If you love your cat or dog beyond anything, you are not alone in this sentiment. Millions of people around the world share the same feelings with you. But with that, they also share the inability to understand verbal cues that are signaled by their beloved pets.
This brings you down to understanding your cat or dog’s behaviors by their body language. Besides making sure that they are in the mood to play, this knowledge can also help you spot troubling signs of stress and sickness. This way, you can get timely medical assistance before your pet’s condition grows out of hand.
To support you on this journey, here’s how to understand pets’ body language.
How to Understand Your Cat’s Body Language?
From helping your pets calm their anxiety to deciding when to call the vet, understanding your cat’s body language can help you and your little bundle of joy across a number of situations. The following descriptions tell you some of the most common signs for deciphering your cat’s health.
Behaviors That Highlight Stress
Airplane Ears
The airplane ears are either rotated to the sides or pointing backward in a lower position, which indicates stress.
Tense Body
If your cat has a tense body, they could need help in forms ranging from cat allergy medication to a calming cuddle.
Closed or Thrashing Tail
In case your cat’s tail is closely held to their body or thrashing rapidly, it is a sign that they are not happy about something.
Behaviors That Indicate Pain or Sickness
Low Ears
After noticing that your cat has low ears for a prolonged period of time, you may want to continue observing for additional symptoms.
Closed Eyes
If your cat’s eyes are closed but they are awake for lengthy periods, it might point to a sickness.
Closed or Hidden Tail
A tail that’s closely held to the body or hidden under it can indicate worrisome symptoms. If you use a pet sitting app, you may want to tell your sitter to keep an eye on this type of behavior.
Behaviors That Show Happiness
Blinking Eyes
If your cat slowly blinks at you, it means that they are showing trust and feel content. This might be the perfect time to get photos for a personalized wall for pets.
Upward Tail
An upward tail, especially one that is curled at the tip, shows signs of happiness in cats. Depending upon the cat breed, this can be easily noticeable.
Upright Ears
In case your cat’s ears are upright and facing forward, it means that they are a happy furry baby. This is especially true when this behavior is combined with the other two signs mentioned above.
How to Understand Your Dog’s Body Language?
Dogs are more emotive than cats, but that doesn’t make it any easier for you to understand what they are trying to say without learning some tips. With that being said, the following information sheds more light on these details to help you become a dog whisperer.
Stress
Lowered Tail
A lowered tail shows that your dog is stressed. This can happen due to any reason and last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. For example, if your dog is lost, they might have their tails lowered until you find them with a pet GPS tracker app.
Cowering Body
If your dog is cowering, this is a big sign of stress. This type of symptom shows up around holidays like the Fourth of July due to fireworks. But it can manifest anytime.
Licking Around the Mouth
In case your dog is licking around their mouth, it’s more than a sign of them liking their food. Besides stress, this could also mean that they are feeling ill.
Pain or Sickness
Limping
In case your dog is limping or moving lethargically, this might indicate sickness and call for you to explore traditional or home vet solutions for your pet.
Behavioral Changes
For many dogs, behavioral changes are a big sign of pain or sickness. If you notice any changes in their body language, it’s important to monitor them closely and get them checked by a vet if the changes persist.
Happiness
Wagging Tail
A slowly wagging tail shows that your dog is happy. This excitement can have various reasons that include but are not limited to seeing you after a long day, being shown their favorite toy, or being called for food.
Circling Tail
The circling or “helicopter” tail shows that your dog is particularly excited. This could be due to a reason as simple as you taking them on a neighborhood stroll using a dog walking app.
Play Bow
This pose happens when your dog hunches their front paw and lifts their bum up in the air. This is a sign that they are feeling happy and playful, or that they might want to play around with other dogs around them.
With this information, you can keep a close watch on your cat or dog. This can help you get them the help they need without any delay and ensure that they are getting the best care possible.