Cat Speak, and other animal languages

Ivan Seeking

In honor of Danger's talking cat...

I have never seen the blinking thing discussed anywhere before. I've found this works not only with cats, but with dogs, and deer as well. But the blink rate is different depending on the animal. Integral has a dog that would go nuts if I gave her a slow blink...not sure what that was all about. Three other dogs also got all worked up by a slow blink, so it must mean something in Dog Speak. Fast blinks seem to be okay.

I think most pet lovers get pretty good at reading their four-legged family members.

Because of cats long-standing as a creature intended to enhance human life, cats are sometimes relegated as a species which lack emotional life. This is a mistake. Cats are very intelligent animals that have evolved a series of body communications to purpose their needs. Close observation of the cat, as any cat lover might agree, will reveal rich levels of cats speak...

Blinking: If your cat blinks both eyes at once, consider yourself lucky as you have just been kitty kissed! You can also "kiss" your kitty too by catching your cat's eyes and blinking hard at it. Remember, one blink is quite sufficient, although you may try two! If your kitty returns the blink, then you have just been kissed back in the world of cats! Don't get upset if your kitty doesn't kiss you right away, because you might have suddenly surprised them with so much affection. Guaranteed your kitty will be kissing you once its adjusts to your lovin blinks...

http://hubpages.com/hub/Cats-Speak

*Loren Booda*

Can a human win a stare down with a cat?

GeorginaS

Quote by Loren Booda

Can a human win a stare down with a cat?

No. Even when you "win" in human terms -- meaning that the cat looks away -- you've "lost" in cat terms because now you've annoyed them and they can't be bothered with you any more. Dogs get defeated by eye contact. Cats get bored and walk away. It's a victory only if the other side knows they've been defeated. The cat's not defeated. Really, you gain nothing.

I've read about blinking as "cat kisses" before, Ivan. My cat and I make squooshy faces at each other fairly frequently. I don't know if that constitutes "kisses" exactly, but I do know that we're bonded. And I do know that she doesn't look away from me when I do it. Sometimes she even blinks back. Mostly she just stares at me with that inscrutable expression on her face. So, I liberally anthropomophise and believe that, in her mind she's thinking, "Okay, now what's the human up to?"

Office_Shredder

I wouldn't characterize it as blinking. They slowly close their eyes, and it looks more like they're either going to sleep or squinting depending on the situation

CRGreathouse

In terms of WWPD?, I wonder if there's any way to express the OP as a falsifiable statement.

*Loren Booda*

My cat's intimate look reflects the "flattery" of her human's gaze.

Quote by GeorginaS

Even when you "win" in human terms -- meaning that the cat looks away -- you've "lost" in cat terms because now you've annoyed them and they can't be bothered with you any more. Dogs get defeated by eye contact. Cats get bored and walk away. It's a victory only if the other side knows they've been defeated. The cat's not defeated. Really, you gain nothing.

Kitty has a black mask which makes her a formidable poker player in low light.

Max™

Cats react oddly if your eyes exhibit the typical saccade patterns, if you notice, that is the source of the "predatory stare" which people find unsettling, cats don't do the small scanning eye movements.

They focus on a target... I know this because I also unsettle people if I try to exhibit eye contact. I don't saccade normally either, I assume it is due to AS in my case... but as they say: "all cats have Asperger's".

Another way to identify a compliment from a cat is when they trill or chirp at you, cats don't meow at other cats, they either yowl, or trill.

*Loren Booda*

Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders display one of the few physical traits for that category of diseases -- the inability for eyes to track steadily.

Kitty doesn't seem to mind.

GeorginaS

Quote by Loren Booda

My cat's intimate look reflects the "flattery" of her human's gaze.

That's gorgeous.

Danger

In addition to the "kissing" thing, of which I was unaware, a single slow blink is taken by a cat as an invitation such as to join you in your chair.

Max™

Prior to diagnosis with AS, I actually assumed I was a large housecat.

Cats make sense, humans seem insane.

Go figure.

GeorginaS

Quote by Max™

Another way to identify a compliment from a cat is when they trill or chirp at you, cats don't meow at other cats, they either yowl, or trill.

True. If you're around feral cats they won't attempt to communicate with you. Cats who live with you, and especially ones who are bonded with you, work at verbal communication.

Also, if a cat "head-bumps" you, or really especially, if a cat licks you. If your cat licks you, they're all about the relationship with you. Grooming each other is a big deal in cat world.

Ivan Seeking

Quote by georginas

my cat and i make squooshy faces at each other fairly frequently.

tmi! Tmi!

Us cat owners are pathetic.

GeorginaS

Quote by Ivan Seeking

tmi! Tmi!

Us cat owners are pathetic.

No joke.

Danger

Quote by GeorginaS

Also, if a cat "head-bumps" you, or really especially, if a cat licks you. If your cat licks you, they're all about the relationship with you. Grooming each other is a big deal in cat world.

Mine instigated a form of "mutual grooming" which I haven't encountered with any of my previous pets. You know how a cat licks its dew-claw, and then uses it to comb its forehead. Lucy licks the web between my thumb and index finger, then shoves her head into position for me to rub it.

Ivan Seeking

Quote by GeorginaS

True. If you're around feral cats they won't attempt to communicate with you. Cats who live with you, and especially ones who are bonded with you, work at verbal communication.

Also, if a cat "head-bumps" you, or really especially, if a cat licks you. If your cat licks you, they're all about the relationship with you. Grooming each other is a big deal in cat world.

Isaac was a total head bump kitty.

As a bonding ritual, I make a point to groom our cats, but it takes hours to get the hair off of my tongue.

Ivan Seeking

Quote by GeorginaS

No joke.

Ever since we got Little Tyke, because we got her so young, and because she's so small, we've informally adopted the habbit of calling her "Baby" [as in "cute little baby", not "oh baby, oh baby!"

]. As she got older and started getting into trouble, I ended up with "You are an eeeeeeeeevil little baby! Eeeeeeeeeevil Baby!".

Cracks Tsu up every time. It reminds me of Letterman's list of ten things you never thought you'd say. Course Little Tyke just twitches her tail and squints at me now when I say it.

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Office_Shredder Blog Entries: 1 Recognitions: Homework Help	Cat Speak, and other animal languages I wouldn't characterize it as blinking. They slowly close their eyes, and it looks more like they're either going to sleep or squinting depending on the situation

CRGreathouse Recognitions: Homework Help Science Advisor	In terms of WWPD?, I wonder if there's any way to express the OP as a falsifiable statement.

Loren Booda	Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders display one of the few physical traits for that category of diseases -- the inability for eyes to track steadily. Kitty doesn't seem to mind.

Danger Recognitions: Gold Member	In addition to the "kissing" thing, of which I was unaware, a single slow blink is taken by a cat as an invitation such as to join you in your chair.

Max™	Prior to diagnosis with AS, I actually assumed I was a large housecat. Cats make sense, humans seem insane. Go figure.