Cat language, translation into human: how to understand a cat, is it possible to teach it to speak?

Cats have a number of different ways to express their mood and react to what is happening, which can be expressed through facial expressions, behavior and body movements. Scientists have found that sign language includes about fifty movements of the head, tail and ears. Everyone knows how an animal behaves when expressing its unfriendly attitude: its back arches, its fur stands on end. Thus, it tries to look more impressive in the eyes of the enemy.

Head, paws, torso

To convey important information to others, cats use literally everything!
No part of the body is left “overboard”. Take, for example, the head. If a cat butts it, poking at a person’s legs, it means it attracts attention. In the same case, when two animals touch their foreheads, you can be one hundred percent sure that there is friendship and complete mutual understanding between them

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If a cat moves its paws as if trampling, it means that it is happy with everything and is absolutely happy. This gesture is born in childhood. Kittens, sipping mother's milk, seem to massage her belly with their paws. In their language it means boundless love, gratitude and bliss.

Purring of cats - types of purring

Perhaps the most expressive animal in showing its feelings is the cat. She has many ways to show her mood, attitude towards the people and animals around her. One of them, the most pleasant for humans, is purring (rumbling).

Why do cats purr (purr)?

This sound has such a beneficial and calming effect on both kittens and humans. Today, the most common belief about this is that the cat’s larynx contains “ false vocal cords ” - two folds on the mucous membrane of the lower part of the larynx. Due to them we hear such a characteristic sound.

The owners believe that if a cat purrs, it means she is happy and happy with everything. Most often, this is true; purring is a sign of an excellent mood in a cat. However, in some situations this view may be incorrect.

Listen, and you will understand that this explanation of the purring of a cat, to which everyone is accustomed, does not take into account the nuances of sounds, and they say a lot. Perhaps only the owner will be able to distinguish in the rumbling of his pet not just one sound, but a plexus of several sounds, varying in intensity and frequency. And they reflect not only the cat’s pleasure, but the entire range of feelings, although they are expressed by seemingly insignificant, subtle changes in the rumbling.

Rough rumbling

The distinct sounds of each beat of a “rough” purr signify the achievement of the pet’s highest pleasure. She seems to be trying to clearly express such thoughts: “Please don’t stop making me feel so good, I love you, I love you so much!”

Soft rumbling

But now the cat has calmed down, begins to doze off, clear beats of purring can no longer be distinguished, it softens, becomes more gentle. Such sounds seem to convey that you can stop, that everything was just wonderful, they express something like this: “You guessed it, that’s what I needed, and it was great!”

Soft rumbling on high notes

If the cat wants to get even more attention or something that gives even higher pleasure, then this is indicated by another type of soft purring - at high notes. As if a new sound is being added from somewhere in the chest, a high-frequency “r-r-r”.

It can be used to judge that the animal is in anticipation of something especially good, your new caresses, food, favorite games. With a soft purr with the addition of high notes, she seems to be telling you: “Yes, I should get exactly what I want!”

Pleasant purr

When a cat really wants something, it tries to appease you, and this is expressed in certain sounds. These are sounds using the grating “r”, all together they sound like “m-r-r-r-a-o-u”, and the translation of this ingratiating signal is: “Well, I beg you, do it, please!”

Appreciative purr

Your cat already has her favorite toy, her favorite treat, waiting for her, she understands this and wants to express her recognition. Such purring can refer not only to the owner, but sometimes to another animal, and the translation means: “Thank you!” And it sounds something like this: “mmnngg.” That is, when inhaling, a short and fast rumbling sound is produced, at the same time the pitch decreases and ends with the nasal consonant “ng”.

Restless rumbling

It remains mysterious and incomprehensible why cats use the same signal to convey a joyful state and despair. It happens that a cat purrs not only from pleasure, but also when seriously unwell, when pain occurs.

If a pet at home is sick, they have already begun to treat it and soon it begins to purr, then this can mislead the owner. He may think that the cat is getting better, but she may have gotten worse. Therefore, during or after an illness, if your pet begins to purr for no apparent reason, then be sure to consult a doctor.

Welcome purr

You come home, and the cat runs towards you, trying to express its friendly “Hello!” It produces the sounds “mr-mr-mr-mr”, which look like a mono sound made when inhaling, but, in fact, it is a combination of the original sound “m” with an aspirated “r”, similar to what was described in the section "Soft rumbling on high notes."

While the cat is running to meet you, she can utter a whole series of such greetings, using as a subsound the rolling sound “r” (it turns out “m-r-r-r”), which is added when the cat experiences special joy at a meeting or at jumping onto a favorite but forbidden place - the bed.

Call sign purr

The meaning of the call sign purr means “come here” and resembles a greeting. Starting to pronounce it with the nasal sound “x”, the cat makes a swallowing movement, its mouth is tense and it says: “hmm-hmm-hmm”. When the vocal cords are quickly closed, the cat catches the exhaled air, hence the swallowing movement. Depending on who the cat is addressing, the signal can sound either as a gentle request or as an impatient command.

A short phrasebook with translation

Licking is a kind of calmer and eliminates irritation. Over the years, a kind of feline-human dictionary has been compiled.

With its help, owners can find out what exactly the pet is trying to tell them.

A paw extended to the face expresses hope for attention and affection. Wide-open pupils indicate fear.

