The main criticism levelled against our feline friends by non-cat lovers is that they are thought to never listen to us and, if they do, to care absolutely nothing about what we have to say. Of all, if you’re used to a dog’s clear expressions and fawning affection, you might not imagine that cats communicate with or listen to their owners. But if you learn cat communication, and your cats pay attention, you’ll realize how much you’ve been missing. Here are some suggestions on how to converse with your cat:
1. Pay attention to cat
A successful communicator must first and foremost be a good listener. Become familiar with your cat’s body language. Watch how he responds to various stimuli. When he is gazing out the window at a bird or a squirrel, how does his body appear? Have you seen a pattern in his interactions with you? Since when? How does your cat appear when he is taking a nap in the sun? Have you ever noticed that expression before? It takes considerably more sight and intuition than hearing to listen to your cat.
2. Give cat some affectionate blinks
From a distance, close your eyes slowly and then open them again. Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy describes the speed of the blink as a slowly spoken “I love you” — close your eyes slowly as you think “I,” hold them closed as you think “love,” and open them slowly as you think “you.” Do this when your cat is calm and relaxed, and you’ll see him return your love blinks.
3. Offer the “cat nose hand”
Cats often greet each other by touching noses. You can replicate this by sitting down or crouching, curling your index finger into a shape sort of like a cat nose, and slowly extending your arm. By doing this, you’re giving a cat a chance to greet you in a way that makes sense in cat language. Be sure you extend your hand slowly and come from in front of him or just to the side rather than from above.Popular Read: Why Does My Cat Scratch The Sides Of The Litter Box? – Simple Explanation
4. Lower your voice
Cats have very sensitive hearing, so if you bellow at your cat like a drill sergeant or greet him with the kind of overly enthusiastic greeting common to kids and dog people, he’ll run off. Siouxsie hates shrieky people, and I don’t blame her. I find a quiet lilt is the best tone in which to share affectionate words with cats or to tempt a shy kitty to get closer.
5. Use directions consistently
When I say, “Hi there, Mister Handsome. Come on up here,” Thomas knows it’s time to have his pre-bedtime special moment with me. Bella will occasionally sit on the floor and look up at me while I’m writing, as if she’s asking permission for lap time; when I look at her and say “Come on up” or make a kissing sound, she knows that means she’s welcome.
6. If your cat is acting too rough, picture a kitten playing
When kittens play, they’re developing social as well as physical skills. When one kitten is too rough with the other, the victim will squeak loudly and disengage himself from the bully. Do the same thing if your cat insists on using your fingers and toes as toys: Say “Ow!” in a high-pitched voice and put the cat on the floor, then ignore him for a while. Do this consistently until your cat learns that it’s not okay to chew on you or claw the heck out of you.
Each cat has his own dialect, so to speak. The best way to learn how to talk to your cat is to observe your kitty and his cat language carefully. Every little gesture and look speaks volumes, and with enough experience, you’ll find yourself understanding cat language better than you ever imagined.Popular Read: Why Does My Cat Scratch The Sides Of The Litter Box? – Simple Explanation