At Tilly & Ted, we know better than anyone how important your furry friend is; we firmly believe your pet deserves a seat at the table. So, we also know how hard it can be when you're not sure what your best friend is trying to say to you. From mysterious meows, to unsociable behaviour, to whipping tails, we're here to translate what your pet might be trying to tell you.  

Read on below for our top tips to help you better connect with your cats, however make sure to understand when your animal may be in danger. If your pet is displaying any behaviour associated with a medical emergency, such as extreme fatigue, overly aggressive behaviour, or refusal to eat or drink, please contact your local vets for advice immediately. Stay safe all you pawesome pals!

Meows, purrs, hisses, and growls

Every cat has a different voice: some kitties are quiet and only meow when they need something, others love to sing and shout about everything. It can be hard to know what every sound means exactly, especially if it's out of character for your cat. But there are some universal languages to help you understand what your moggy may be trying to tell you.

Meows of all kinds are usually a cry for attention in some way. Cats tend to only use meows to communicate with each other as kittens, so take the same approach with us since we also can't understand complex cat language (this says something about how they view humans!). There's usually no need for alarm, but if you're not sure why they may be meowing, check them over to make sure there is no injury or cause for worry before offering them different resources and activities to get to the root of the problem. Have some playtime, give them cuddles, or maybe even their favourite Tilly & Ted meal ( we recommend our Turkey Pâté with Chicken and Squash meal for a tempting treat).

For the more yowling sounds, they may be trying to tell you that either yourself or something around them is bothering them. Their body language will also indicate this, with alert eyes and puffy tails often accompanying a yowl. Try to calm the situation by removing any threats or stimulants, such as other animals, and give the cat some space. If you know your kitty responds well to specific training, such as positive reinforcement, use what you know to help your friend find their cool. What's most important is knowing your cat well and how they behave, so when their behaviour surprises you, you can assess the situation and make the best call for you and your feline friend. 

Purring is a sure sign that your kitty pal is happy as can be. Luckily this vocal sound is almost always a positive one, and it is often accompanied by head nuzzles, relaxed eyes, and making biscuits (kneading with paws). It is still undecided as to why exactly cats purr, but it is an undeniable sign of trust and love in this context. Nothing gets a cat purring like our Chicken Mousse, so crack open a can if you want to reward your kitty, or give them a clear signal of your love. Cats will also occasionally purr when stalking prey or injured, but this should be fairly clear to understand from their other body language. If the cat is purring and making chirping sounds whilst staring alert, they may be stalking (be careful if you get a wide eyed stare in amongst purrs, as your pussycat may be about to pounce on you). If your cat is looking lethargic or solitary whilst purring, or seemingly unrelaxed, perhaps check them over for signs of injury or concern, and contact your local vets if you're worried. 

Did you know that your cat's perky ears tell you more than when they need a good scratch? Here's what they could be telling you:

Ear's up, down, and all around

Your cat's ear positions may seem like an easy call: ears up and they're listening, but they could be telling you more than that. 

For example, when a kitty is laid down nonchalantly, but has their ears standing tall, they are probably reacting to the stimuli around them and just keeping an ear out. However, if they are tense or staring with perked ears, this may be more of a sign of overstimulation from your animal, and they may be trying to stay alert in case of a possible threat. If this is then accompanied by a yowl or a puffy tail, consider removing the stimuli or giving your cat space to calm them down. If they instead get big eyes and begin to get low to the ground, prepare for some fur to fly as they may be about to pounce and play!

When your cat's ears are more relaxed to the sides, they are usually resting, or ready to receive the best pets and scratches around. Reward your meow-zing mate with a much needed cuddle. If the ears become more slicked backwards however, this can be sign that your cat is anxious or angry, and this can be easily seen through their other body language also. If they are hiding away, yowling, whipping their tail, or have hair standing on end, give the kitty space and help calm their environment down if something is clearly an issue.

We all know a waggy tail equals a happy dog, but how can cats communicate with their tails?

The art of the tail language

For cats, their tails can be just as communicative as dog's, if perhaps a little more nuanced. When a cat holds their tail high in a relaxed manner, they are usually happy and excited, perhaps to receive cuddles, to say hello, or to enjoy a helping of whisker licking Salmon Mousse. A relaxed tail that waves in the middle is also a positive sign, and usually means your kitty is relaxed and chilled out. 

When a tail is tucked down low between your cat's legs, this is a little more worrying. This posture and behaviour can indicate that your animal is feeling threatened or nervous, and is a defensive habit for cats. If your pet is displaying this behaviour, try your best to locate the source of their discomfort and calm them down. 