• Stomping its paws, lightly releasing its claws - the cat is happy with the person, she adores him, wants to do something nice.
• The squinting animal is good-natured and peaceful.
• Quick licking of the nose and lips - confusion.
• When a domestic predator beats its tail, it is either angry or hunting.
• Enlarged eyes and pupils signal that the pet has fear, anger, or that the animal is busy playing.

Joy and a certain greeting means a raised tail. Moving its tip is an expression of interest. If an animal stares straight at a person, then it challenges him. Usually this is how a cat invites you to play catch with her.

• If the fluffy is excited, he begins to quickly lick his front paw.
• When an animal is disappointed or disgusted, its tail freezes below.
• An animal's head rubbed against a person's head indicates the pet's high devotion.
• Vigorous tail wagging is a signal of irritation. Small waving indicates excited curiosity.
• Ears pressed to the head warn of readiness to attack. If the action is complemented by circular movements of the tail, then irritation is also added.

Whiskers pointing forward indicate interest.

Vertically placed ears - curiosity. If the animal looked around and then began to lick, this means feigned calmness, usually at the time of the game. A vertically raised tail with a relaxed tip expresses joyful excitement. When the animal is pressed to the floor, it is preparing to attack. Meowing means a request or a greeting. Ears laid back and eyes widened are a warning. Loud scratching with claws is a desire to attract attention.

A drooping mustache is a sign of distress or a signal of illness.

The cat turns its back to the human face and raises its tail - a cat's greeting. Such behavior also demonstrates trust.

• Calm means purring.
• Dissatisfaction is expressed by rumbling.
• A short cry signals fear.
• The response to a person’s call is an intermittent meow.

A cat or cat rolls on the floor if it wants to show its attractiveness. The howling signifies the anger of the animal.

• Self-confidence - paws stretched forward, timidity - paws bent.
• A hissing followed by a dissatisfied rumbling is a warning or a sign of exhausted patience.
• If a furry predator arches its back and grumbles, the enemy must be scared. This is how readiness for defense is expressed.

When a cat feeding its babies purrs restrainedly, it warns children about possible danger. If the rumbling ends with a raised tone, then this is a warning addressed to others not to approach the kittens.

• A cat hiding its head is hiding in this way.
• A relaxed and calm domestic predator has whiskers hanging down on the sides of its muzzle.
• If an animal runs away from a person, retracting its head, it has done something.
• A dissatisfied, purring voice signals the pet's concern.
• The fluffy is just watching, if he turns his tail and sits with his paws tucked.
• Dancing with the front legs off the floor is a greeting to your beloved creature.
• If a cat snorts and rubs its nose with its paws, then it is thus demonstrating discomfort.

It is not difficult to understand the emotions of small predators and figure out how a pet talks. You just need to treat them with love.

Tail

The cat's tail plays a special communicative role: it is used as a simulator and teaching aid for the mother cat when training kittens; can tell others about the animal’s intention to retreat; about a good or, conversely, bad mood. A tail wrapped around the body indicates a good-natured mood. If the tip moves slightly, it means the cat is curious. Excessive movement of the tip of the tail can signal either irritation or an aggressive attitude. Everyone knows how an animal reacts when its tail is pulled. After this, it will treat its owner with distrust and is unlikely to become a devoted friend. The exception is when small children play with a cat. The pet will courageously endure this not very pleasant procedure or simply try to leave the premises.

Cat language: translator

• If a cat reaches out its paw to your face, then it is asking for affection and attention.

• Wide-open pupils indicate fear.

• When a cat stomps its paws, slightly releasing its claws, it means that it is very happy, adores you, and wants to do something nice.

• When a cat squints, it demonstrates calmness and peacefulness.

• Does your pet quickly lick its lips and nose? She's confused.

• Beats its tail - it means it is angry or hunting.

• Large eyes and pupils indicate that the cat is afraid, angry or playing.

• A trumpet tail is a sign of joy, a kind of greeting.

• If she moves the tip of her tail, it means she is interested in something.

• The cat stares at you - this is a challenge (usually to play tag).

• Quick licking of the front paw is a sign of excitement.

• A tail frozen at the bottom indicates disgust or disappointment.

• The fact that a cat rubs its head against a person speaks of love, devotion and thirst for affection.

• Strong tail swings in different directions are a sign of irritation, small waving indicates curiosity and excitement.

• If the ears are pressed to the head, then the pet is preparing to attack. If at this time the cat makes circles with its tail, it means that it is irritated.

• The fact that the pet is interested in something or is ready for action is indicated by the fact that the whiskers are directed forward.

• Sign of curiosity - ears upright.

• If the cat looked around and then began to lick itself thoroughly, this indicates complete or feigned (during play) calm.

• The tail is raised vertically, the tip is relaxed - a sign of joyful excitement.

• If a cat is pressed to the floor, then it is either hiding or preparing to attack.

• The fact that your pet is rubbing against your legs means that it is marking you. Purrs have scent glands on their faces. All her relatives should smell “their” scent.

• A cat's meow is a greeting or a request.

• This cat's behavior indicates a warning: the eyes are large, the ears are back.

• If a cat scratches its claws loudly, then it wants to be paid attention to. • Is your mustache down? This means that the pet is worried about something, is sad, or is sick.

