Funny Cats Being Awesome Compilation
You Just Don't Understand!
Communicating with cats can be a puzzling and frustrating experience, both for the human and the cat in question. Cats have interesting and provocative ways of expressing their emotions and desires, and can sometimes become very impatient when their human fails to understand them. The prime directive of human-cat socialization is: It is NEVER the cat who fails to communicate; it is ALWAYS the human who fails to understand.
Cats resemble some 2-year-old humans in that biting is often a gesture of affection. My daughter once had an 18 pound cat who couldn't scratch his own hindquarters without falling over. However, when I scratched his flanks, he would give my hand little nips, as if to say, "That feels good, do it some more." The bites became more aggressive when I tried to take my hand away.
A kitty nip on the nose usually signals great love of cat for human. I would not suggest returning the gesture, however a little nose-to-nose nuzzling is usually appreciated, and will sometimes result in a liberal face-watching. If you've ever watched a mother cat wash her kitten's face, you will appreciate the significance. Pay no attention to those who say that kitty is just licking the salt on your face-- they obviously have no appreciation of the finer points of communication between felines and their friends.
Is there a cat lover alive who doesn't immediately understand the term "annoyance ears"? You can judge the degree of annoyance easily by observing just how laid back the ears are. Mild annoyance will sometimes be signalled by one ear back and eyes slightly narrowed. When the second ear joins the first one and his purr becomes a low growl, I'd advise stopping whatever you are doing. Cats as a rule have a very low tolerance level and when they signify "enough is enough", they mean it. Both ears laid well back indicate that a terrific fight is about to ensue. The ear-language will be accompanied by a high-pitched keening sound which may go on for several minutes while the cat circles his opponent. If he is fight-playing with a friend, the keening will be replaced by general low-pitched growling, with a lot of circling and mock-swinging.
Many cats vary their vocalization according to degree of need. My Shannon used to give a plaintive little "bleep" when hungry and a somewhat louder "meooooww" when the food dish wasn't filled quickly enough. He really reached full voice when needing to go outside, which inevitably occured when I was working upstairs at my computer. He wasn't vocalizing to the world at large (although it sure sounded like it), but to ME, as is apparent when I looked down from the balcony and see him glaring up at me while he hollered, "I've really got to goooooo ouuuuuuuttttt!"
Much of cats' communication is non-verbal. While working at my computer, I will feel a set of razor-sharp claws grasping my arm - Jenny, wanting to jump up on my lap. If I ignore it, the claws deepen their grasp, until I stop what I'm doing and scratch her ears. If I tire before she does, I'll cave, and pull her up on my lap, where she will fall asleep, happy and satisfied. There is nothing quite so comforting as having a friend close at hand while you work.
This morning, I was taking a bread from work, reading the paper and enjoying my morning decaf, when Jaspurr politely said, "Excuse me." I reached down and petted him for a moment and went back to my reading. A few minutes later, he said, "Ahem! I said, 'excuse me,' and petted him again." I finally figured out what he wanted when he exclaimed, "You just don't understand!" I got up and followed him into the kitchen, and opened a fresh can of food, and put it in his dish on the floor. He bleeped a "thank you," (much as Shannon before him), then tucked into breakfast. I'm slow, but I'm learning.