What Is The Importance Of A Cat’s Posture?

A cat’s posture is a veritable barometer of mood. With practice, a cat owner can “read” their pet’s emotions from the posture. Physical impairments or pain are also reflected in the cat’s posture.

What Is A Cat’s Posture?

A cat’s posture describes the position of its body, defined by a complex interplay of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. A cat can assume a variety of postures and sit, walk, lie down or stand in many different ways. A cat’s particular posture is highly dependent on the animal’s current mood and state of health.

When Does A Cat Change Its Posture Or What Is The Importance Of A Cat’s Posture?

Cats communicate through posture or body language. A cat expresses feelings such as joy, fear, or aggressiveness through its posture, among other things. In addition, the posture of the cat provides indications of illnesses and physical pain. Five body regions, in particular, are used as signal transmitters – the ears, the eyes, the whiskers, the trunk, and the tail. Signals from these individual body regions should never be viewed in isolation, but always in combination. When interpreting a cat’s posture, the surrounding circumstances play an important role. The cat’s non-verbal communication is so complex that it is still not fully understood by humans. Because of this, cats often develop an applied vocal language to get in touch with their owners. In short: when a cat meows, it often means the human.

This article provides a description of the most basic forms of cat posture. Cat owners may not recognize their cat’s every posture. It takes a lot of time and observation to become familiar with a cat’s posture and what it means.

Basic Moods And Basic Emotions Of A Cat

A cat has a range of emotions and moods, some of which are expressed in the cat’s posture.

Relaxation And Well-Being

A relaxed cat will often hold its tail in a neutral or low position. The ears can also be directed forward and the eyes half-closed.

Excitement

A wagging cat’s tail indicates general excitement. Inner restlessness, stress, or an imminent hunting jump can be responsible for this. A raised and slightly trembling tail is usually a sign of joyful excitement or imminent territory marking.

Aggression And Defense

A cat often signals aggressiveness or defense by the “cat hump”, a ruffled back fur, ears turned to the side, or crouching. An aggressive cat’s eyes are usually open slit-like. With reduced pupils, they stare at the target. Cats perceive staring as a threat. That is why people should also avoid looking directly in the eye.

Often misinterpreted in conflict situations is “a cat lying on its back”. This posture of the cat does not represent a “signal of humility”. Rather, it is a sign of high stress and readiness to attack. In this position, the cat can optimally present its strong weapons, the clawed paws.

Fear

A fearful cat will either tuck in its tail, tuck it under its body, or ruffle it. The ears are usually close to the head. They can also be turned all the way back, revealing the backs of the ears. A frightened animal flattens itself against the ground, making its back look rounded. Large pupils emphasize the animal’s discomfort. Pet owners should now be warned. Fear is a basic instinct that triggers a physical response in all mammals and can make cats unpredictable. A fearful cat should be given space. Touches or pressures are now out of place.

When Is A Cat’s Posture “Unhealthy”?

Limping, uneven limb loading and reduced activity levels indicate pain. Pain is reflected primarily in the face of cats. If the pain is mild, the ears are held slightly hanging, if the pain is severe, they are held to the side. The shape of the snout can change with pain: the nose and snout tend to be wider at the bottom, and the face can look more triangular. Scientists at the University of Glasgow have developed a pain scale to assess pain intensity (Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale: CMPS). The behavior of the cat in its basket or crate, the facial expression, and the behavior towards humans are evaluated and scored. The veterinarian can use this scale to decide whether pain medication is necessary.

Diseases of the skeletal system or muscles can cause a cat to change its posture. Diseases of the nerves, the brain, or the spinal cord also cause incoordination and changes in the cat’s posture. In particular, if there are other signs of illness such as weight loss or sensitivity to touch, the veterinarian should be asked for advice.

A cat can not only get physically ill. Just like humans, they can also suffer psychologically and develop behavioral disorders such as anxiety disorders. Mental illnesses in a cat are usually expressed through uncleanliness, withdrawal behavior, or aggression. Behavioral problems result in large part from a lack of knowledge on the part of pet owners when it comes to indoor cats.

What Treatment Options Are There For An Abnormal Posture In The Cat?

Optimization Of Housing Conditions

If fear or aggression are the reasons for an abnormal posture in the cat, the causes often lie in the housing conditions. Some cats are afraid of certain sounds. Others in front of a new animal or human roommate. In a multi-cat household, owners should make sure that the animals really like each other and not just form a forced community. Signs of a functioning cat friendship are mutual grooming and lying and sleeping together. If the animals show little interest in each other, creating different retreats and setting up several feeding places and litter boxes can significantly increase their well-being. Punishment has no positive effect on the behavior of aggressive animals. Aggressive cats can attack their owners and cause dangerous bite or scratch injuries. Therefore, take care of your safety and seek the advice of a veterinarian.

Behavior Therapy

Veterinary behavioral therapists provide tips on how to deal with your pet. In behavioral therapy, cats can be trained to behave in certain ways using tools such as the clicker. However, job titles such as an animal psychologists, cat coaches, etc. are not protected. This means that every person, regardless of their education, can theoretically call themselves that. In addition to excellently trained experts, there are unfortunately also “black sheep” in this industry. Certificates, references, and recommendations from friends or your vet will help you find the right behavioral therapist. You can also contact a veterinarian specializing in animal behavior who specializes in cats.

Pheromones And Herbal Tranquilizers

For very nervous cats, the use of special sprays or diffusers can also provide relief. These products contain pheromones as active ingredients. In addition, there are various active ingredients such as tryptophan (essential amino acid for the formation of serotonin), L-theanine, and alpha-capsazepine, the effectiveness of which has been partially proven in studies. Pet owners can choose from a variety of over-the-counter products in pharmacies or online. Before purchasing, ask your veterinarian about the benefits of their experience with these supplements.

When Should You Go To The Vet?

If a cat changes its usual posture, a veterinarian should be consulted. The earlier a disease is detected, the better it can be treated. A vet who has experience with cats can also give valuable tips on how to deal with frightened or aggressive animals. Clinics and practices that have been awarded the “Cat-Friendly Clinic” certificate are particularly suitable for the medical care of cats. These practices cater specifically to the needs of cats and meet certain standards. This includes specially trained staff and separate practice rooms for cats.

The cost of treating an abnormal cat posture depends on the underlying cause of the pain or behavioral problems. A vet calculates his services according to the scale of fees for veterinarians (GOT). The amount of the fee usually depends on the amount of treatment involved. If you have any questions about treatment and its costs, please speak to your veterinarian.