Tag: behavior

Cat Faces: Decoding Cat Facial Expressions & Emotions

Posted on November 14, 2024 - 5:50 pm by
A hand reaching down to scratch the chin of a small cat.

Many people assume that cats’ faces aren’t the most expressive when it comes to communication, particularly compared to dogs. You can certainly tell when a kitty is mad or needy or content, but generally you might think they are fairly stoic in their facial expressions. Well, research shows us that this is not the case — cats can actually produce 276 different facial signals!

There Are Over 200 Facial Expressions in Domestic Cats!

In a study that looked at facial signals in cats, researchers observed the behavior of 53 cats at the CatCaféLounge in Los Angeles. During the study, a special tool designed for cats called facial action coding systems (FACS) was used to analyze the facial expression of each cat during interactions with other cats.

They found that cats can produce 276 different facial signals when they interact socially with their cat counterparts. They also identified eight facial muscle movements that were produced differently in friendly or not-so-friendly interactions with other cats. They concluded that a cat’s facial signals correspond to different social functions, a tactic which is likely influenced by domestication. Those cat faces are not so stoic after all!

Cat Expressions Use More Than Faces

While cats may have over 200 different facial signals, these expressions are subtle, and you’re more likely to determine how cats feel by watching their whole body language — their ear position, body position and tail movements. For example, a happy cat will have their tail up with a little curve at the end and their ears will be relaxed, up and forward. Their whiskers are relaxed and you may even notice a slow blink if you watch their eyes closely. A grumpy cat will flatten their ears, show their teeth, puff up their hair on a stiff body and whip their tail back and forth. It’s definitely time to give them some space if you notice these signs. If cats feel anxious or stressed, they will have dilated pupils with their ears flattened and head lowered. Their body will cower and their tail will be low.

Behavior Can Help Decipher How Your Cat Is Feeling

Behavioral changes can be a good clue into how your cat feels. For example, if they’re feeling stressed or anxious, they may have accidents, refuse to eat and become more reclusive. Behavioral changes can also indicate that your cat is in pain.

Cats are skilled at hiding their pain; it’s a natural instinct that was essential for the survival of their wild ancestors who wanted to avoid appearing vulnerable to predators. Signs of pain in domestic cats are often vague — you might find your cat hiding from you or not wanting to interact with you as much as usual. They may groom less because stretching is uncomfortable, or they may groom more leading to bare patches of skin. They may lose their appetite, seem more finicky or have accidents because it’s too painful to use the litter box.

Do Cats Have Feelings or Emotions?

According to an article in Psychology Today, it is believed that cats show six basic emotions — anger, happiness, fear, surprise, disgust and sadness — the same emotions that dogs are believed to express. What is less certain is whether cats (or dogs) can show more complex emotions like jealousy, guilt, shame, disappointment, compassion and pride.

However, the article details a survey of over 1,000 dog and/or cat owners mostly from Belgium and the Netherlands who were asked to record cat emotions (or dog emotions). Most people reported observing the six basic emotions in cats and dogs. The more complex emotions were observed less often than the basic emotions, and more frequently in dogs than cats. Anger and disgust were more frequently attributed to cats than dogs, and joy and surprise were more commonly associated with young cats than older cats.

Can Cats Understand Human Emotions?

Research has shown that social cats like to be around people and that cats prefer to interact with humans rather than food or toys. You can tell how socially “smart” your cat is and if they can read your basic emotions by doing this simple test.

Sit in a room with your cat and bring in an object that might be unsettling to them, like a robot vacuum cleaner or fan that makes noise. After a while, move to the object and “pet” it, saying what a nice fan or vacuum cleaner it is in a calm, happy voice. If your cat is initially scared of the object but eventually calms and even approaches it, your cat can probably tune into your emotional cues and adjust its behavior accordingly.

Facial expression is just one way cats communicate how they are feeling to pet owners, each other and other animals. Cats use their whole body to communicate, so watching for those more obvious signs can help tell you what’s going on in that brain at any given time much more easily than your cat’s face.

