“The smallest feline is a masterpiece”. Leonardo da Vinci is one of the many who has studied and enjoyed the company of cats. Whether they baffle or amuse you, connecting with them through subtle cat communication has been the goal of many cat lovers for centuries. Today, science tells us how. 

Insights into Cat Communication 

How often have you wondered what it’s like to be a cat? For some cat lovers, they sleep all day but others might also have to welcome their offerings of half dead rodents.

To many people, cats appear to be aloof. Although, if you spend time with cats who live in a community within a rescue shelter, you’ll soon notice that they can be very sociable both with humans and each other.  

So, where do we start when it comes to cat speak? A recent study shows that the cat smile is the way forwards. You might have already noticed how cats narrow their eyes when they’re happy. Now, scientists have confirmed that this is their equivalent of a smile. 

Moreover, cats are more likely to approach a new person who narrows their eyes. So, get squinting to make new feline friends. 

Of course, cat communication also covers the fundamentals of how they growl, meow or purr. Aside from vocals, understanding cat communication also means knowing how to observe their ears. 

According to cat expert, Dr. Sarah Brown, feline communication involves moving their ears in 7 different ways. They are in fact not aloof, it’s simply that we are not paying enough attention. 

Look out for these cues to deepen your understanding of cat communication: 

• Whiskers and ear movements – again according to scientists, whiskers and ears move towards another cat, or person, when they are having a positive interaction. 

• Blink slowly – as we’ve mentioned, cats appreciate the narrowing of the eyes but blinking slowly also indicates calm and contentment.

• Head butting – thanks to a cat’s facial pheromones, head butting is both reassuring and calming. Whilst they do it as a way to mark you, they only do it with cats or people they trust and appreciate. You can now also gently return the favour. 

If Cats Could Speak

What perhaps makes cats so fascinating is that they can be both solitary and sociable. Nevertheless, research shows that cats respond to their human’s voice which supports the theory that they do get attached. 

If nothing else, that can give you confidence that that baby cat speak we all tend to adopt with our cats is perfectly normal and even a successful strategy. 

Nevertheless, if we could suddenly adopt feline communication, what would we hear from our cats? 

Like most of us, they want safety, food and some form of connection. Furthermore, they can and do get bored. 

One fun option is to use food puzzles for cats to avoid making their meals too easy. They are after all hunters and therefore, love the chase. 

Every cat is different of course so you might need some trial and error to get the right puzzle. Also, don’t forget that even the best puzzle in the world can become stale and needs changing. 

Another interesting belief about cats is that they would tell us to worship them. Yes, they were considered to be magical animals by the ancient Egyptians. Although, perhaps they became divine symbols because of their almost supernatural abilities to keep pests away. 

We might not prioritise pest control so much these days but understanding cat communication is still at the forefront of many of our minds. The more we communicate the easier the day-to-day becomes but also life’s challenges such as moving house with your outdoor cat.

As such, here are some useful tips to keep your cat communication vibrant and happy: 

• Warmth – we all know that the environment plays a vital role in overall well-being. Did you know though that the ideal temperature for cats is 30 to 38C, according to research? Most people wouldn’t want to heat their homes by that much. Instead, you can leave a heating pad and blankets for them to snuggle into. 

• Diffuse those pheromones – diffusers that release pheromones have been shown by research to reduce aggression between cats. Their use doesn’t have to stop there though. They are equally beneficial for all cats because of the calming and relaxing effect they have. It’s like having their own personal spa area. 

• Clickers – many cat lovers will swear that cats can’t be trained. Nevertheless, cats are constantly learning and responding to our voices and behaviours. We’re not talking about turning them into circus tricks but some basic training can deepen your bond. How to train a cat starts with a clicker along with reams of fun and creativity. 

What will You Test Out to Deepen Your Cat Communication Skills? 

Every species communicates to get what it needs and cats are no different. If we feel they are being aloof, we need to watch for the subtle cues of cat communication to better understand them. 

So, look out for those whisker and ear twitches and practice your slow blinking to show off your best cat smile. If cats could speak, they want us to pay attention to them and play with them. Training them is more of an option than you might realise. 

And then keep enjoying the unparalleled gift of a cat’s love.