Cat Language
This is an article I wrote for my Health & Behavior section,
let me know what you think.
How to introduce yourself to a cat
Do you know how to greet a cat in their own language?
Most people do not.
What they do is;
they make direct eye contact with wide-open eyes,
they talk in a high-pitched voice,
then they stretch their hand out towards the cat,
fingers splayed.
And the reaction when they do this is either
the cat runs away in fear,
or they go into aggressive mode.
See Ozzie in the photo above,
his paw is swiping out,
his pupils are wide-open.
This is an aggressive stance.
The proper way to greet a cat is to look at the cat while
slowly blinking your eyes,
keep it slow by saying to yourself (or the cat),
‘I Love You’.
If you do that slow blink, then look away
– when you look back at that cat,
it is usually doing that slow blink back at you.
You may have to do this several times,
but you’ll get that slow blink back.
And that means you have told the cat
that you are not a threat
and the cat has said that back at you.
The next thing you do is moderate your voice,
make it calm and as soft as you can.
When you talk in an unnatural high-pitched voice,
the cat interprets that as the screech they make
when challenging another cat to a fight.
Then when you approach the cat,
stop well away and stretch out a fist to the cat.
Let the cat come to your fist, and keep that slow blink going.
The cat may rub against your fist,
in which case you can begin to slowly rub the cat
with your fist and,
based on it’s reaction,
you can begin to pet the cat.
This is sometimes called, ‘The fist of friendship’.
When you go towards a cat with your fingers splayed,
it is very like when a cat comes at you with claws out
– not a good message to send.
So go out there and introduce yourself
to a cat you’ve never met
and see how very simple it is to make a new friend!
15 Comments
Cleo
Well this is quite the detailed post, and I’m sure many can learn from it. Mom and dad approached the glass room I was in when they adopted me and came right in and sat on the floor. They pretty much didn’t do any of this, and dad ended up with a few minor claw marks, though I did sit on his lap on the floor. Here we are, several years later and they are at my beck and call day in and day out. Great informational post!
Zoolatry
Oh my did we need this! JUNE is about to be one-year-old and I’ve done a lot wrong with her … and my “approach” is definitely a major one! She can be a
cuddler and lover, but just as often will come forward on the attack and this may
be why! She is actually my first-ever kitten (all my others adopted as adults) so
I am about to alter MY behavior considerably and see if we can bring about some
changes, understanding your point that it will take some time … THANK YOU so much.
Ann
A ShutterBug Explores
Great article ~ Each kitty photo is awesome ~ they are all so beautiful !
Living moment by moment,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Eugenia
Our little kitty will be calm and lovable and then all of a sudden let out a loud meow like she is mad. Then she wants to attack and bite. Thanks for the tips and we’ll try them.
We adopted her a year ago and we were the second to adopt. The first couple brought her back because supposedly she made their children nervous. She is a high strung and skittish cat, but has calmed down a lot since we’ve owned her. No way, we would give her up.
Brian Frum
Bravo! That’s a super way to reach the all is calm point!
Deborah
Great instructions written very well and easy to read and understand! 🙂 <3
Three Chatty Cats
What a great how-to article!
stevebethere
Good post and loved the cute photos heheh!
Have a tanfastical safe weekend 👍😷😷😷
Cecilia Upchurch
Madi was all about blinky blinky and Oh did she love it when she approached me with her tail in a ? and I let it run thru my fingers…she often came back for a do over
Hugs Cecilia
PS I love this
Memories of Eric and Flynn
That is good advice. Eric would always slow blink back. Flynn was usually in too much of a hurry with so much to do, but catch him when he was resting and he would return the slow blinks.
Melissa & Mudpie
This is such important information!
messymimi
Exactly! That fist works with dogs, too. Open hands look to a dog like you are going to grab it, i am sure cats feel the same way.
Slow and steady and don’t challenge them with a stare.
Thanks so much for the well written instructions!
meowmeowmans
That was super information, sweet pals! I was at the shelter today, and definitely used the fist of friendship. 🙂
Peaches and Paprika
I love your article. There are two people out of a hundred who knows how to approach a cat. I love your illustrations too. My cat Peaches is a little different. The way to approach her is simply to tell her she’s gorgeous. She recognizes no other communication. But she’s a little weird that way…
Eastside Cats
I introduce myself to every cat that is see; one’s in windows, cats on porches, and cats hiding in the bushes. One never knows…