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Signs that my Cat is Happy

Josie F. Turner
By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. Updated: April 25, 2018
Signs that my Cat is Happy
Cats

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When a cat is happy, everything around them is in harmony, including its human companions. But as cats can't speak, how do you know if your pet is happy?

In fact, there are many different ways of knowing the mood of your cat. Cats are creatures that express their feelings through a wide range of body language and all types of noises and meows.

In order for you to know a little more about your pet, and so that you can communicate better with it, here at AnimalWised we've compiled a list of signs that your cat is happy.

You may also be interested in: 5 Signs that your Cat is Bored

Body posture

The body posture of a cat can tell you if it is happy. When your pet has its head up and keeps it like this, it is telling you that it feels good and safe at that time and place. If, at the same time, its head is pointing forward, it means that it is saying hello and welcoming you to touch and pet it. This is the right time to hold out your hand so that your cat can smell it, and then place it down on its head for a tender hello.

The same applies to the tail; if it is straight up in the air it is a sign of happiness, and when the tip of the tail makes a small hook it means it is excited.

You know that your cat is having a pleasant and happy sleep when it sleeps with its legs tucked under, because this is a sign that it's comfortable and totally relaxed in that environment. Your cat feels at home.

A cat is at its absolute happiest when it lies on its back with its paws in the air. When you see your cat in this position, go and give it lots of cuddles and express your own happiness with it, sharing the moment together.

Signs that my Cat is Happy - Body posture

Noises and sounds

When a cat is happy it wants everyone to know about it, and it will do this by trying to converse with you with long meows. High pitched tones express joy and happiness, but deeper tones mean it's uncomfortable, upset and reserved.

Cats are very vocal animals. Not only do they communicate with meows, but they also make noises which are completely unique to their species - they purr. Keep an ear out for your cat purring as you pet it, because it is a sign that it is enjoying whatever is happening.

However, if it purrs when you approach it, it might mean that it won't be very assertive with this next encounter.

Signs that my Cat is Happy - Noises and sounds

The eyes are the window to the soul

If your cat looks at you with half-closed eyes, it is not mysteriously watching you, but quite the opposite. This is a sign that it appreciates you and feels happy. Remember that a cat's eyes are the gateway of emotional expression.

If, for example, you see your cat's eyes dilate when you place delicious food in front of it, this means that it is very happy and satisfied. The sudden dilation of a cat's eyes is a clear sign of excitement and happiness.

Signs that my Cat is Happy - The eyes are the window to the soul

What makes cats happy?

Cats love preening and grooming themselves; this isn't only a sign that they like to keep clean, but also that they are happy. If you see your cat constantly preening itself or grooming other cats or pets that you have at home, it means it is always happy.

A sign of happiness and appreciation for you or another human being is when it rubs up against a person's body. This is how cats greet people, offering a friendly and warm embrace.

Signs that my Cat is Happy - What makes cats happy?

If you want to read similar articles to Signs that my Cat is Happy, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.

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1 comment
Pam
My three cats - 13-year-old girl and 2-year-old bro-sis pair all love to get belly rubs. They will lie upside down until someone comes along to rub their bellies. The old girl does some grunting when we tell her not to get up on the dining room table and ask he to get into one of the chairs but it's also the way she "chats" with me- I try to imitate what she says back to her and this can go on for a few minutes. The young girl has a very high pitched squeak so i call her Squeaky and she'll chat with me in that high pitched tone when she's feeling chatty. The boy prefers to yell when he wants something that we haven't figured out. When he first joined our household, he figured out that our old girl knew how to ask for treats without saying a word so he followed her around and did what she did so he, too, could get treats.
I couldn't get anything to produce sounds from this article but the descriptions sounded accurate. It would be nice if someone had been able to record the sounds you discuss so we could hear ho other cats sound.
Administrador AnimalWised
Hi Pam,

Thank you for sharing with us. If you didn't know, we have a YouTube channel with some videos about various animal related topics, including this one on the sounds cats make:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRTShuCHDRs
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