If their tail is whipping back and forth or sticking straight upwards, accompanied with large eyes and bristled fur, this could either mean they are hunting or stalking in a playful manner, or angry and threatened. Don't worry, it's not too tricky to tell the difference. Playful cats will usually be focussed on something in particular, such as a toy or bird they've spotted, and often get low to the ground and wiggle as if about to pounce. Cats that are feeling upset and agitated may yowl or growl to let you know, and may even strike out to scratch, so best to keep your distance if they're showing this behaviour. 

Now what does it mean if your cat is up and about, or lazing around? Here's what we think:

Poised posture and lazily lounging

A clear sign that your cat is telling you they're relaxed and comfortable around you, is them lying curled up, or on their backs with their bellies out and proud. An exposed tummy is a sign of weakness in the wild, with the soft stomach being an easy target for attack. Therefore, by lying back and splaying their arms and legs, they're saying that they trust and love you enough to have their defences down and truly chill out. Some cats love tummy scratches, but this can get overstimulating quickly, so prepare for a paw slap if they've had enough. You may also notice trusting and comfortable cats nuzzling you for pets and attention, or lying down next to you, so they can soak all the love and cuddles.

Loafing, or sitting with arms and legs tucked underneath their body, is also a comfortable resting position for cats, and you will find most kitties will adopt this peaceful posture throughout the day. It is a common neutral way for cats to sit, as they can remain relaxed whilst being easily able to jump up if needed.

More defensive or aggressive cats may stay up on all fours and have tense muscles, keeping ready for action. This is a guarded position where they're trying to appear bigger and ready to respond. Cats may stand like this side on and prepared to run, or facing frontwards, prepared to attack. As mentioned above, you can decipher whether this is playful or aggressive behaviour by your relationship with the cat and their other body language. If your cat is often playful, and is purring or jumping about in between these habits, they probably just want to play. If they are yowling and hissing, backing away, or you don't have a close relationship with this cat, create space between you or remove any threats. Check out our recent blog post on why cats hiss for more advice on understanding fearful or aggressive feline behaviour.

Your kittycat's eyes may be SO cute, but are they trying to tell you something more than 'I want treats'?

Staring contests and blinking eyes

Eye contact can tell you a lot about what your cat may be thinking, so here's our thoughts on what their gaze is saying. A cat with relaxed eyes is usually telling you just that: they are chilled and happy. Closing their eyes and showing content is similar to humans, and they won't feel the need to keep alert eye contact if their defences are down. Slow blinking is often a way for cats to communicate to each other affection and trust, and you may have noticed your cat doing this to you too. Don't be shy, blink back!

If your kitty's eyes are larger and staring, accompanied with alert body language, this is a sign that they are ready to hunt or face a threat. If your cat adopts this behaviour when playing or cuddling with you, make sure to give them some space, or prepare to be pounced on. Of course, every cat is different, and just because they have alert ears and eyes, it doesn't necessarily mean they will attack. Learn your fabulous feline's signs and tells by observing their behaviour in different situations, and becoming cat's best friend.

Now surely every cat can't resist a delicious meal, so should it be cause for alarm if your kitty's turning their nose up?

Not in the mood for food

Don't panic, there are lots of reasons why your cat may seemingly be dieting. Of course, if your pussycat isn't eating at all, contact your local vets immediately as it can be a sign of emergency. But if your pal is simply picking at their food, wanting to eat but refusing it once it's down, or only eating in certain situations, pay attention to what they could be saying. If you have other pets, your cat may feel threatened, and may be afraid to dive in. If their tail is low and they're keeping their distance, maybe try feeding them in a separate area to keep them more comfortable. There may be stimuli that is making it hard for your kitty to concentrate, such as loud sounds, difficult textures, or it's just too hot. If you suspect this may be what they're trying to say, try feeding your cat from a different bowl, such as plastic instead of metal, or change the environment around the feeding area to be more relaxing. Cats also like to have their food and water stationed apart, so keep these separate if your kitty's having issues. 

Of course, sometimes your moggy develops a refined palate overnight, and demands something new and fresh. May we recommend our Cranberry selection in Broth in this instance? Being packed full of superfoods and vibrant taste, this meal is sure to appeal to even the ficklest of felines. If your cat is apprehensive to change, try incorporating the new food by adding a small amount to your pets existing meals, and slowly increasing the amount day-by-day until the old food is all gone. Eventually, your pet will be scarfing down their delicious new meals with gusto. Hurray!

The key to understanding your kittycat pal's behaviours and habits is all about observing them well, and knowing who they are. Most cats will display similar tells in similar situations, but knowing what your pussycat is trying to tell you comes easy when you know how they usually react. Keep an eye on your pawesome pal in daily life to know their likes, dislikes, waries, and wonders, so that you can keep each other safe and meow-zing.

Need similar advice on your dog? Check out our partner post about what your dog could be trying to tell you.

Sources

Almanac

The Humane Society