How to Train a Cat to Stay Off Counters & Tables

Posted on October 15, 2015 - 1:17 pm by
A cat lying on its side on a kitchen countertop.

Nothing is safe when cats jump on the countertops: cups spilled, picture frames tossed off the ledge and snacks eaten. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to make Fluffy stay off those alluring counters. So if you’re wondering how to correct common cat behaviors and stop your cat from jumping on the counter, read on!

Despite stereotypes of crying kittens stuck in trees, cats are agile and competent climbers. In the wild, they used this skill to hide from prey, rest in warm places away from predators and survey their territory. In your home, cats are still attempting to do these things, and it’s your breakables that pay the price.

What NOT to Do When Keeping Cats Off Tables or Kitchen Counters

  • Don’t scold or physically apply punishment when the cat jumps. Your cat might get off the counter that one time, but they won’t learn to stay down — they will only learn to be frightened of you.
  • After your cat jumps up, don’t shove them off of a ledge. They might fall and get hurt. Instead, keep a spray bottle handy. A light spritz of water every time your cat hops on the counter or table will discourage some cats in a hurry. Others might not care!
  • Don’t use loud or painful environmental punishers (like motion detectors that make loud noises). Your cat may become skittish and frightened of the entire room or house, not just that area.
  • Don’t leave food scraps on the table or kitchen counters. They’re like treats to cats!

​​Instead, consider these steps to discourage your cats from being kings of the countertops.

Step 1: Figure out why your cat is so drawn to those areas.

When wondering how to keep a cat off the table or how to stop a cat from jumping on counter tops, it helps to consider why they’re so interested in the first place. What are their reasons? Are they perching on the windowsill to watch birds? Snoozing on the warm fridge? Or just prowling around, looking for stuff to do and being destructive? All of these symptoms are your cat trying to talk to you about their environment. Maybe they just want a little of your attention, and that’s where you are.

Step 2: Provide substitutes to kitchen counters or tables.

Before you can successfully dissuade your cat from hanging out on the counters and tables, you will need to fulfill their needs in other ways. Perhaps a cat tree or climbing shelves, access to other windows, or a pet bed in a warm place would be a welcome substitute. Cat trees are readily available in every pet store. Just ask for cat trees or the cat tower aisle.

If your cat is knocking items off of shelves and tables, you may need to increase the mental stimulation of your home by providing new or different toys and games. Your cat’s behavior might be less than desirable because they have too much mental or physical energy.

Step 3: Make the countertops less alluring.

If your feline friend is drawn to the warmth and view of the window, close the blinds. If they like to snack, make sure the counters are clean and there are no dishes in the sink. If your cat likes to prowl the countertops, provide a cat counter deterrent! Temporarily cover them with aluminum foil to provide an unpleasant but harmless texture. When cats jump, they don’t like surprises, and the feel of unexpected aluminum foil will make them think twice next time. Double- sided tape can work the same way but isn’t great for some surfaces. Cats hate both textures!

Step 4: Provide playtime, every day.

Your cat needs to exercise for at least 10 minutes twice per day. Playing together will increase your bond and provide stimulation so Kitty won’t be so tempted by the interesting countertops. Try some tried-and-true kitty classics, like chasing a string or spraying toys with liquid catnip.

Step 5: Choose your battles.

Many cat owners choose to allow some kitchen counter climbing. Cats are natural climbers, and many cats like to be around their human families, drawn to high places in the room where their humans are hanging out. If your kitty simply can’t break their countertop habit, you may need to accept it as the price of admission for that cat’s love and companionship. Just frequently clean the kitchen counter so you’re not interacting with litter box residue!

Keep Your Cat Happy and Out of Trouble? Easy!

Wondering how to keep your cat off of counters and tables sometimes seems like a full-time job. But with a little investigation, some alternative climbing perches, positive reinforcement, and maybe even some clicker training methods, keeping your cat off the counter might be easier than you think.