Kalista

You and your cat may speak different languages, but that doesn't mean that you can't communicate with each other. While every cat is different, there is a common code of expression—a set of signals—that you can learn to read easily. Indicators such as the look in your cat's eyes, the tone of her voice, the position of her ears, and the motion of her tail can provide important clues regarding your companion's feelings and intentions.

For starters, you can talk to your cat. Some people feel silly speaking to cats, because they think animals can't understand them. Yet these same people may feel comfortable carrying on long one-sided conversations with infants. Cats do receive information from your conversation: praise, comfort, and a sense of security.

You can get information, too. The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak back. You will learn a lot from your cat's wide vocabulary of chirps and meows. You will know when it is time to get up (at least in your cat's opinion), when your cat is feeling affectionate, or when your cat is feeling threatened or is in pain. Your cat doesn't necessarily have something urgent to tell you; a passing meow in the hallway may be a simple hello.

You can also tell a great deal about what cats want or how they are feeling simply by the look in their eyes or their reaction to things. Are your cat's ears twitching in your direction like satellite dishes when you are speaking? He is absorbing everything you are saying. Does your cat's back rise up to meet your hand when you pet him? This means your cat is enjoying this contact with you. Does his back seem to collapse away under your slightest touch? Your cat is on his way somewhere and doesn't want to be held up, even by a favorite person.

If your cat crouches low to the ground, he is feeling uneasy. If your cat stands on his toes, you are probably being asked to pick up your cat. Raised hair on the back and a puffed-out tail are universal signs of hostility or defensiveness. But how about a quivering tail? That is the greatest expression of adoration any cat can bestow upon a human. But a thrashing tail shows the mood has shifted to intense agitation.

Most kittens are eager to learn how to please you. You can easily correct behavior in a young cat with a gentle but firm tone and a demonstration of the proper way to do things. Praise your kitten when you point out the litter box and scratching post.

Depending upon how happy and peaceful their former lives were, older cats may be a little more difficult to teach, but they are well worth the effort. Patience and kindness should help maintain most ground rules. Hitting your pet is cruel and accomplishes nothing—it will only teach your cat to be afraid of you. A good discipline tool is a spray bottle filled with water. Catch the cat in the act of scratching the sofa or jumping on the sink and spritz the culprit with a gentle spray of water. (Your cat will associate the behavior with the unpleasant experience of water, but will not associate you with the unpleasant experience.) Then be sure to offer your cat an acceptable outlet for his behavior, and praise him when he does the right thing.

Cats are not spiteful creatures—that's one of their most admirable qualities. Contrary to popular assumption, a cat who has a lapse in remembering ground rules or stops using the litter box is not trying to get even with or punish her owner. Your cat may be feeling out of balance, and these signs should alert you that your cat may be unwell or that something else is amiss. There probably is a good reason for this behavior, and it's up to you to figure out what it is.

A cat who stops using the litter box, for example, may be getting a bladder infection. Cats will associate the litter pan with the pain they feel upon urinating and avoid using the litter, or the cat may not like the brand of litter you've started using, or the cat may not feel comfortable using the box where it is kept. Other things that may disturb your cat may have to do with your behavior: Have you changed your routine or are you under stress or feeling sad? Cats' behavior may alter with any alteration in their routine or environment, such as a new cat or a new home. If abnormal behavior persists, have your veterinarian check your cat for any medical problems. If no medical problems exist, your veterinarian may suggest an animal behavior specialist.

Deafness

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

Fly Free

<----- a confessed cat talker!!!!!! LOL

im always talking to the cats -- MizzDeaf sometimes thinks im nuts LOL :-x

but yea the cats have their own behaviors/traits on how to express themselves

__________________
Enjoying life!

kuifje75

I sign and speak with my dog in two languages, and sometimes I think she actually understands me. Ehh, sorry for going off topic as I know it is a cat thread. heh heh

Mizzou

Yes, Fly Free talks to cats....

In my experience with indoor cats are different than outdoor cats. They acts differently around my living years with cats. In last five years ago, my cat was been my "sister" for 10 years and she is indoor cat. We have blast time together, she know I am DEAF and always let me know when door rang or phone rang. I love her so much!!! Now, Lovable (young cat) is 2nd cat, know I am DEAF so try to teaching Peeky (old cat) to understanding me. Peeky mostly ingored and want me attention much... Lovable know when I need an attention.

Fly Free -- TSK I been trained cats to behave but you make it SPOILED!!

BabyPhat21

I try to have intelligent conversation with my cat instead of going you so pretty, yes you are yes you are (baby talking)........

and my mom speaks to my cat in her native tongue, my cat can understand her!!!! Cats are very intelligent!!!!

javapride

knowing fly free that i have known for 7 yrs its deffy no diffy on her hahah she does LOVE to share affections to all animals always talks to them i can vividly remmy her talkng to a little chicuhaua name tacobell the way she says hi to tacobell is like this , HIIIIIIIIIII THEREEEEEEEEE TACCCCCCCOOOOOOOOO BELLLLLLLLLLL U LIKKKKKKKKKEEEEE THAT DONT U TACOOOOOOOOOO BELLLLL and when she met the rabbit of a friend of mines and her's she just says HI there merika, how are you doing ? do u want a carrot??? and ofc off she goes to ask the owner if it's ok and owner says fine no plm! and sure enuff there s she is enjoying a hello with the rabbit she has had her share of passing by animals, a turtle that needed to be moved across the street when it was stuck FLY wouldn't drive across it and its like her own serenity! ofc she will wanna spoil them her love of the animals shows her love for u too mizzdeaf, and shes very lucky to share the love with u for the animals especially for lovable and peeky HAHA i don't blame u for saying she spoils them! Fly Free is ONE LOVABLE CAT LOVER! shes a GREAT person for having her love for animals no one can deny that, when she sees a cat or a dog her eyes lights up thats makes her an unqiue person AND an understanding one too! Sowwy me go to length here just wanted to share what i had known in fly free with u and her love for all cats OFC shes like a true mama when she talks abt her two other cats nothing wrong with it

