Cat body language

[Circumferences]

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?

Our cat will come and fetch me from the garden office to let him into the house. He paws the glass door "squeep-squeep-squeep" so I open it then bolts up to the house and sits by the back door. Also if he breaks into our bedroom he wakes me up by squeep-squeeping on the wardrobe mirror just out of reach of my foot.

My cat is very much a ‘sit by the thing I want’ mostly treats, or for me to waggle a bit of string to chase, or to brush him.
I’ve learned the ‘evils’ look that means ‘enough stroking, I’m going to attack now’ and also the ‘I’m going to be sick’ miaow.

My cat is quite vocal and I’m sure he says ‘hello’ back to me when I let him in. It’s a definite ‘eh-oh’ miaow.

This is the thing mine all do. Completely different yowl.
And I fall for it every time. So I get alive mice and birds in my kitchen....