Cats are incredibly expressive animals and while they can’t mimic human words, they have a wide range of ways to convey feelings and emotions. As well as their eyes and tail, cats can portray a lot of emotion through their ears, while also using them for their intended purpose of hearing and identifying sound. While you might consider ear position and its meaning to be a mystery, you will start to recognize what movements mean and how your cat is feeling.
Below, to help you determine how your cat is feeling and whether you need to take action to help.
Why Do Cats’ Ears Move?
Generally, a cat’s ears move because it has heard some noise either close by or far away and it is moving its ears to better detect that sound. The ears will essentially point toward the likely source of the noise so that the sound waves can be funneled into the ear and the cat can better identify whatever it is hearing. Cats have incredible hearing which, in the wild, they would use to locate prey and also to warn them of predators.
They are especially good at hearing high-pitched noises and can hear at a much higher level than humans, and even dogs. This is likely so that they would be able to hear the high-pitched chattering of mice and other small animals. So, when you see your cat’s ears moving and pointing in a particular direction, the most likely cause is that your cat is honing in on a particular noise in a bid to identify its cause.
But that isn’t the only reason cats move their ears. They can relay a lot about your cat’s emotions if you know what you are looking for.
1. The Neutral Position
Cats are almost always alert. Even when they have their eyes closed and seem to be asleep, their ears are working. Although some cats do have different natural ear positions, the neutral position is upright but not pointed. This means that your cat has not heard any noise that needs closer attention and they are content and peaceful.
2. Pricked Up
When your cat is alert, its ears will become erect and they will likely be directed forward. This enables them to take in more sounds and potentially identify any alien or unexpected noises. Your cat may even point its ears in different directions, essentially letting them listen to what is going on all around them.
Your cat might be alert because it is feeling playful, has been startled, or is just taking in a change of circumstances or surroundings. This ear position does not necessarily mean your cat is alarmed, it is just investigating.
3. Twitching
Twitching ears move quickly back and then forwards and this movement usually accompanies a hunting pounce. Watch for your cat to get flat on the ground and raise its rear end. Your cat is getting ready to spring.
House cats most often make this movement when they are ready to play or if they are going to attack a person, another cat, or the family dog. Grab a toy and make the most of your cat’s playful attitude with some healthy indoor exercise time. Just watch your fingers and be sure to direct the attention away from your feet!
4. Itching
Cats groom themselves a lot, and as part of this natural process, they will clean their ears. This typically means licking their claws and paws and then rubbing them against their ears. If your cat is scratching its ears more than usual, this can be a sign of fleas or ticks. Check for signs of these pests and be sure to check inside the ears. You may need to visit the vet to get some medication, or use a medicated shampoo, to help clear an infestation.
5. Flattened
When a cat’s ears are flattened down, it is a sign that something is afoot. Flattened ears can mean that your cat is anxious or scared if they’re facing down, or that they are feeling unwell if they are facing outward. Flattened ears can also be a sign of warning from your cat, and it might be an idea to stop doing whatever it is that is irritating your cat.
If you have multiple cats or dogs and cats, you’re likely to have seen this ear position when your cat wants its own space. Unfortunately, dogs can’t always read the signs because they have different body language and don’t always recognize the subtleties of cat emotions—until it’s too late.
6. Flicking
Your cat might flick its ears rapidly if something has irritated one of the ears. Something might have blown into the ear or something might be flying around the ears. Flicking them is a way to try and get rid of the irritant.
Other Types of Feline Body Language
Cats’ ears are very expressive, but they are just one part of the feline body that can be used to express a wide range of emotions. Below are some other common feline body language signs to help you better understand your cat.
Upright Tail
An upright tail is a relaxed position and one that your cat will usually adopt when greeting you. It may be preceded by a rub against your legs and the tip of the tail can be curled over to really show a relaxed attitude.
Squinting Eyes
Eyes are windows to the soul, and this is especially true with cats. An alert cat’s eyes will be wide open so they can see more and better discern details. If your cat is very relaxed, it will have a neutral eye position, and squinting or half-closed eyes can be a sign of affection and a sign that your cat is pleased to see you.
Slow Blinking
Slow blinking is another sign of affection that cats show their humans. Cats slowly blink at one another as a sign of trust, and if you slowly blink at your cat and then turn away, this is a good way of showing that you are relaxed and do not pose a threat.
Rolling Around
A cat generally has to be very relaxed around a person or other animal to show its tummy to them. Rolling on their back means that the cat is in a prone position so it must really trust you to adopt this position. Always approach a cat’s tummy carefully, however, because even if a cat is rolling on its back for you, it might still not appreciate having its belly tickled.
Wide Eyes
If your cat’s eyes are wide, this essentially means that they are fully open and your cat is instinctively forcing them wider so it can take in more of what is happening. This is a sign of alert and it could mean that your cat is stressed about something that is happening or that it is scared of something nearby.
Arched Back
A cat with an arched back is attempting to make itself look bigger and it adopts this position when under threat, in a bid to try and ward off any would-be attacker. If the threat doesn’t go away, the cat may strike at or attack the threat to ensure it has the upper hand.
Fluffed Fur
An arched back is usually coupled with big, fluffed-out fur. Both of these actions make the cat appear bigger which makes it more of a physical threat. It is a defensive stance, rather than an aggressive one, but it can lead to scratches and bites if the target doesn’t respond appropriately.
Purring
We generally associate purring with a cat being happy and content, and this is often what it means. However, cats can also purr when they are nervous or anxious, kind of like nervous laughter in people. If your cat is at the vet or enduring anything else that might induce anxiety, this is the likely cause.
Conclusion
Cats are very expressive animals so while they can’t talk, they have a plethora of ways to get a message across. They use every bit of their bodies to let you and others around you know how they’re feeling, but because people and cats are very different, we don’t always understand these messages.
Above are various ways that you can tell how a cat is feeling by its ear position and ear movements, as well as other forms of body language.
Featured Image Credit: effective stock photos, Shutterstock