Oddball

Off the point, I always communicate with my dog, Bo...I don't care if people think I am looney talking to my own dog. Any animals can be intelligent if they are taught properly. I know Bo's body language too well!! LOL I love to talk to any animals which I bump into. I noticed myself connecting to animals more than people.. odd!!

WildHunt

yeah... I have a cat, she's very communicative with me and my husband. She loves to wake me up in late mornings when she's hungry or just wants affection and attention. She does tell us when she's happy or when she's not (by her meows, her expression, and her body language). I love cats who are like that- very communicative.

VamPyroX

People can eventually communicate with their cat... depending on how they bond with their pets. I had an interpreter from high school who could communicate with her cat through sign language. The cat learned to point at thing or poke at things with its nose. That's how they were able to communicate. If I ever got a bet after graduating college, it would very likely be a cat. They're easy to care for.

__________________
Check out my city... CLICK HERE!
(If you've already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

Mizzou

Ahhh, you are right about body language from dog so do I!!! I notice my cat has body language and understanding what their needs. Maybe I have good ESP with them. LOLzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

GoldenLeaf74

wow cats must be smart but always sleep all the time ha

__________________

CatoCooper13

So am I!! I'm not ashamed in talking to my cats -- I truly do believe they do communicate and understand what I say, of course, not ALL the time,
My Rosie will do all what she can to let her needs known to me! For example: If I'm at my computer and she wants my attention or just wants to stay close, she'd get on my lap and start to paw at my shirt...that indicates that she wanted to go underneath my shirt...heh! Strange and funny cat I have!

__________________

Deaf258

PimpDaddyPosse and I attended a Christmas party On Dec. 24, Bewitched and Kuifje75 were there. It was fun playing games and eating good food! Anyway, the Hostess this party is Nanette Hix. She has three cats, dark siamese, long hair white and long hair orange tabby. Nan told me her orange tabby knew that Nanette is Deaf so the cat never used its voice. Only moves its mouth to get Nan's attention, but not a sound came out. Very interesting about that cat! Also, I was holding the orange cat when I stood up and the cat wrapped its arms around my neck as to hug me and say "dont drop me!" It was so cute!

P.S. Kuifje75 made some kind of chicken spinach lasagna and it tasted really good!

Teekie

Interesting..

I talk to all of my 4 cats too.. sometimes they understand.. or just stare at me. One time my son Austin was talking to one of the cats..and the cat, (his name is Tigger) was just standing there acting like he was listening to what he was saying.. Austin was showing Tigger his toys, and showing what you can do with it.. Tigger was actually looking at him and then looking at the toy Austin was showing.. I was surprised how they interacted..my baby son Kieran talked to the cats too, in baby talk and the cats act like they actually understand what he's trying to tell them. One day Kieran babbled something to one of the cats and the cat looked at him and jumped in his playpen.. Kieran smiled and sat down..babbling to her. lol so cute. I wish I had taken a pic.. I was about to, but discovered the camera battery was dead. ARGH. I have it charged and ready in case it happens again

__________________

Fly Free

awwwww Teekie!!!! hehe now u got ur camera battery powered up and all ready for the next kodak moment with Kieran in the playpen and the cat jumps in there -- i know id LOVE to see that pix!! and ofc i can imagine that Austin talking to the cat and the cat just listens hehe glad to know the cats are ok with the kids

__________________
Enjoying life!

Teekie

Yeah all four of us is close to each of the cats.. i mean One is close to me, which is my first cat I got.. the 2nd one we got is close to my hubby's.. third close to my son.. and last is close to my baby son.. lol the last one gets along with kieran just fine.. even doesn't run away if kieran tries to touch her trying to "pet" her..more like grabbing her hair and all that..lol

__________________

Lasza

Whew! I am not only one who like talk talk and singing to any cats. Love sing front of my cat. He seems enjoy it.
My cat is not that stupid about how can I tell him that i am sick or feel hurting. How??? most cats have strong instincts. that which he can read my mind and feeling before come and comfort me.
Sometime, I sign my hand " ILY ". he hollars at me. Then grab him. petting and hugging.
When my cat's body act werid or nervous, then i will know someone stop by my home. Again, my cat is not really friendly with many men but my male roomate. I didn't teach him about hang out any men.

Bookwormet

well, I do have a cat and he s a pycho cat! I got him when he was 7 weeks old and he likes to attack my hair and even when I was signing to him or when I was signing to other people. Tiger have not changed at all, he is still the way he was when I got him. He even sit in front of me patiently when he wants to eat. He is on diet cause he got overweight few years ago. I enjoy communicate with him even when he enjoys attacking my hands!!!!

drphil

Is this another buried treasure-talking to your cat? I have a cat-Prof SKY. She been around almost 15 years now. Don't communicate using Meows. Eats when I eat. At the moment sleeping under this computer table. Don't think she can read this screen-yet
Any interesting updates for 2012?

__________________
Get Real:Implanted Sunnybrook/Toronto -Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07