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for my genius hour im learning to understand cats more because cats have always been a big part of my life and learning more about them will help me learn more about my cats and other cats. You and your cat might speak different languages, but you can still communicate with each other. Important clues such as the look in your cat's eyes, the tone of their voice, the position of their ears and the motion of their tail can reveal their feelings and intentions

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h5bWpqQG6fbF5CN5Xn-U53fg5Gc0hI-mjRjhuSzRuJU/edit

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cat hides on top of the fridge, or in another place that’s up high, to get away from other cats or people in the house who are tormenting him. It doesn’t matter whether the torment is real or perceived. It becomes our very important job as guardians to show him that safety does not equal confidence.

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1https://www.thespruce.com/cat-language-explained-553981
2http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html
3https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/pets/cat-behavior

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Cats communicate with their eyelids how open or closed they are as well as with the dilation of the iris. A sudden enlarging of the iris results from sudden arousal which could be due to fear, interest or any other strong emotion.

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If your pet “hunkers down into a tight little ball” and then “tucks his limbs underneath his body and tightly wraps his tail close to his side,” depending on the immediate environment he’s in, he might be indicating that he’s afraid, says Johnson-Bennett. This posture can also mean your cat doesn’t want to be bothered. Essentially, your kitty is trying to make himself as invisible as possible. Balling up usually occurs during times of fear or uncertainty: You might observe this behavior when your cat is at the vet

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A cat lying on her back can mean very different things. “It’s important to not take a behavior out of context,” says Nagelschneider. You should look at the cat’s body as a whole, including the ears, eyes, paws, and tails. If Snowball is napping with her belly exposed, it probably indicates she’s feeling very secure and relaxed. But what if your cat has her tummy showing while she’s awake? If she’s simultaneously purring and kneading her paws in the air, she’s content and stress-free. But if she’s on her back with flattened ears or dilated pupils, she feels threatened. Your cat is defensively announcing that if she has to fight, she’s ready to use all of her weapons—including those powerful hind legs and claws.

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1. Flight: Withdrawing from the threat

2. Fight: Defensive aggression

3. Freeze: Crouching and lying still to avoid attention

4. Appeasement: Actively submitting to the aggressor

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cats are hiding away out of fear. When a cat is caving, he is trying to disappear into a dark, enclosed space where no one can find him. We can allow cats to be tucked away in secluded areas, but we need to control where these places are. A cat may hide under the bed due to fear or stress. You have no way to help him overcome his fear if you cannot make contact with him. Keep hiding areas blocked off if they prevent you from interacting with him. Instead, give him a variety of hiding spots that offer security and comfort to the cat but also enable you to interact with him.

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The cat’s total body posture indicates everything from confidence to fear or submission. To understand the full message, the body talk must be read in conjunction with what the eyes, ears, tail, fur, and vocalizations express.

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Many people think of cats as loners, but they’re actually quite social creatures. If your cat suddenly starts avoiding everyone or disappears for long periods of time, this can be cause for concern. Other troubling signs include lessening or no longer using the litter box or over-grooming. “Any change in a cat’s behavior should be viewed as a red flag indicating a potential medical problem,” Johnson-Bennett says. Take your cat to the vet for a check-up. If he's physically healthy, then “look at your cat’s environment from his point of view” to try to pinpoint the source of stress, she says.

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The cat tail signals interest, affection , arousal, and more. The height of the tail, as well as the motion, has meaning. A flailing or thumping tail usually is a signal to keep your distance. A tail that's swishing back and forth could also be a sign of play.

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A healthy, calm cat’s fur rests smoothly against the body. Cat's are self-grooming animals which mean the state of their fur can tell you a lot about the health of the animal. Unkempt fur can indicate ill health, and should not be ignored, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, such as lethargy, or vomiting. But a suddenly fluffed coat, including a “bottle brush” tail, suggests fear or aggression. It's best to back off from a cat exhibiting this kind of

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Cat's use vocalizations to express emotion. Meowing, purring , hisses, growls and more are included in the feline repertoire, each with special meanings depending on their context. While adult cats normally don't meow at each other, domesticated cats it seems have learned to meow at humans. Some scientist think this is a sign that cats see their owners as kittens because generally only mother cats and their kittens communicate through meowing.

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Cats open their eyes wide when they are alert. Exposing wide-open eyes to potential injury can be a sign of great trust. For example, cats that head-butt your cheeks or do the same to a friendly dog indicate calm trust, and perhaps even love.

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We can’t always detect or ​interpret the scent cues cats use for communication. However, among scent tools, cats employ strong urine marking and feces, bunting (body rubbing) behavior, and clawing to leave scented Post-It messages that other cats read. Cats are selfish about their territory, and the scents they leave behind are clearly designed to send the message that "this territory is MINE" to would-be interlopers.

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Cats express emotion with their ears, as well as intent. Generally speaking, the more a cat’s ears swivel sideways and backward, the greater the cat’s arousal or distress. Backward ears and a hiss or swipe ​are a sure sign your cat feels threatened or doesn't like what you're doing.