• Is your mustache down? This means that the pet is worried about something, is sad, or is sick.

• Does the cat lift its tail and turn its back towards the owner's face? Know that this is a greeting gesture between cats (the dominant one sniffs first). Also, such behavior is a sign of respect and trust.

• A cat's purring indicates calmness.

• Rumbling indicates dissatisfaction.

• If you hear a short cry, then the cat is scared of something.

• Intermittent meowing is a response to human contact.

• Is the cat rolling around on the floor? Know: this is how she demonstrates her attractiveness.

• Howling indicates that the cat is angry.

• Fully extended paws indicate self-confidence, while bent paws, on the contrary, indicate uncertainty and timidity.

• Hissing is a sign of readiness to fight, a kind of warning to your opponent.

• Muffled purring, which ends with a dissatisfied rumble, is a sign that patience has run out.

• A pressed, bunched mustache speaks of concern and anxiety.

• If a cat arches its back and grumbles, then know that in this way it scares its opponent, and also shows irritation and readiness to defend itself.

• The restrained purring of a nursing pet is a warning to babies from possible danger. If the purring ends in a raised tone, then she warns people or other creatures not to approach the kittens.

• When a cat is relaxed and calm, its whiskers hang down on the sides of its face.

• If an animal runs away from you at a fast pace, with its head drawn in, then it means it has done something bad.

• When a cat hides its head in a corner, it is hiding like this.

• Displeased purring is a sign that something is bothering your pet.

• Is the cat sitting with its paws tucked in, its tail turned around? Know that she is simply observing.

• If your pet dances, lifting her front paws off the floor, then know that she is greeting someone she loves.

Cats

“Nothing has changed since Ancient Egypt. People write on walls and love cats.” This joke never loses its relevance. Cats were worshiped, feared, revered as kings and hated as evil spirits.

Cats have more power over us than might seem at first glance. The cat will not caress just like that, it is enough for her to communicate with her fellow tribesmen and a plush mouse, but if she needs something, then the sad look of the puss in boots from the famous cartoon will not be limited to.

A group of behaviorists from the University of Vienna found that the greatest mutual understanding is established between young active cats and extroverted women. Dorothy Gracie, one of the authors of the experiment, claims that cats establish a strong social connection with us, and in relationships with people they behave like children - they carefully demand, hint and even be capricious.

How cats take revenge on humans

According to experts, cat revenge is a myth. Negative memory in these animals is very short-term. In fact, the pet’s “dirty” behavior has a completely different explanation.

“Let’s say the owner yelled at the cat, and she peed in his shoe. The person thinks it is out of revenge. However, in this way the cat wants to mix its smell with the smell of the owner in order to be closer to him. And it’s possible, if a cat is a leader by nature, then show in this way that she is the “master” of the house,” Mayorova explained.

Undesirable deviations in the behavior of domestic cats can also be associated with sexual behavior (marking the territory in order to attract individuals of the opposite sex or confirm their dominant status), processes of ranking by status, especially if there are several animals at home (fighting, marking on favorite places, gnawing, marks on objects with the help of claws), lack of a sense of security (a cat can mark its own bedding or the owner’s favorite things on which it can sleep - its own smell in this case calms it down).

March 1 is International Cat Day. This is an unofficial holiday, like several others that are proclaimed in different countries. But everywhere, Cat Day serves to glorify their merits and express gratitude. It has become a tradition in many cultures to hold thematic festivals, mass celebrations, competitions, competitions, exhibitions and fairs.

The “speech” of cats is a melody

Scientists working on this study call cat sounds the "melody" in human-cat interactions. Phonetics professor Suzanne Shotz studied meowing and wrote an article about it: “Melody in Human-Cat Communication: Origins, Past, Present and Future.” At the awards ceremony, she demonstrated some of the sounds she had learned.

Scientists reacted to the award of the Ig Nobel Prize to the Institute for Incredible Research with understanding, without offense. They noted that it is given for discoveries that “first make people laugh and then think.” And this is exactly what comes to mind when you mention the incredible discovery of the “cat’s tongue” - first a smile, then the thought that it all makes sense.

Animal sounds

Evolving, each species invented its own sound signals. Some of them are understandable to all representatives of the animal world. For example, in many languages, hissing means dissatisfaction, and a trumpet call means a call for mating. But in most cases, the sound code is understood exclusively by related species. For example, the meaning of a horse's neighing is clear to another horse, but does not carry a semantic load for a cat.

Sound arsenal:

• frog - 6;
• chicken - 13;
• cat - 16;
• rooster - 15;
• dolphin - 32;
• fox - 36;
• monkey - 40;
• tit - 90;
• raven - 300.

These numbers do not mean the number of letters, but the number of sound combinations used by animals.

Even the fish are not silent. According to recent research, they use sound signals to transmit information, and also sneeze, cough and wheeze.

Vervet monkeys are quite inventive in their use of sound signals.

What animals imitate human speech?

Science knows of many cases of successful imitation of human speech by representatives of the animal kingdom. Birds turned out to be the most trainable.

