Locally known as "The Cat Whisperer", or alternatively "That Cat Lady", I have a lifetime of experience studying and analyizing cat behaviour and what I call "cat-speak". Cats do not have the proper vocal cords to speak English, but they have a highly complex vocal and gesture system which allows them to communicate in great detail with both humans and each other. This article focuses on cat's eye gestures.
Have you ever paid attention to the movements of your cat's eyes? Cats use their eyes to communicate with each other in many different ways that most people wouldn't even notice. Let me give you one simple example. Have you ever called to your cat to get it to come to you and it acted as if it were not only of disproportionately low intelligence but also completely and utterly deaf? Next time, try this simple exercise with your cat. When you want your cat to come to you, or jump up on your lap, make eye contact with your cat for about 2 seconds, then shift your eyes to look at where you want the cat to end up (be it on your lap or beside you). Then immediately shift your eyes back to making eye contact with your cat, hold for one second, then look somewhere else. You may have to do this two or three times before your cat understands that YOU understand the whole "eye thing". Pretty soon you will be able to do that without any hesitance on your cats part.
In the above exercise, what you did, in the easiest form for your cat to understand was to 1) Make eye contact with the cat (i.e. "Hey, you there, I want to talk to you") 2) Shifted your eyes to a spot where you wanted him/her to go (i.e. "Look at this spot!") 3) Shifted your eyes immediately back to the cat (i.e. "See that spot I just showed you..? It involves you...can you go there please?"), and finally 4) Look at something else besides the spot or the cat (i.e. That's all my request is for, I don't have anything else to say besides come sit up there).
It makes perfect sense when you think about it like that, but most people - having the relative ease of vocal cords that allow us to say and understand "Please come here" - don't think in terms of nonverbal language.
Other things that a cat's eye signifies are:
* Eyes wide open and looking at you: "I'm listening." or "Yes? You need me?" * Eyes half closed: "I trust you and everything around me, I'm secure." or "I'm sleepy." * Eye pupils in slits: "I'm feeling alert and confident." * Bug-eyed: "I'm frightened." or (if looking at another cat with this) "What in HADES are you doing?!?" * Blinking and winking: "I'm talking to you, I like you." * Eyes clouded: "I'm ill." Or, "I'm relaxed." * Eyes staring at a person: "Stay away. I don't wish to be disturbed" * Eyes staring at a wall: "I thought I saw something move!" * Looking at you then turning away "Oh, it's just you"
If you wish to make "friends" with a cat, the best thing NOT to do is to stare at it. Cats take staring as a personal challenge, as well as a confrontation. Much like you would with an aggressive dog, the best thing to do is to look away, or look downward. If a cat "allows" you to pet it, then if you close your own eyes, you are showing the cat that you are trusting him/her and want to be friends.
Cats read our own eyes for signals they use themselves and therefore recognize (it's a heck of a lot easier than that human-speak stuff). So when around a furry feline, monitor your own eye movements and what they are saying to the kitty, kitty might just surprise you and start "talking" back! ------------------------------ Stephanie Davies is a 27 year old Missourian with a loving husband and an 8 year old son. She currently owns and operates her own business, Mystickal Incense & More, which sells handmade candles, incense, bath & body products and other handcrafted products at http://www.mystickalincense.com
» left by Alice M Boyd from Weatherby, MO (1 year 342 days ago.)
Hi, Stephanie!
Great article. I have a male neutered cat, "Cosmo", grey tuxedo short hair with emerald green eyes, over 8 years old, some Siamese in the blood. I talk to him all the time and he is very devoted, to the point, he knows my car when I come and go; he knows when I am in the house, etc. (I'm living in a rural area and Cosmo is an outdoor/indoor cat.) First of all, I never had to house-train Cosmo when I let him at night due to inclement weather. He just goes to the door and meows when he wants out. But in the past month or so, and I thought I was hearing things, I fed him his usual food with a cat-vitamin, etc., when I arrived home from work. I went out on the deck to pick up his food dish and water and Cosmo had not eaten his vitamin. I said, "Cosmo? You didn't eat your vitamin?" And he replied SHAKING HIS HEAD, "Mee-nyoh!" I replied, "Well, will you eat it tomorrow?" He replied, "Yeow." Then a week later, I came home from work and he followed me to the house upon arrival, and I said, "Well, how was your day?" He replied, "Mee-dyown-nyow." I don't know if he was depressed or just bored and saying, "Me don't know." I have a co-worker who's mother told her the cat next door when she went over to visit, would be on the front porch and say, "Now bowdy howme." (Nobody home.)
