What is Your Cat Saying?
It might be time to adopt a new cat into your family! The transition from newcomer to treasured family member can take some time. Here are some tips to help you read the signals your cat is giving to make the transition smoother.
The key is to pay attention not only to physical cues, but also to the. Cats use their body (including their eyes, ears, whiskers, and tail) and their voice to show what they think and feel.
When a cat is happy and comfortable, watch their eyes. The eyes of a happy cat may be round or partially closed, and their pupils narrow like slits. If a cat blinks slowly at you, it means they trust and love you. You can blink slowly back to show them that you love them, too!
When a cat is happy, their posture is typically loose, with their limbs and tail stretched out away from their body when lying down. A happy cat might cuddle up next to you or knead you with their paws.
Listen to a happy cat, and you may hear happy sounds of purring, “conversational meows” and chirping.
The simple act of grooming in front of you shows they are relaxed (would you take a bath in front of a stranger?). A cat is enjoying a good petting session when she arches her back. Other behaviors like greeting you at the door or putting his head down and rolling over also show happiness. You can feel really good about your bond when your cat stretches out long and vulnerable, revealing his stomach.
Tails are one of a cat’s ways of communicating. A tail held up and smooth is happy and relaxed. A tail in a lowered position or tucked between the legs indicates that the cat is uncertain about a situation or is stressed. Cats may thrash their tails or thump their tails on the ground when they are angry, irritated, or annoyed. Tails wrapped tightly around the body indicate they are defensive, frightened, in pain, or sick.
Most acting-out behavior is because of fear. By the time cats are growling, hissing, swatting, or biting, they are so scared that they are panicking. If you miss a cat’s early signals, it’s easy to assume the cat suddenly flipped a switch and became aggressive, but there is usually a long ramping up to such behaviors.
Most cats prefer to remove themselves from a scary situation; that’s why many cats disappear when visitors first arrive. If your cat attempts to move away to a quiet, safe place, let her go. Don’t force her to stay and interact with new people. Respect your cat’s desire to retreat and let her come out again to investigate on her terms.
No kitty wants to be adopted and then returned to the shelter because “they didn’t warm up”. Please just be patient and give your new cat time to adjust. They will make it worth your time with lots of purrs and belly flops to come.
Toz
Toz is a young, playful, affectionate tabby and white cat who came to us as a stray. She was already spayed, so she must have been a pet at some point. No one came to claim her, and she’s been waiting since then. We know she will be a loving addition to a new family.
Since 1994, the Animal Resource Center and the Shops of Second Chance Humane Society have been dedicated to serving animals in Southwestern Colorado. Our adoption hours are every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We are located at 177 County Rd 10, Ridgway, CO. You can view our shelter pets and services online at secondchancehumane.org.