Understanding CAT BODY LANGUAGE is essential in my line of work. As you can imagine, if I read a cat wrong, someone could get hurt. I need to know when your cat is relaxed enough for me to begin my examination, or take an radiograph, or draw a blood sample. Here are some of my secrets.
If your cat is rubbing on my leg while I am chatting with you , it is an all-clear signal "you may pick me up now."If your cat is walking around the room with their tail pointing toward the ceiling, I am being told, "I am comfortable, and it is OK to handle me now."
If your cat is purring, it does not necessarily mean they are happy. Cats will purr when happy, scared or in pain, but a purring cat will rarely act aggressively.
Growling comes in many different flavors. Some cats are giving me a warning, some cats are out of their comfort zone and just scared, and some cats mean "DO NOT reach for me". Usually I can
differentiate these guys by their body language.
Facial rubbing and head butting is my favorite exam room behavior -it means that I am recognized and accepted as a friend.
The "flop on their side and expose the belly" cat is also a favorite of mine. However, I don't want to touch the belly as most cats see this as a breech of trust. I scratch under the chin and behind the ears -a more generally accepted form of attention.
Flattened ears should never be ignored. These cats are SCARED, and need quiet calming from their owners. Once the ears are upright, I will slowly proceed with quiet and gentle handling.
Yawning can be a sign of stress. Rarely are cats tired in the exam room, but I see a lot of yawning -this indicates that they are nervous and under stress.
Feliway, a spray product that mimics facial pheremones, and that helps many cats relax -can be used
at home as a way to decrease the stress associated with going to the vet. Feliway is now available in a wipe. Used inside the carrier about 10 minutes before you are ready to cage your cat, the Feliway Wipe with act in a natural way to allow your cat to become calm before travel. I use Feliway on my exam towels. Some of my patients will only relax when covered with a towel. We spray these exam towels with Feliway before the appointment. Feliway makes a BIG difference in some of my patients stress levels.Learning to read the body language of your cat will help you to understand what they are saying to you. Cats CAN talk, just not with words, but with actions!
Dr. Maureen Flatley
Fox Valley Cat Clinic
