Particularly for first time pet owners, or people who are used to dogs, a newly adopted cat or kitten's behavior may sometimes appear very puzzling. In order to communicate with the cat in a way that benefits both owner and animal, it is necessary to learn about basic cat body language and cat behaviors.

Anyone can become an expert in cat psychology if they learn the "tail code". Your kitty uses his tail as a barometer of his emotions. A calm, quiet tail shows you that your cat is feeling comfortable, content, and ready for a snooze. A tail held stiff and high in the air says your kitty is feeling fine and ready for you to pay attention to him.

Cat's tails are their way of communicating with humans in a quieter way than meowing! When your cat's tail has started "ticking" or moving back & forth, kitty is trying to let you know that he or she is done and needs some alone time. Remember, he or she will give you plenty of warning before they scratch or bite you, so always remain wary of their tail-actions.

Now let's examine the general stance of your cat. When your cat is curled up in a ball with a paw over their face, they are sleeping soundly and best left alone. But when you cat is more relaxed and stretched across the floor it could be signaling time to play. Some cat problems can come from not being sensitive to these cues the cat is giving through their body posture about when to play and when to rest.

Cats signal interest in playing, or otherwise interacting physically, by flipping over onto their backs. Most, but not all, cats are sensitive about their bellies, and will scratch or bite if you try to pet them there. Because cat behaviors and "play" are forms of training to become better hunters, it is wise for humans to interact with a cat in "play mode" through the use of toys rather than hands. Cats can get very excited, and are very easily spooked, so don't get mad or emotionally hurt if the cat lashes out at you.

When petting or cuddling your new kitty, you should keep an eye on their tail and posture, as we have discussed. Cat behaviors differ from those of dogs in that sometimes they may change their minds about wanting attention or cuddles. When they do change their mind, they will signal it to you with their tail and posture, so that you can give them some alone time. Remember - cats are wonderful, loving creatures, but they have unique personalities and very specific needs. If you respect these needs, you will develop a wonderful relationship with your kitty.

For first time pet owners, or people who are used to dogs, a newly adopted cat or kitten's behavior may sometimes appear very puzzling. In order to communicate with the cat in a way that benefits both owner and animal, it is necessary to learn about basic cat behaviors and cat psychology. If your cat is curled up tightly or has a paw over his or her face, she is sleeping and wishes to be left alone. Many cat problems can result from not being careful about observing posture, and playing with kitty when he or she doesn't want to be played with.