Animals that can imitate human speech:

1. Feathered. Some species of parrots can remember and pronounce about a thousand words. Crows show good results. They are considered even more talented than exotic cockatiels.
2. Monkey. Due to their physiology, they can pronounce 5 vowel sounds. However, in imitation of speech they are significantly inferior to birds. So far, the trainers have only managed to achieve an imitation of the speech of a one-year-old child.
3. Dolphins and seals. Particularly gifted individuals can imitate simple words and even small phrases while exhaling.
4. Elephants. In a zoo in South Korea lives Kosik, who can clearly pronounce 5 words.
5. Cats. These furry creatures can do more than just meow. Masi from Azerbaijan gained worldwide fame for learning to pronounce more than 10 words.

Dolphins can speak short phrases

Imitating human speech and communicating are different concepts. The exception is the parrot Alex. As part of Dr. Irene Pepperberg's research, he showed the ability to perform basic analysis and logical reasoning using simple verbal structures.

Is it true that cats can talk?

Graceful pets like cats cannot communicate with their owners using words. But that doesn't stop them. Each owner knows his pet so much that he basically always understands what his pet is purring about. More recently, scientists have begun to conduct research on cat sounds. Their opinions are quite different, but it can still help when communicating with representatives of the feline family.

Cats can talk

Cats communicate through more than just sounds. In this process, their overall body position, facial expressions, eyes, and tail movement play a big role. Taken together, all this will help you understand their sounds much better.

And if you pay attention to the cat’s behavior at the same time, its language will become even clearer. Smart pet, will sit next to its bowl and meow when hungry

Another example would be a cat's desire to play. At the same time, she will not only meow, but will also bring her favorite mouse.

Cat tongue

It is almost impossible to decipher a cat's language. If you listen to their sounds in a recording without seeing the pet’s behavior, they will seem completely identical. A cat's tongue is directly related to their postures and movements in a particular case. Every cat behaves differently. Accordingly, it is impossible to determine exactly what a particular sound means. Cats most accurately understand human language, namely the intonation with which words are pronounced. In some cases, when communicating with its owner, a cat may use sounds that it does not produce when communicating with animals or with other people. This means that they are selective and want to convey some information to a specific person.

Most people who have a cat can recognize their pet by its sounds. This happens because each cat has its own intonation of pronounced sounds. It also differs between different breeds. Living next to another animal, a cat can sometimes try to imitate their sounds, for example, try to whine, click, or quack. There are cases in history when owners found their lost pets due to the fact that the cats uttered sounds with an intonation that the owners knew well.

The human ear can distinguish 16 sounds that a cat makes. They can also reproduce ultrasonic signals. Cats are designed to sense a wide range of frequencies. That is why their hearing is much better than that of humans.

So it’s impossible to say for sure whether cats can talk. But definitely, they communicate not only with the animal world, but also with people.

Communication like a cat

Either Masonic lodges, or public meetings of cats... Everywhere where they live, there are separate areas that none of them divides or considers their territory. This is their “common land”, where they gather in large numbers from time to time. At the same time, local cats, sitting peacefully, sit silently or calmly walk around, looking at each other. The meaning of these meetings is completely inexplicable. Maybe these are social gatherings where they communicate telepathically? Until now this remains an unclear issue.

Touch is one way to communicate. Cats need this if they rub their noses or sit close to each other, show care for their relatives, all this serves to establish connections and communication. With the tenderness and softness inherent only in cats, they also touch us humans. This behavior shows satisfaction and affection and, in addition, it helps to strengthen the bonds that occupy such an important place in their lives.

In general, cats are very “talkative” animals. And each with its own, individual voice, which both friends and enemies will recognize. They use it to communicate with both relatives and people. In “conversations,” a cat is able to produce about forty different sounds, including about nineteen variations of “meow.” You can also hear something similar to the “chirping” that a cat makes when it is busy tracking down a bird; it may well be that this is a way to lure or lull the vigilance of its prey.

I wonder if cats read your mind?

How do they understand you when you say, “I need to take my cat to the vet today?” Many veterinarians and psychologists who study cat behavior believe that they understand us quite well telepathically. So many people are often forced to postpone visiting the doctor because their pet simply disappears.

Step-by-step instruction

The most famous talking cat in the world is the Azerbaijani Masi. He is able to pronounce several dozen words both in Russian and in his “native” language. The pet's vocabulary includes such etiquette expressions as “thank you” and “goodbye.”

Table 4. Teaching a cat to talk

Stage Description Step 1 Decide on your pet’s favorite treat and make sure it is on sale. It is advisable to assign a specific food stimulant to each word. You should not give your pet food that may cause stomach upset or obesity. Step 2 To get in tune with your cat, you need to spend some time together

Pets are very easily distracted, so it is necessary to gain the animal's attention. Step 3 To arouse the cat's interest, you should kneel, but at the same time remain above the level of the animal's head. Otherwise, the pet will consider itself to be in charge. Step 4 Sitting on your lap, start meowing.

Continue this process until the cat begins to meow in response. After this, you need to treat her with a treat and pet her. Step 5 Take a 15-minute break, giving the animal the opportunity to rest. During the time-out, joint games are allowed. Step 6 Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5. Step 7 Start saying the chosen word to the animal until it meows in response. After some time, the cat may give out the long-awaited “meat” or “eat.”

Meowing with a cat should be gradually replaced by pronouncing the necessary word

Before you start training, you need to arm yourself with patience and be confident that the pet living next to you is unique. Without these components it is impossible to achieve success in such a complex process.