I find this fascinating and call it "Cat-nglish". Have you encountered this?
My beautiful long haired calico used to tell me when and what she wanted to for a snack. She would say "nyack" (snack) and then "meeeese" for cheese. "Myyam" was ham. "Miiiiiikkk" was milk. Despite the cat communities "no-no" for these items, she lived a full and healthy 20 years. Yes, I believe cats can talk.
My beautiful long haired calico used to tell me when and what she wanted to for a snack. She would say "nyack" (snack) and then "meeeese" for cheese. "Myyam" was ham. "Miiiiiikkk" was milk. Despite the cat communities "no-no" for these items, she lived a full and healthy 20 years. Yes, I believe cats can talk.
Thanks for the article I enjoyed it very much.Sir Winston our cat oh(the boss) will just tell us when its time to eat, turn on the fireplace(winter) turn down TV. to load he covers his ears. I have to tell you he has held two mice at the same time at bay.It looked like a sheep dog working.I thought he lost it till we checked. Thanks again........Doris
» left by rosannadana from Rhode Island (250 days 6 hours ago.)
Hi Stephanie`-> Your comment that ". . . cats do not have vocal cords to speak English. . " more accurately, my perception is that all non human animals of numerous species who, possess their own language, in which they communicate perfectly, and which human animals, generally, have not made efforts toward understanding due to our preference over the centuries in exploiting and owning their bodies for our own desires, cruelly or otherwise. In fact, there is no language, whether English, French, etc., that is a barrier to animal understanding. It is our own human lack of empathy and willingness to make simple observations when we are privileged to be in the company of cats, dogs, cows, chickens, snakes.... Rosemary
» left by Dan Cisson from Toccoa, Ga (18 hours 9 minutes ago.) New Comment!
Stephanie...We have a very unique cat named Sebastion. He was given to us from a friend who lived on a farm with deer, geese, you name it. When geese are on tv, his ears go up and he watches tv. I think cat is 3 years old, he is a fixed male tabby with beautiful stipes. I tell him he was supposed to be a tiger...more on that shortly. When we brought him home, he did what I expected..hid under the bed, couch..whatever. He took to his food and litter box super..He is an all indoor cat. After a few days, he learned the house, and started jumping in our lap, and being cuddly. Hes been here now 6-8 months. Here is why I tell him he should be a tiger. He growls a LOT. I play with him, and ruff him up a little and he gets in a playful mood. He plays a good bit by himself with toys he has. He can come and jump up in my lap, I can pet him and he starts growling. If I am playing with him and he starts growling I understand he probally has had enough....but, 10 minutes later he comes back for more. He at times will stand at the door and howl wanting out. He rarely will walk out, I have to carry him out. But he immediately starts growling and creeping around low to the ground, tail down. I generally keep him in sight to make sure he won't leave the yard. Last week I went in the house and came back out and he was up a tree 10 feet. He allways looks out the window, and he sometimes sees other cats come thru, and sees deer or a squirrel. If he sees a cat, all his hair stands up and his tail is big as a ball bat. Understand, he won't hurt us at all. I have found out that cats hate their hair pulled on their toes...like easing your hand over while he is beside you and sniping at his feet hair. He has many times opened widely and got my hand in his mouth but he will not bite...Its like he is saying-man I can hurt you, but I love you. As rough as I get with him, I do not hurt him. I really think he knows I am playing...Right now he is on the couch, and I could go pet him and after a few minutes he would start growling. Then he would jump down. 10 minutes later he would be right back. When he jumps up in your lap, he will stand on your chest if you are laying, and then he will lay down on our chest. He has no limitations to where he will touch you-all very loving. He eats good, and potties well, and never begs for table food. Our last cat would eat whatever you gave her.
What do you think of Sebastion ?? Thanks, Dan in Ga.
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