As cat owners, we do worry that our
cats are happy and want to do whatever we can to make them so. One of the best
ways to make sure your cat is happy is to understand their body language and
the signs of happiness to give you reassurance and to help spot potential
problems.
Signs of happiness
Cats are quite good at body language
because that's how they communicate with other cats. Cats have a range of vocalizations that they use to tell the world what they fell and think and when
it comes to happiness and contentment, the purr is one of the most obvious.
Cats purr when they are happy, feel loved and are comfortable and even if you
can't hear them, you can always feel a purr as it rattles through their whole
body. Other little noises can be signs of happiness, depending on the cat,
little trills and chortles that show they are relaxed.
The physical signs of happiness in
their body language is also quite obvious, more for their lack of signs. An
angry cat is visibly angry with erect fur, wide eyes, ears forward and a tail
slashing the air. Likewise a frightened cat may make themselves small, curl
their tail around themselves and duck down to be submissive and less
threatening. Yet a relaxed and cat happy cat will have their ears erect to
listen to what's going on or swiveling around to follow the conversation. They
will tuck their tail loosely around them or leave it lying across the floor.
Their fur is smooth and their whiskers sit comfortably.
Happy behaviors
A sleeping cat is often a happy cat
as this means they feel comfortable enough in their surroundings to have a nap.
If they felt threatened or in danger, they would remain awake and on guard.
Similarly, grooming is a sign of being happy. Cats groom themselves to keep their
coats in order and do derive pleasure from the act. By concentrating on their
grooming and not their wider environment, they are vulnerable to attack
therefore will only focus wholly on their grooming when they are happy in their
home.
Eating properly is a sign of
happiness and healthiness. While cats might try to 'greed' from people for
treats or other morsels, this isn't because they are hungry but more a type of
game. They may really fancy a little of the fish you are eating but not because
they are desperately hungry. A happy cat is one that eats normally, though
different cats have a different sense of normal. Some eat their meals in a
single sitting while others are grazers who come and go to the food bowl.
Happy kittens
Sometimes with kittens, they may
seem angry or vexed at something but this may merely be a part of their play.
Kittens learn about the world around them through play and most everything
around the house will be a part of this. So while they might hiss or spit at
something, whip their tail around or even bite and scratch something, this
doesn't mean they are angry and unhappy but simply that they are working their
instincts.
For all things cat from food to
litter to toys, please see my articles at http://www.petcarechoice.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/productcategory.cat
Credit: Angela Tempest
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