How to speak cat
Cats are excellent at hiding how they feel and getting familiar with their body language can help us understand them more clearly. The better we speak cat, the better we can care for them.
Remember every cat is unique and you know your cat best. If you are ever concerned speak to your vet.
Cat body language
It’s best to consider your cat’s body language as a whole to understand how they’re feeling.
In this chapter, we’ll show you how different body language signals work together to indicate what your cat might be telling you.
These visuals provide an overview only and should not be relied upon. Body language can be subtle, complex and fast changing.
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Relaxed
Lying down on their side or on their back, exposing their belly, or loaf position with feet tucked in.
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Curious
Pointing their body and head towards you.
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Scared
Lowering their body close to the ground or arching their back to appear larger.
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Irritated
Looking at you directly with tail flicking.
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Aggressive
Arched back.
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Stressed
Body slightly arched or crouched down with little to no movement.
How to read body language
The differences in your cat’s body language for each emotion can be small and hard to spot. Let’s take a closer look at each part of your cat to help you understand every tail flick and whisker twitch.
Relaxed
Curious
Scared
Irritated
Aggressive
Stressed
Cat Sounds
Understanding pain
We never want to think of our beloved cats in pain, but it’s important to understand the signs. This chapter will equip you with the tools to understand if your cat is in pain, and how much, so you know when to go to the vet.
Using the Feline Grimace Scale
The Feline Grimace Scale is a fast and easy-to-use tool that can help with pain assessment in cats. Observe your cat awake and undisturbed from a distance for 30 seconds. If your cat is grooming, sleeping, playing or eating wait until they have finished before scoring.
The Feline Grimace Scale has 5 action units (ear position, eye tightening, muzzle tension, whiskers change and head position) that can be scored from 0 to 2. The maximum possible score is 10. A total score of 4 or above suggests your cat is likely to be in pain, consult your vet if this is the case.
Click the option that is most similar to the cat’s appearance to create your score.
Rate each action unit from 0 to 2
/5
Ear Position
Eye Tightening
Muzzle Tension
Whiskers Change
Head Position
Your score breakdown
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Ears 0
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Eyes 0
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Muzzle 0
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Whiskers 0
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Head 0
Your score: 0 point(s)
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It would appear that this cat is not in pain. However, if you are a cat owner and you are concerned or think your cat may be in pain, please consult your vet.
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It would appear that this cat is not in pain or has mild pain. Pain should be re-evaluated at regular intervals since FGS scores could increase, and the cat might require pain relief. If you are a cat owner and you are concerned or think your cat may be in pain, please contact your vet.
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It would appear that this cat is likely to be in pain. This score indicates the need for additional pain relief. This decision should be made by a vet based on clinical judgement, and in consideration of the physical status of the patient and other medications previously administered. If in doubt, reassess the cat in 10-15 minutes to reconfirm scores. Clinical judgement will differentiate if the FGS scores are high due to pain, rather than other factors such as stress, fear or sedation. If you are a cat owner and you are concerned or think your cat may be in pain, please contact your vet.
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It would appear that this cat is likely to be in severe pain. This score indicates the need for additional pain relief. This decision should be made by a vet based on clinical judgement, and in consideration of the physical status of the patient and other medications previously administered. If in doubt, reassess the cat in 10-15 minutes to reconfirm scores. Clinical judgement will differentiate if the FGS scores are high due to pain, rather than other factors such as stress, fear or sedation. If you are a cat owner and you are concerned or think your cat may be in pain, please contact your vet.
Source: © Université de Montréal 2019, Feline Grimace Scale | Easy Acute Pain Assessment in Cats
Interacting with your cat
You know your cat best and every cat is different. Here are some top tips to bear in mind when approaching your cat.
How to know when to stop handling your cat
Understanding where our cats are on the ‘Feline ladder of aggression’ can help us know when we need to give them space or remove the stimulus that’s causing the aggression.
How to manage aggression in your cat
Cats are wonderfully complex, and sometimes their behaviour doesn’t fit neatly with our human routines. Scratching, pouncing, or even showing aggression isn’t about being “bad” it’s how cats communicate their needs.
This chapter will help you understand why cats may act this way and how you can respond with kindness and confidence.
What helps:
What doesn’t help:
| What’s happening | Why it’s happening | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Jumping on the kitchen counter | Cats feel safer up high, where they can see their “territory”. Sometimes they’ve also found food rewards there before. | Offer higher, more attractive perches (cat trees, shelves). Avoid feeding from counters so the habit doesn’t stick. |
| Scratching the doormat when you come home | Seeing you arrive is exciting! Scratching is a way to release that burst of energy and stress, and to leave their scent. | Place a scratching post or mat near the door. Try different textures (vertical or horizontal) to match their preference. |
| Scratching the sofa | Scratching leaves scent marks that make furniture feel safe, but the scent doesn’t last long. New furniture or visitors on existing sofas can smell strange to your cat so they’re more likely to scratch. | Put a scratching post right next to the sofa and reward its use. A blanket with your cat’s scent can also help after visitors leave. |
| Attacking legs or feet | Often this is “play aggression” a sign your cat needs more opportunities to stalk, chase, and pounce. | Increase daily play with toys that mimic hunting (wand toys, treat chasers, food puzzles). |
| Growling, hissing, or swiping at people or other pets | This can be fear, stress, pain, or a sign of conflict with another animal. | Sometimes aggression is linked to pain or illness, it’s always best to rule this out with your vet first. |