list of simple body language | | | | obtained water from their food and by necessity |
| communications as determined by cat behaviorists:o | | | | they learned to live without a source of drinking |
| Arched back, fur on end: Among kittens, this could | | | | water. They say cats don't actually "hate" the water, |
| mean "play with me." With older cats, it might mean | | | | it is just because of their instinct they inherited from |
| "leave me alone." If the movement is accompanied | | | | over hundreds of generations ago tells them "there is |
| by a deep growl, stiff movement or solid eye | | | | no good reason to dip their toes in water." This |
| contact, you can probably conclude the cat does not | | | | actually is the message I hear from my cats. They |
| want to be bothered at the moment.o Kneading with | | | | look at me as if to say, "Just what do you think you |
| paws: This is typically seen only in small kittens. Cat | | | | are doing here, I don't need this. |
| behaviorists think this can be the kitten trying to | | | | |