Thursday, August 15, 2013

A Guide to Cat Body Language

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Thursday Trivia series for a very important video we three cats think everyone planning to adopt a cat needs to watch!


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Recently, Cat's Protection, the UK's leading feline welfare charity, posted a video on how to interpret a cat's body language that we'd like to share with you.

But what's really interesting to us are the statistics they gathered from a survey on cat behavior that prompted the creation of this video.

So enjoy the video below, but then be sure to scroll down to view some of those statistics  - we think some of them may surprise you!




A few surprising stats

In the study that led to the production of this video, Cat's Protection found that fully one-third of people polled thought a cat who rolls onto its back wants its belly rubbed like a dog.
Seasoned cat owners can tell you that's a sure way to earn yourself a seriously scratched hand!

Four in ten people thought a cat with its ears back would benefit from a comforting cuddle. Well, at least they understood that "ears-back" meant frightened! But a cat that's scared needs his space - not a human hug! They also need a place to hide until the fear and stress subside.

Half of cat owners polled did not know that a cat will lick its lips when stressed. One third of them thought it meant the cat was hungry. Not so - often it's the exact opposite. Cats lick they're lips when nauseous, too.

And finally, our favorite (at least in the Darwin Award Cat-egory!).

Drum roll please:
25% of cat owners polled actually thought we kitties intentionally shed our fur to mark territory.

Uhm, no-o-ooo...

But we will admit that stropping your legs when you come home is as much to re-scent you as it is to greet you.

(You have nooo idea how stinky you smell when you get home - all those strange office and shopping scents and all, you know.)

That's enough Kitty Confession for one day. Hope you enjoyed the video!


17 comments:

  1. The video was well done, thanks for sharing it. That poor scared cat, though--I felt so sorry for it. I'm guessing a new intake (at the time of the video).

    I'm lucky in that the boys, especially Derry, LOVE to have their tummies rubbed, but I wouldn't touch another cat there unless I knew they enjoyed it. LOL.

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  2. I didn't know when you expose your belly, you don't want to get it rubbed. Great share!

    I watched all 3 minutes of it. P.S. Now I know that purring can also mean you guys are in pain

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  3. Cosmo and Ling are the only ones who actually ask for tummy rubs. Try to tummy rub Tutu and you get a cat latched on your hand. Hahaha.

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  4. We too did this post last Tuesday. Very informative for non cat speaking people. Have a tremendous Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  5. Great video and some great things about behavior in cats. It is interesting to hear what different things mean. Good post.

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  6. Great video and some great things about behavior in cats. It is interesting to hear what different things mean. Good post.

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  7. I think it is criminal how dense so many humans (including humans who live with cats) are when it comes to reading our behavior! I have a lot of work cut out ahead of me.

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  8. That is a great vid. Cats Protection is a great group.
    I think most of us blogging kittie have Dads and Moms who are a bit ahead of the curve.
    Funny you mentioned the Dawins!
    Dad shows us the winners every year
    Purrs

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  9. Great video. We are surprised that 50% knew that lip-licking was a stress behavior. We haven't found many people who knew that one at all!

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  10. Great video! All humans should see it. Me-Ommmmm

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  11. Cool stuff! Rumblemum didn't know the lick the lips thing (pfft, she calls herself a cat person!)

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  12. That's a great video!! I have really noticed with my foster, Lori, the difference of when to pet her and when not to. When she is lying on her belly or walking around, I can pet her all over and as much as I want. When she lays on her side, even though she is purring, blinking and making biscuits, I can only pet her on her head, and only for a few times.

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  13. Very well-done video. Thank you for sharing. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Misty may, Mauricio, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  14. The video was well done, thanks for sharing it !
    Me too re-scent my mom-person when she comes home from work :)

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