1. Reading Feline Body Language
Rolan Tripp, DVM

2. Body Language Terminology
Distance increasing behaviors
vs. Distance reducing behaviors
Concordance of Signals = many signals all giving the same message.
vs. Discordance = body language giving conflicting messages.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

3. Purring Contentment May occur when in pain or just before dying
= “Seeking companionship”
= Distance decreasing
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4. Feline Greeting Postures
Many cats roll to greet
Exposing vulnerable belly is a sign of trust
Tail straight up is “willing to interact”.
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5. Feline Greeting Postures - Tail
The tail base up is confident
Tail tip up or curved is willing to interact or friendly
Tail swishing is Conflict.
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6. Feline Greeting Postures – Head Rubbing = “Bunting”
Pheromone Production
Cheek Glands – just above each lip
Tends to rub/mark objects with cheeks
Pre-auricular Glands = just in front of each ear
Tends to rub/mark beings with head
This is the basis for “Feliway” product.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

7. “Feliway” “Feline Facial Pheromone Analog”…
Changes the site from a urine mark target to a cheek mark target
Calming effect.
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8. “Attentive Anxious” Eyes open, focused Ears forward focused
Whiskers forward
Weight on rear quarters for rapid response
Muscle tone
Tail twitching.
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9. Recognizing Feline Aggressive Body Postures
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10. © Rolan Tripp, DVM

11. Defensive Postures Cat attempts to look BIGGER Look at leg position
Arched back
Fluffed tail
Piloerection
Nails exsheathed
Look at leg position
Full extension = confident
Crouched low = insecure, fearful
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

12. Defensive Aggression - Pariah threat posture
Low ranking threatened cat
Crouched front legs
Ears back
Teeth bared
Sign of fear and insecurity.
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13. Defensive Aggression “Lateral Threat” Posture
Cat uses every possible technique to appear larger:
Piloerection (Fluffed)
Arched back
Turns to side to seem BIGGER.
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14. Defensive Postures Full defensive aggressive posture Laying on back
Teeth bared
Whiskers back
Front and rear claws exsheathed and ready
Tail switching for balance and communicating anger
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

15. Cat-Cat Aggression Postures
Eye to eye
Ears forward
Tails out and back - swishing for balance and communication
Low center of gravity
Piloerection
Forward whiskers.
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16. Flehmen posturing “Volmeronasal Organ” is a secondary olfactory system
Odors enter near the hard palate inside the mouth
Used for special odors like urine or reproductive pheromones
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

17. Female Reproductive Posture
Male is selected, allowed to approach
Female in estrus assumes “lordosis” pose
Tail to the side
Presents ano-genital area for sniffing.
Female in “Lordosis” pose
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

18. Male Reproductive Posture
Tom does neck bite to stabilize female and protect self
Treading and stepping movements position pelvis for coitus.
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19. Urine Marking = “Spraying”
Cat backs up to target
Tail is straight up and quivering
Small amounts of urine are sprayed up and out to mark object
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20. Marking territory with paws
Leaves scent mark from pads
Plus visual mark from claws
Also satisfies need for stretching and sharpening claws.
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21. “Please let me out!” What is this kitten saying? Eyes: Focused
Ears: Forward and up = Focused
Nose: Up and forward = Focused
Throat: Solicitation
Body: Feet off ground = Non-threatening
Tail: Base up, tip up = Friendly, willing to interact
“Please let me out!”

22. “Thanks for letting me out. Now stop threatening me.”
What is this kitten saying?
“Thanks for letting me out. Now stop threatening me.”
Eyes: Looking away = Disinterested, or disarming
Ears: To side and back = Uncertain
Nose: Turned partially away = Distance increasing
Tail: Up and curved forward = Distance decreasing
(Above include discordant signals)
HUMAN: Back arched; Staring; Claws and teeth exposed;
= Trying to be friendly; actually being threatening

23. Kittens in Kindergarten (Don’t know each other)
Orange Kitten on right…
Eyes: Focused = Attentive
Ears: Full front = Alert, focused, confident
Body: Back mildly arched
Body: Rump setting down = slowing rate of interaction (SIT is a STOP message).
Tail: Base up, tip straight = Confident/Neutral.
B&W Kitten on Left…
Eyes: Focused = Attentive
Ears: Up, forward = Interested and focused
Body: Arched back = Trying to intimidate.
Body: One paw raised = Impending (undetermined) change of behavior
Tail: Base up, tip up = Very willing to interact

24. Kittens in Kindergarten (Don’t know each other)
Grey Kitten on right…
Eyes: Turned =some new interest
Ears: Full front elsewhere = Alert, focused, confident
Nose: Whiskers forward = Confident
Body: Neck and shoulder exposed to new cat = no worry of attack (confident)
Tail: Base up, tip straight = Confident/Neutral.
Striped Kitten On Left…
Eyes: Focused = Attentive
Ears: Out + back = Anxious and uncertain
Nose: Whiskers out = Gathering data
Body: Approaching slowly at an arc = Non-confrontive approach
Tail: Base Down, Tip up = Cautious but willing to interact

25. Dog confronts cat. What is cat signaling?
Eyes: Wide, pupils dilated = High arousal
Ears straight out = ½ way between fear and attack
Throat: Growl = Distance increasing
Paw: Raised = Impending change; Threat
Body: Tense; Backed up to wall = Ready to spring
Tail: Tucked = Distance increasing
Dog is looking away, ears fully up, debating options.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

26. One stressed cat in a happy group
Orange tabby has tail tucked which is unfriendly
Shoulder, ear position give away threat
Target of threat is unfazed suggesting senior status
Stressed cat is thinnest of group.
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

27. These cat tails signal coming and going
These cat tails signal coming and going. Overall - lack of social tension.
Cats entering group have tails up
Cat leaving has lower tail
Orange tabby in rear is signaling an alliance by contact
He is fully stretched out facing away; belly exposed = high trust
© Rolan Tripp, DVM

28. Affiliative Behavior (Cats are social!)
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29. Unwanted Male Cat Behavior
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30. Questions?
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