Cat calls - types of sounds made

One of the groups of sounds that cats can make is screams. Such loud and unpleasant sounds can mainly be heard during mating. And also during fights, when the “cat concert” is an expression of mutual threats. When producing such sounds, the jaws open wide and the muscles of the vocal cords tense.

Cry of refusal

It may be necessary to use a leash for your cat. And if you try to put a collar on her for this, you may hear the cry of refusal for the first time. She protests, she does not like attacks on her freedom. She will also resist with all her might against everything that she considers unacceptable to herself. This cry is creaky, low, dissected, it consists of vowel sounds “oe”.

In Russian there is no equivalent to it at all, for Germans it sounds like “o” in any German word, for French it corresponds to the sound of the word “ef”, in French it sounds like “egg”. And the whole cry combines several such sounds; we hear it with oscillating notes of “oo-oo-oo-oh,” which are somewhat similar to the sound of a car starting up when the battery is dead.

An angry cry

When cats reclaim their territory, they emit an angry cry. Such screams are so powerful that they resemble the roar of tigers in the jungle. Screaming at the top of their lungs, the cats bare their fangs, tilt their heads slightly, their evil gaze firmly fixed on the troublemaker. The cat’s mouth is open, from there, long, long sounds “VVVAAAAAOOOOOUUVVV” come from there, which are obtained by slow closing and opening the jaws.

At such moments, instinct comes first. Your adorable pet is so screaming and so protective of his corner of the garden that he can instantly turn into an unyielding killer. But at the same time, I will be very grateful if you intervene in such “stormy” negotiations and drive away the invader who is encroaching on someone else’s territory. Since you are your cat's leader, he will express his gratitude for saving your common property by licking you with his tongue, as if saying: “Thank you, thank you!”

Hiss

Imagine that something frightened you, a cry may suddenly escape your lips: “Ah-ah-ah!” For a cat, the closest equivalent to such a human cry is a hiss. Cat hissing sounds come in a variety of forms, but when a cat is scared, it will involuntarily make a short, quick "pfft" sound. This occurs due to the fact that a mass of air is released through her compressed lips.

But if suddenly an unfamiliar cat was careless to enter your personal territory, then you will hear a completely conscious, purposeful and already familiar “chsh-chsh-chsh-chsh-chsh.” It is clear that this is a signal of aggression, since it is accompanied by exposed fangs, constricted pupils and ears pressed to the head.

If this hiss is examined by sound, then it is the average between “k”, “x”, “ch”, “sh”. The cat is so furious, like a bull beating its hooves on the ground. But he is by no means going to rush into an attack; it is rather a ritual signal of aggression with which the cat tries to scare the animal and avoid conflict.

Is it possible to teach a cat to speak like a human?

Anyone can learn the language of cats. To do this, you need to study the meaning of gestures, facial expressions and sounds made by the animal. For translation from cat language to human, such nuances as movements of the tail, limbs, ears, postures taken by the four-legged pet, and the expression of its face are important. By the tone of the meow, you can also determine what the pet is trying to convey to its beloved owner.

The facial expressions of these animals are varied and very expressive. Unlike vocal signals, it is innate and can say a lot about the pet’s mood. Newborn kittens instinctively recognize the meaning of the expressions in the eyes, smiles and grins of their relatives. People need a special dictionary for this. What does a cat’s smile or grin mean:

• grin - study of smells;
• closed or slightly open mouth - calm;
• a closed or slightly open mouth with the tip of the tongue protruding (sometimes bitten) - bliss;
• lips raised in a grin, bare teeth - a threat, readiness to attack;
• yawning – complete relaxation;
• rapid licking of lips and nose - anxiety, confusion.

Vaska, voice!

Dictionary of cat sounds:

• quiet and soft - a great mood;
• loud uterine or strangled sounds - dissatisfaction, resentment;
• piercing - pain, request for help;
• very loud, sharp - readiness to attack, fear, anger.

Typically, cats express pain, aggression and fear with lower sounds, while positive emotions, on the contrary, with higher sounds. Detailed interpretation of sounds made by kittens or adult cats:

• purring - pleasure, calmness, the highest degree of pleasure;
• rumbling - dissatisfaction, warning;
• hissing - readiness to attack, irritation;
• howling - anger;
• short cry - fear;
• meowing - a greeting, a request (cats meow when they want to eat).

If there are other pets in the house, they must be isolated from the four-legged student during the learning process. Teaching should begin with simple food-related words, the most popular of which is “meat.” It can be easily reproduced by cats, because it is similar to their usual “meow”. Some owners who have successfully taught their pets human speech advise saying this word during or after eating. Others recommend repeating the “meat” for an hour and only then feeding the animal.

Hearing and voice

Hearing and voice are also a means of communication. As already noted, cats have excellent, finely organized hearing and can perceive a very high range of sounds and tones. In addition, nature has endowed these animals with excellent modulation data. Thanks to the synthesis of these two qualities, cats have a wide range of articulatory and acoustic capabilities. Experienced owners are excellent at recognizing changes in the mood of their pets by the timbre of their voice.

