Cats communicate through various channels. Their behavior, body language, vocalizations, and scent markings, which are largely invisible to humans, speak volumes. But how can "cat language" be translated into "human language"?
Cats communicate with their entire body, their posture, eyes, ears, whiskers, and tail.
An insecure, fearful cat will make itself small and crouch down. If a cat makes itself look threateningly large and arches its back, bristles its hair, and approaches its opponent sideways in order to be perceived in its full size, this is a display of dominance.
If a cat rolls onto its back, it is showing that it is content and in a playful mood and that it is not dangerous. This should not be interpreted as an invitation to stroke its belly, as your hand could quickly be "killed" in the play. In unneutered female cats, rolling onto their backs is an offensive demonstration of being in heat (see relevant article).
Yawning signals relaxation in cats, to prevent conflict or relieve stress in a situation.
Cats often spontaneously approach people who ignore them and do not stare at them. Staring, especially with the body stretched forward, is considered provocative and aggressive among cats. If cats turn away and look indifferent to the side or blink their eyes, this is intended to appease the other cat and convey trust. Therefore, avoid looking directly into a cat's eyes for long periods of time.
When a cat is alert and curious, its ears are pointed forward. When it feels insecure, they move in all directions so that it can perceive everything. Ears positioned sideways indicate fear and a defensive posture. Ears laid back express readiness to attack and panic.
A calm, relaxed cat carries its whiskers to the side, hanging down slightly. If a cat is alert and keeping a close eye on its surroundings, its whiskers will point slightly forward. If the whiskers are laid back, this is a sign of stress or fear.
When cats are relaxed and exploring, their tails hang loosely down. If a cat greets you in a friendly manner, its tail will point straight up. When sitting comfortably, the tail lies around the body on the ground.
A bristled tail signals either positive excitement, for example when playing, but also insecurity or aggression. If it is horizontal and bristled, this indicates aggression.
When a cat is uncertain or fearful, the tip of its tail points downwards or the entire tail is tucked between its legs and tucked under its belly. A bobbing tail tip, on the other hand, expresses intense concentration and inner excitement, for example when the cat is fixated on something while hunting. Restless movement of the tail tip is a first sign of discomfort, for example when a cat is being petted too much.
Every cat meows differently in terms of volume, pitch, length, and "emphasis." Certain breeds, such as Oriental Shorthairs, are real chatterboxes. Other cats meow completely silently, opening their mouths but not making a sound.
The meow is actually a kitten's call for its mother. Apart from hissing, adult cats no longer communicate with each other using vocal sounds. The meow is only used as a means of communication with humans, as cats recognize that we humans mainly communicate using vocal sounds.
Cats vocalize more frequently with age, some mainly at night. Older cats become insecure due to declining sensory performance of their eyes, ears, and nose. Their cries and howls can indicate dementia. Deaf cats also make themselves heard by vocalizing loudly, as they cannot hear ambient noises or themselves. However, increased meowing can also be a sign of discomfort such as hunger, loneliness, neglect, understimulation, or separation anxiety, the latter of which particularly affects older and female indoor cats.
Cats also "sing" when they are looking for a mate.
Cats communicate with each other using various scent markings.
Cats leave scent marks, known as pheromones, on their paw pads and by rubbing against objects, other cats, or humans. These are chemical signals that humans cannot smell, but which cats use to recognize and "track" each other. They mark the animal's territory and create familiarity. Accordingly, even cats that are kept indoors alone mark their territory.
By scratching objects, often in combination with stretching high up, cats also mark their territory visually via pheromones. This also shortens their claws and is a way of releasing energy.
Urine marking is normal behavior and marks the territory. In addition, male cats use it to demonstrate their potency and female cats to signal their readiness to mate during estrus. Even neutered animals sometimes continue to mark with urine. The later they were neutered, the more likely urine marking will remain a lifelong habit. However, the pungent smell of urine from male cats diminishes significantly after neutering.
With the onset of social maturity at two to four years of age, feces marking occurs in cats with strong territorial behavior. They place these markings in a clearly visible and smellable location at the outer boundaries of their territory. Only when a cat feels more threatened will it leave these strong scent markings within its territory. Many indoor cats also do this to a lesser extent by not burying their feces in the litter box.
Behind this complicated name lies an aggressive form of cancer in dogs, also known as malignant histiocytosis, which mainly affects Bernese Mountain Dogs, Retrievers and Rottweilers and is one of the most common causes of death in these breeds as a hereditary disease. It primarily affects male dogs between the ages of two and eight. The disease is relatively rare in other dog breeds.
The soft palate is a muscle extension approximately 10 cm long that separates the nasal cavity from the throat. As the name suggests, dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) describes a change in position in which the soft palate temporarily or permanently covers the epiglottis, leading to coughing, difficulty swallowing, and breathing problems.
There are all kinds of dangers lurking for cats, not only outside but also in the home. Young, playful, and curious kittens are particularly at risk. Therefore, take the necessary safety precautions before a cat moves in with you. With the right knowledge, you will be on the safe side.
Entropion is also colloquially referred to as a rolled eyelid and describes the inward rolling of the upper or lower eyelid. It can affect the entire eyelid or just part of it.
When the body develops antibodies against its own structures, this is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body, damaging certain functions and organs and even destroying them completely. Autoimmune diseases in dogs include individual forms of pemphigus and lupus, which will be explained in more detail below. The individual diseases are distinguished based on the different target structures in the body.
The prostate gland is the most important sex gland in male dogs. It is located behind the bladder and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. The secretion produced by the prostate gland is a component of semen and is ejaculated together with the sperm produced in the testicles. Prostate disorders are usually diagnosed in older, unneutered male dogs. These disorders can cause various changes in the gland.
Everyone has probably heard the term "mangy dog" before. But what exactly is mange? Mange is a contagious skin disease in dogs caused by various types of mites. Classic mange in dogs is caused by the Sarcoptes mite (scabies mite). However, there are other types of mites that cause similar skin changes.
A melanoma is a tumor that develops from the pigment cells of the skin, known as melanocytes. The tumor produces cells that contain melanin, the dark pigment in the skin. If the tumor is benign, it is referred to as a melanoma; if it is malignant, it is referred to as a melanosarcoma. In human medicine, melanomas are commonly referred to as "black skin cancer."
Cryptorchidism refers to the absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum of a stallion. It is a relatively common developmental disorder in horses and can occur in all horse breeds. These stallions are also colloquially referred to as "Klopp-, Spitz- or Urhengste" (clop, pointed or original stallions). Since the majority of cryptorchid stallions are infertile, this condition also has economic significance in relation to horse breeding.
X-ray fluoroscopy is an imaging examination method that uses X-rays to create a series of moving images of the part of the body being examined. The X-ray machine is freely movable thanks to a C-shaped arm (= C-arm), allowing the body part or organ to be viewed from all angles in real time on the monitor.
Distemper is a long-known and highly contagious viral infection that can affect various carnivorous wild animals as well as dogs and ferrets. It is also known as Carré's disease, after its discoverer, Henri Carré. Since the introduction of protective vaccination in 1960, outbreaks and mortality rates have been significantly reduced. However, with declining vaccination rates and the constant increase in dog imports from Eastern Europe, distemper is once again on the rise in Germany.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining that can occur in dogs as a result of superficial or deep injuries. Persistent irritation of the stomach lining can lead to chronic inflammation and ultimately to a stomach ulcer. The disease can take an acute or chronic course.
