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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat body language

28 replies

Circumferences · 02/02/2023 13:04

I'm fascinated by the body language of our two cats who are 6 months old. I understand cats communicate with each other using body language and rarely use their voice between themselves.

With humans however, cats have learned that we're basically "stupid" and can't read their body language so they do more purring and mewing to let us know what they want. Unfortunately we can't understand that either!

This morning my girl cat was following me around purring and doing forceful head bumps on my hands, which I interpret as her wanting affection, so I was stroking her, but she kept on and on at it! Like saying "No Human, do something else" so I threw some toys about which she wasn't interested in.

Anyway, my point being, I literally have no idea what our cats are trying to say. Ever. I'm starting to feel inadequate 😂

Any words of wisdom or a good resource I can read?

OP posts:
viques · 02/02/2023 13:07

It’s usually

food
treats
open the door

JoanOgden · 03/02/2023 16:40

Food, treats, stroking or "sit down so I can sit on your lap"

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 03/02/2023 17:03

You’ll learn. We all learn.

viques · 04/02/2023 11:54

And I forgot that special, proud and slightly muffled, full mouth, ventriloquist call which means

” Look what I have stalked, caught and brought to show you how much I love you, isn ‘t it amazing, arent I clever, why are you making that yuck disgusted face?”

piefacezzz · 04/02/2023 11:58

Dcat will normally sit where she wants attention, for example near the door, near her food, near her toes or near her Dreamies, This morning I was summonsed downstairs to DDs room to close the curtains and give her a scratch. She then went to sleep on DD's bed.

piefacezzz · 04/02/2023 11:58

toys not toes

Toddlerteaplease · 04/02/2023 13:40

It fascinated me how my two non related cars get on better than when Magics sister was alive. And the way they the work together to gang up on me. I get menaced into giving cat soup by two 3kg cats.

Sunriseinwonderland · 04/02/2023 13:48

My cat has annoyingly learnt that patting me will get her what she wants. I think she learnt it from me patting my lap to try her to come and sit on it.
Now it's pat pat pat with her paw all day long. If my arms in the way she'll pat it. Its really cute but not at 3 in the morning.

BlueKaftan · 04/02/2023 13:50

With my cat that means she wants to be picked up and cuddled.

007DoubleOSeven · 04/02/2023 13:51

Don't worry. They'll train you :)

BIWI · 04/02/2023 13:54

This morning my girl cat was following me around purring and doing forceful head bumps on my hands, which I interpret as her wanting affection, so I was stroking her, but she kept on and on at it!

This means 'feed me, human!'

Rebel2023 · 04/02/2023 14:04

Mine will head bump me 24/7 because he's just ridiculously affectionate
But he thinks mashing his head into my head is the best. And the harder the better Confused so more of a BANG than a bump. He basically wants fussing/pets/cuddles every second of the day

Rheia1983 · 04/02/2023 15:41

With our cats it's:

Food
Play
Treats
Kibble
Cuddle/worship
Snuggle
Open the door

They also lead me to what they want (always looking back to see if I'm following) or present themselves all stretched out (if its cuddles).

Toddlerteaplease · 04/02/2023 20:46

Cheddar used to put her front paws on my chest to be picked up and cuddled. She's not done it for ages and has just started it again.

Original poster
Circumferences · 04/02/2023 22:41

Ah your kitties all sound so lovely

Yes it's definitely a case of them training you rather than the other way round!

With her persistent head bumping it definitely wasn't a "pick me up please" ask, because she's a wriggler when she's picked up.
She's a dedicated lap sitter though, so it may well have been a "sit down human so I can sit on your lap" ask. That makes sense, knowing her and the fact she'd had her food already.

OP posts:
Original poster
Circumferences · 04/02/2023 22:43

Rebel2023 · 04/02/2023 14:04

Mine will head bump me 24/7 because he's just ridiculously affectionate
But he thinks mashing his head into my head is the best. And the harder the better Confused so more of a BANG than a bump. He basically wants fussing/pets/cuddles every second of the day

😂

OP posts:
Stardu · 04/02/2023 22:54

Forceful head bumps at me usually means “not that food I want that other flavour we had last week”

Stardu · 04/02/2023 22:55

Also in winter rhey follow you around and pester yoh until yoh sit down, then sit on yiu. They’re after the body heat

VittysCardigan · 04/02/2023 23:05

My overlord has learnt that shredding the wallpaper gets him attention, albeit of the negative variety. He also becomes a really pest when he thinks i should go to bed & turn the lights out.

VittysCardigan · 04/02/2023 23:06

He also wakes me in the morning to feed him & open the curtains.

Original poster
Circumferences · 04/02/2023 23:46

Stardu · 04/02/2023 22:55

Also in winter rhey follow you around and pester yoh until yoh sit down, then sit on yiu. They’re after the body heat

Yes! It has been cold in our house lately

OP posts:
Original poster
Circumferences · 04/02/2023 23:47

VittysCardigan · 04/02/2023 23:05

My overlord has learnt that shredding the wallpaper gets him attention, albeit of the negative variety. He also becomes a really pest when he thinks i should go to bed & turn the lights out.

Oh goodness yes, the boy cat goes immediately to scratch the chairs in the morning. I'm already going to get his food! He doesn't need to let me know anymore! Infuriating.

OP posts:
FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 05/02/2023 15:31

He disagrees. You can have nice stuff or you can have cats but rarely both.

007DoubleOSeven · 05/02/2023 15:41

Stardu · 04/02/2023 22:55

Also in winter rhey follow you around and pester yoh until yoh sit down, then sit on yiu. They’re after the body heat

So cuddly in winter :) in summer acts like a teenager who doesn't want you within 5ft

nettie434 · 06/02/2023 21:23

Even though you don't need a cat body language book but you'd like an entertaining read, 'What Cats Want' is excellent. I read it at my friends'. It's easy to read and good fun. You can buy it on Amazon but this is an article about the author:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/05/what-cats-mean-by-miaow-japans-pet-guru-knows-just-what-your-feline-friend-wants

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