So, a cat, as a rule, has its own specific means of communication. Here are some of the main features inherent in the language of cats:

• a short sound symbolizes goodwill and joy from the meeting;
• a cat is able to give its voice both a demanding and ingratiating tone;
• piercing loud screams, as if escaping from the throat, are an expression of complaint (as a rule, such sounds are made by an animal locked in solitude for a long time);
• With these same guttural cries, the cat signals hunger;
• an unfairly offended cat expresses its feelings in a choked voice;
• plaintive moaning, reminiscent of loud crying, is an expression of pain, poor health, a request for help (for example, a cat screams when it climbs to the top of a tree or gets caught in a narrow pipe);
• the pet makes a cooing purr during petting, expressing sympathy for the mating partner and the mother’s affection for the cubs;
• calling her babies, the cat makes melodious sounds that caress the ears;
• at critical moments, when the animal experiences fear mixed with aggression and seeks to intimidate the enemy, it makes sounds of changing tonality;
• Frightening deafening screams are heard during the mating season, as well as during meetings and battles with the enemy.

Purring most often expresses the good mood that a cat experiences when it is warming up on a soft sofa and preparing to take a nap. And if the pet sees that they are going to give it something tasty, then the purring can develop into piercing screams. Cats make their first purr almost in the very first hours after birth, when they attach themselves to the mother's nipple. However, the animal can also express negative moods with the same sound. For example, if a cat begins to be stroked against the grain, it will most likely not be slow to express its protest with a quiet but decisive purr. The same sound is also characteristic of animals suffering from some serious illness, and even of those who are near death.

Felinologists suggest that cats begin to purr at moments when they feel better.

Communication using sounds

Almost all kittens are beggars. When they see a package of food, they begin to meow loudly, expressing with all their appearance a desire to enjoy the yummy food.

With the help of meowing, animals attract the attention of the owner. For example, a pet wants to go outside, but the door is locked

He begins to run from door to person and meow loudly, indicating his desire to take a walk. Or the door to the toilet was closed, and the pet needed a tray. The animal, without leaving the door, begins to scream, attracting the attention of people in the apartment.

There is no water in the bowl, but the cat wants to drink - again loud meowing. With these sounds, the pet is able to express any request, so the request cannot be ignored. When meeting its owner, a cat may meow, telling about all the events that happened during the day, but most often it just purrs and rubs its legs, which means the joy of meeting a person.

Communication with other pets may occur in a raised voice. If a cat doesn't like something, he may growl or hiss threateningly. For example, if a dog sniffs food intended for a cat, he will not watch silently. A reaction in the form of a growl or hiss will certainly follow, which means dissatisfaction and a threat.

Pain, fear, and aggressiveness are expressed in a low timbre, but a request is expressed in a high timbre. Uterine purring indicates a positive attitude of the pet and the absence of aggression in its behavior. Climbing onto the owner's lap, the animals purr, expressing gratitude and love.

Rumbling is a sound of warning. The female gives this signal to the babies when they see danger. When an animal purrs or even growls, it may be expressing dissatisfaction or irritation. Certain breeds of cats have a wild disposition, so when trying to pet them, a person is faced with a growl warning that such behavior is unacceptable.

Rumbling sounds at the sight of animals mean a warning of a possible attack. The pet makes it clear to the opponent that he is not afraid of a fight and is completely ready for a showdown. At the same time, he presses himself to the ground, as if preparing to jump. If a cat encounters a larger animal and has no way to hide, it begins to hiss. This sound expresses strong fear and aggression. Some cats begin to snort and paw. This is a sign of courage, meaning that the pet is ready to fight a strong opponent.

Teeth chattering is a signal inherent in cats living in an apartment. Having noticed a bird behind the glass, they begin to quickly click their teeth, this means that the prey is in sight, but the closed window interferes with the hunt.

Each pet is individual, so the animals’ spoken language may differ slightly, but over time a person gets used to it and can easily navigate the animal’s mood based on the sounds it makes.

Tactile communication

Common forms of tactile (tactile) communication include:

• allorubbing, where cats that meet rub against each other (usually the mouth, chin, body and tail areas are involved);
• allogrooming – mutual grooming;
• touching noses;
• relaxing together, curling up together.

The behavior of cats using each other as a pillow occurs in domestic and wild cats, as well as bonding with intertwined tails. Presumably, such actions are a form of social communication, but it is difficult to say what information is contained in such interactions.

Some studies suggest that allogrooming, which is associated more with the head and neck regions, is related to agonistic behavior. It is a way to redirect potential aggression and help avoid open conflict. This behavior is observed among cats that are close to each other and likely strengthens the bond between them.

Tactile communication is related to olfactory communication, because smells are exchanged through touch.

Rules for communicating with a cat

There's no point in hiding the fact that most owners talk to their cats as if they were a child. How many owners have wondered whether their cat understands?

Judging by the research above, the cat can hear what you say perfectly well, but in most cases will ignore the semantic meaning of the words.

By nature, four-legged animals are not inclined to listen and listen to human speech, but a pet can be trained to be attentive. One of the experiments of zoologists revealed that cats do not understand the word “no”. If you often repeat the word “no” during punishment, the cat will become confused and not understand what you want from it.

When talking to a cat, it is important to always behave openly. If you need to get acquainted with an unfamiliar animal, it is best to squat down and extend your open palm towards the cat

The hand should be turned palm up, since a palm lowered to the ground can be perceived as a warning gesture.

