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Home > Cat Newsletters > Cat Newsletter 19

Cat Newsletter 19
January 28, 2005

The Cat’s Temperament

Cat’s temperament is usually compared to the behavior of another pet – dog. The faithful, tractable and sometimes even servile nature of the dog seems more acceptable for people than the self-willed and to some extent uncontrollable temperament of cat. Only after understanding the specific character of the cat, can one start loving this remarkable animal.

The relationship between man and the domestic cat is very specific. The animal understands very well that the proprietor looks after it and provides for favorable way of life. Nevertheless the cat manages to keep its individuality, the care, which it gets, does not turn it into slave and does not impair its personality.

In the process of domesticating besides the need of food, another need has also arisen – close relationship with man: caressing, stretching in the lap when it has such a wish or mood. It seems that only wild or semi-wild cats (e.g. ownless ones) do not have need of such human attention.

If the cat, which is bred at home, is deprived for a long time of daily communication with people and contacts with its proprietor, in spite of the perfect way of life, will inevitably get a feeling of inefficiency and aggrievance and in more severe cases neural disorder.

That’s why when you spare time of your daily life for your pet, you have to remember that it is not enough only to feed and comb the animal, you have to talk to it. “Talk” to cat with gentle and friendly voice. Mind that you can say what you like – nevertheless it will not understand most of the words pronounced. The main thing is to talk to it! If your talking is accompanied by caressing, gentle stroking – you have to know that for the puffy creature these are the best moments of the day.

Cats communicate with each other with the help of different sounds, almost unnoticeable changes in the appearance or in the eyes, and when it is necessary in the curve of the body or certain parts of it. The sounds in the cat’s “vocabulary” have specific meaning.

Cat tries in different ways to make contact with man, to tell him its “opinion”, intention, mood or desire. If man accepts these symbols correctly, close and perfect relationship arises between him and the animal, complete mutual understanding appears.

Here I will give you short “dictionary” of cat’s “symbols”.

• Cat rubs its head in the man’s body – love, devotion, open-heartedness, thirst for caresses or sign of relaxation;
• Raised ears – curiosity;
• Bent backwards ears – warning, protectiveness;
• Ears close to the head – readiness for attack;
• Animal looks carefully around, after that thoroughly licks its fur – complete or false calmness;
• Narrowed eyes – calmness or sleepiness;
• Purring – calmness;
• Discontented purring – a feel of pain;
• Purring which reminds of growling – dissatisfaction;
• Mewing – greeting and sometimes request;
• Mewing with interruption and shade of screaming – respond to human behavior or voice;
• Wailing – spite;
• Interrupted cry – fright;
• Quiet purring which ends with dissatisfied growling – patience has limits;
• Hissing and hurtling – readiness for defence, giving notice to the target of attack;
• Restrained growling of cat feeding its youngsters – protecting little ones of possible danger;
• The same but ending with rising intonation – warning man or another creature not to come close to the pusses;
• Caressing man with its paw – intimate adherence, tenderness;
• Curved back – threatening the enemy, the cat is very irritated and ready for defence;
• Flapping its tail – anger;
• Drooping tail – fatigue;
• Drooping tail for a long time – disgust and disappointment ;
• Gentle flap of the end of the tail – interest;
• Slow curving of the whole tail – doubt if the contacts of the animal with a certain person will end in peace and quiet;
• Strained tail of the animal which from time to time shudders – warning;
• The tail is taut backwards and is kept still – readiness for attack;
• The tail is raised upwards – satisfaction;
• The tail is raised but its end is loose – joyful excitement.

Besides the above-mentioned symbols, which are used by all representatives of cats’ kind, each cat also uses its own symbols with the help of which it makes contact with those around. That’s why each proprietor can add to this list his personal observations.

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Why the cats scratch
How to make your cat to scratch her scratching post
13 ways to save your furniture from cat scratching.
How to play with your cat
Why cats climb

What every cat owner should know about the cat litter box
About some Cat Disease
The Cats and the Cold Weather
Heartworm disease in cats
Plants that will poison your cats
Cat Neutering
How to Avoid Cat Urine Spraying
How to remove cat urine
Cat’s Nutrition
What you should know about Cat’s Shedding
Care of Older Cats
Siamese Cats
Cares for newly born kittens
Putting Your Cat out to Pasture