WHAT IS YOUR PET TRYING TO TELL YOU?
The body language of cats and dogs
SCIENTISTS have confirmed what cat owners have long suspected – their pets are smiling at them.
A study has found that, when humans smile, narrow their eyes and blink slowly, cats respond by doing something similar. But it only works if it’s a genuine smile, cats do not like fake grins that don’t reach the eyes.
The researchers studied cats with their owners, as well as trying out the technique on strange cats of all ages.
And it worked with a familiar face as well as a stranger, suggesting that this might be a good way to make friends with a potentially standoffish puss.
So what else is your pet trying to tell you with its body language? Daily Record vet Neil McIntosh decodes some common behaviours.
DOGS WAGGY TAIL
If it’s a furious, thumping wag, then it’s a straightforward sign the dog is happy. (There is even a syndrome called Swimmer’s Tail, when dogs that love water are so happy to be swimming that they wag under water and sprain the muscles around the base of their tail.) If it’s a slower and more deliberate wag, it could be a sign of trouble to come.
PLAY BITING
This is a dog’s way of testing boundaries. It’s how puppies establish a pecking order within the litter and learn to interact with adult animals. They will try it with their owners to see what they can and can’t get away with. If the owner thinks it’s adorable and doesn’t put a stop to it, the dog will carry on nibbling.
PRAYING
If a dog is stretching out its front legs with its paws together, like a human praying, it’s not enjoying a deep stretch. It’s suffering from abdominal pain and probably needs to see the vet.
DISPLACEMENT GROOMING
Cats often start washing after they have done something daft or dangerous - running across the road in busy traffic, or misjudging a jump and falling down. They will immediately start licking their nether regions or washing their face as if to say “nothing to see here”.
GRINNING
Some breeds of dog do actually expose their teeth in a grin because they are pleased to see their owners. It’s a friendly move – Neil describes it as the canine equivalent of “laying down arms”. But
it’s often misinterpreted because it can look very aggressive to human eyes.
CATS EXPOSED BELLY
This is a sign of huge trust in a cat. (It’s different in dogs, who are more likely to just enjoy being petted and rubbed on the tummy.) Cats expose their bellies when they are fighting, so to do so voluntarily is a huge compliment. They may only want to be stroked or scratched on the abdomen for a short time.
SLANTY EYES, EARS BACK
If a cat is sitting quietly, with its eyes narrow and slanted, and its ears back, it’s in pain. Disguising pain is instinctive behaviour and it can mislead owners, who think their pet is happy. But if their face starts to look like a Siamese cat, it’s a warning sign.
FREEZING
Some cats will freeze in stressful situations. Owners can misinterpret this and think their pet loves visiting the vet, for example. But becoming completely passive is actually a sign of anxiety.
TAIL STRAIGHT UP
A straight up, puffy tail is a cat making itself as big as possible to intimidate a potential opponent. Neil warns that this can be a bluff and the hardest felines don’t always bother to do this.