A study conducted with a control group of 40 cats showed that the four-legged cats are well versed in human gestures. According to the results of the experiment, the most expressive gesture for a cat was considered to be the index finger raised up or extended towards the muzzle.

When establishing verbal contact with a pet, it is important to understand that the character and temperament of animals is very individual. Among cats, it is rare to find truly friendly and responsive animals that are interested in communicating with the owner.

Most calm cats have a natural shyness, which has nothing to do with sociability. If your cat constantly ignores you, try addressing her by kneeling down. Many animals ignore sounds coming from above.

If an unfamiliar cat tries to look into your eyes, try to quickly break eye contact and distract the animal.

If you are meeting a cat for the first time, it is better to show restraint and give her the opportunity to take the initiative:

• Get down to the animal's level, extend your open palm forward and wait for the cat to approach you.
• If the four-legged animal is interested in your personality, comes up, sniffs your palm and fingers, then it means it is ready to communicate.
• If the cat walked by, completely ignoring the fact of your presence, do not be upset - this is instinctive behavior.

Eyes

You can tell your pet's mood by the eyes. In a tired or irritated animal, the half-closed eyes narrow, turning into slits. Having seen a pet with such eyes, the owner must conclude that at the moment the cat is most likely not very inclined to communicate. If a cat is in a great mood, she will look at her owner with wide, rounded eyes. Her movements will be relaxed, and she will probably eagerly respond to an offer to play and frolic. If a pet looks into the owner’s face with a gentle, somewhat ingratiating look, we can conclude that he wanted to beg for something tasty. Like other representatives of the fauna, cats prefer to avoid long looks directly into the eyes. It is characteristic that if one of two animals living in close proximity has, so to speak, a higher status, then its gaze is usually a deterrent.

Gaze also plays a significant role in the relationships between males. If there is a confrontation between the cats and they come together to find out who will keep the territory, then to express aggression the rivals will look into each other’s eyes with hostility. In addition, the gaze can have a strong impact during the hunt. A victim who keeps his eyes on the cat may cause it to become somewhat confused, resulting in the pursuit ending in failure.

A cat has a remarkable ability to appear completely disinterested, but at the same time the animal vigilantly observes everything that is happening next to it. By the tense posture and the tips of the ears slightly tilted forward, you can determine that the animal is currently closely watching the enemy or the victim.

How cats talk to us

Cats and cats communicate with each other using body movements and smells, rarely using sounds. When we are around people, they notice that we respond better to their voice than to body language.

Cats communicate with each other using body language and smells.

Therefore, animals change their communication style to exploit human strengths and weaknesses.

Types and meaning of cat talk

To express its emotions with its voice, a pet always pronounces exactly those sounds that are suitable for a given situation. They differ in strength and timbre (high or low). Any trouble is expressed by low sounds, and peace and pleasure are expressed by high sounds.

Meowing in the form of a long “meow” is a greeting to the owner who has returned home or a request, and sometimes a complaint. The short “me” means confusion or question

The goal of any “meow” is to attract the attention of others. If the owner does not respond to the first polite “meow”, the cat will ask more demandingly and loudly in order to achieve results.

Vowel sounds in different keys are a cat’s request:

• “I want to go outside”;
• “it’s time to eat”;
• "I'm upset";
• "I'm in pain."

Many owners have paid attention to “silent meowing,” when a cat, looking at a person, opens its mouth, but there is no sound. In fact, it exists, but in the ultrasonic range, which only animals can hear

But a person more often reacts to such a quiet “meow”, and the cat notices this and uses it with might and main.

Purring (special cooing sounds) shows the calm state of the cat, without aggression. He is happy with everything. Mother cats purr for kittens: everything is fine, there is no danger. This is how a pet shows its affection for its owner. He is happy when petted, purrs and squints his eyes. If he follows you around, tries to climb onto your lap, brings you a toy or food - this is also a sign of his love. When he rubs his head against your legs or “butts” his forehead, massages with his paws, licks your hand and sits next to you if you are sick - do not doubt that you are more important to him than anything in the world.

By purring, the cat shows that he is happy and loves you.

If dissatisfied, the cat purrs in low tones, warning that you are interfering in its affairs. Hisses when scared, but does not dare to attack. If he snorts and moves forward when meeting an enemy, he is ready for a fight. With a loud howl, he tries to break the enemy’s fighting spirit so that he retreats first.

Cat body language and body language

In addition to sounds, cats communicate with each other and with people using gestures and different positions of their bodies. The main tools for expressing emotions are the tail, eyes and ears.

Body position indicates mood, and maximum anger and intimidation before a fight can be accompanied by a howl or growl

"Tail" emotions

Tail movements show a cat's mood:

• wagging the tip of the tail is a sign of curiosity or irritation, sometimes sadness;
• if the tail whips up and down quickly, there is strong excitement;
• the tip of the tail rotates - it will defend itself;
• a triumphantly raised tail signifies friendliness and joy;
• the tail is tucked between the hind legs when frightened;
• the tail is lowered and ruffled in case of danger.

Eyes and ears

With wide open eyes, the cat shows curiosity, looks straight ahead - ready for battle, and his pupils sharply constrict if he is angry. Half-closed eyes indicate peaceful relaxation.

When the cat is completely relaxed, he stretches and looks at the world with half-closed eyes.

You can tell by the position of the ears when the cat is scared and trying to threaten. In this case, they are pulled back and pressed against the head.

If during a game the cat is discouraged by what he sees and cannot find an explanation, this can be seen from the expression of his face

If the ears twitch nervously, this means irritation and readiness to fight back. Vertical - study.

Curiosity is indicated by wide eyes and erect ears.

If a cat is dozing with his eyes closed and his ears moving in different directions, this is a skillful pretense; in fact, he is listening carefully to your conversation.

Emotional mustache

When a cat is happy and calm, his whiskers cheerfully stick out in all directions. They twitch while tracking prey. If the cat is interested in something, they are directed forward. Tranquility is reflected by the mustache flowing freely on the sides of the head.

Can a cat understand a person?

When communicating with people, cats remember gestures, looks and voice of the owner that correspond to certain situations. You beckon your pet with your hand, calling his name, and he follows you. You slapped him lightly on the leg and he climbed onto your lap. Over time, he responds to his name and understands the meaning of some words. The longer your pet lives with you, the more he learns your lifestyle, habits and character weaknesses.

Cats show amazing ingenuity to get food:

• open the pan by sliding the lid with your paw;
• can open the refrigerator or cabinet door;
• hiding in the kitchen unnoticed by the owners;
• can learn to eat from an automatic feeder;
• open the water tap.

In countries where many cat owners live in private homes, such as Italy or the UK, cats know how to use a door knocker. After knocking, the animal sits and waits patiently for the door to be opened. In apartment buildings, a cat announces itself by pressing the doorbell button with its paw.

Domestic cats are willful and independent creatures who know how to show their owner how they feel through their behavior. And they will always make it clear that you are obliged to take them into account. Let me give you an example. Summer day, day off. In the morning, my cat and I go outside, each going about our own business. I'm going to take her home by lunchtime. One does not walk so as not to irritate the neighbors. I go out and she is fast asleep on a thick branch of an apricot tree. Lies on his stomach, head extended, both right paws hanging freely on one side, and the left, respectively, on the other. Shade, pleasant coolness, leaves rustling and sparrows chirping. She went up to the tree and called. The cat opened one eye to make sure it was its owner. She closed it and went back to sleep. I tell her I'm going home and I'll give her lunch to the other cats. I stood up, stretched, sat on a branch and beat my tail - I won’t go! I didn’t wait, I went into the entrance and walked up the steps. Second floor. I put my foot on the next one - and I hear a quiet, high-pitched “meow” outside the door. She came anyway. I went down, opened the door for her, and we went home together. I feel like she’s offended and doesn’t look at me. And indeed, she didn’t go to the bowl, she jumped into her place, sat with her back to me and licked herself. If you approach her at this time and extend your hand to stroke her, a lightning strike with a clawed paw will follow. Only in the evening she went to eat and the conflict was settled.

Another time, also in the summer, we washed her, dried her and in the evening we went for a walk with her. Thirty degree heat. She plays, jumps after insects, hides and runs from tree to tree. We walk back along the path and are speechless. Our pure, clever girl is bathing in a pile of sand, and with such excitement that it flies in all directions. Her fur fluffed up, her tail wriggled like a snake, her satisfied eyes sparkled: “I don’t need to be washed with water, okay?!” I had to clean her fur again.

Of course, there will always be cases when a pet’s behavior or the sounds it makes are so unusual that even a specialist cannot “translate” them. Surprisingly “talkative” cats have made themselves and their owners famous on the Internet. Many users watch videos of such cats.

Video: a cat stands at a closed door and says: “Open it!”

How to understand what a cat wants?

To understand the wishes of your beloved pet and respond to them correctly, you can use the following tips:

• The cat stretches out its paw to the owner’s face - a request for affection and attention.
• The animal stares straight at you - a call to play.
• Rubbing your head on the legs of family members and guests is a manifestation of love and devotion, a request for affection, leaving a mark. Cats have scent glands on their faces that they use to mark everyone they care about.
• Meowing is a request, for example, for a pet to be fed or let out.
• The animal looks intently, after which it slowly closes its eyes - an expression of love.
• Intermittent meowing is a response to your nickname or mention in conversation.
• The restrained rumbling of a nursing pet is a warning against approaching the cubs.
• Quickly running away from the owner with his head pulled into his shoulders - the pet has caused trouble;
• Dancing in place with the front paws off the floor is a greeting.

Scientists have long proven that these animals correctly perceive our speech. Of course, they do not have the innate ability to perceive the meaning of the linguistic structures with which people communicate with each other. They begin to understand the owner’s speech only after a certain time has passed. Cats read the emotions, desires and moods of family members thanks to their gestures, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

It is not for nothing that representatives of the cat family are considered subtle psychologists. It takes them very little time to learn to speak the same language with their owner. Most of them are able not only to respond to their nickname, but also to follow instructions.

Cats are much less amenable to training and education than dogs, due to their independent and stubborn nature. However, what they lack in training, they more than make up for with their sharp mind, incredible intelligence and insight. If desired, these animals are able to carry out commands with impeccable accuracy.

How to lure a cat out of a hard-to-reach place?

Use those methods of “communication” that usually accompany meals. If this option does not work, soak the cloth in valerian and throw it in the place where the cat is hiding. Give him a “sniff” and begin to gently pull the flap. The cat will most likely follow him.

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