While animals have a universal language, it’s yet unknown to us humans. While we can express our feelings with each other, that’s not the same with the animals. We do not know their language, and so it becomes nearly impossible to understand their feelings! This becomes even a more severe issue with those of us with a pet at home! However, in spite of speaking not being an option, it doesn’t mean we cannot communicate with our beloved pets.
All animals including your pets show a number of body languages to express their emotions and needs to their human companions. Body language relates to the nonverbal signs that humans and pets use to communicate, including different bodily gestures or sound-making.
For any pet owner, these work as crucial signs to understand what their pet needs. Knowing the signs through which our pets convey their feelings can also boost our bonds with them, enabling a friendlier atmosphere. Thus, this blog post will emphasize the different types of body languages and the signs that pet owners should look for to ideally understand what they want or what is making them uncomfortable.
Dog’s Body Language
Among all kinds of pets, perhaps the dog is an animal that can easily express its feelings. Dog’s different body language can unravel a lot of their emotions. As a pet owner, if you are paying close attention to their movements, facial expressions, and different postures, then you will be able to effortlessly understand what they want to convey. When you understand these different kinds of signals that dogs give, it would offer worthy insights into their feelings in different circumstances.
The tail is one body part that can tell us about the different emotions that a dog is feeling. For instance, if a dog’s tail is held in a high position, it generally means that the dog is excited and happy about this. On the contrary, when the tail is lying low, it may mean that the dog is intimidated by something or is anxious. Thus, a dog’s tail position can tell us different feelings that they cannot convey otherwise.
Similarly, the ears and eyes of dogs are also capable of informing their owners about the exact emotions their dogs are going through. When their ears are firmly erect, it means that they are curious about something, while also being alert. If you see your dog's ears pinned back, it gives us the clue that the dog is afraid. In contrast, if your dog is gazing softly at you, it implies that they are in extreme comfort. But, when they are staring right at you, they may be signaling that they see you as a challenge.
Finally, a dog's posture also says a lot about their ongoing emotions. If you find your dog in a relaxed position, it suggests comfort. However, a raised neck and firm stance can indicate aggression or discomfort. Thus, knowing all these signs can assist you in better responding to your dog’s emotions.
Cat’s Body Language
Cats are known to be sneakier and more deceitful in comparison with dogs, which tells us about their intelligence level. This makes cats mysterious when it comes to understanding their body language. Cats’ different expressions are subtler than those of any other pets. A cat owner should be more attentive to understand the different types of body language of the pet. There are also some similarities to dogs.
For instance, a cat's elevated tail gives the clue of them being happy and excited. Conversely, a low tail means that the cat has become aggressive due to fear. Additionally, cats sometimes flicker their tails, suggesting irritation about something. The cats will also have their ears in a sideways position when they are annoyed. But, a forward-facing ear will show a cat’s happiness and excitement while a flattened ear will give the clue that the cat is scared.
Now, if we try to demystify the body postures of cats, we will see that when cats are relaxed, they tend to lie down on their side while having their belly exposed. Such a stance indicates that they are trusting you. However, a threatened cat will always crouch its body to a lower position. It is surprising that without saying a single word, how cats can display their feelings or emotions just through some simple bodily signs.
Finally, the purring and meowing of cats can also reveal a lot of their feelings. For instance, cats may purr when they are scared or in pain, though they also purr when content. Likewise, gentle meowing means cats are craving attention while incessant meowing suggests that they are in discomfort. So, it is never too complicated to understand what a cat is trying to express. Just pay attention to their bodily signs and help them with their needs.
Signals of Stress & Discomfort
While we have deciphered the different types of body language that dogs and cats showcase to express both positive and negative emotions, it is also vital to recognize their stress through other bodily signals. Knowing these signals will help a pet owner be better prepared to support the pet’s needs. In the case of dogs, extreme panting and yawning can suggest that they are under stress. Sometimes, they will even try to avoid making direct eye contact with their owners or hide, which would indicate their discomfort and anxiety. Hiding is a common element for a cat’s stress level as well. Besides, cats will also change their eating habits when they are under stress.
If you’re a new pet owner, you need to be aware of all of these signals that a pet gives through their body language. It will serve you throughout the lifespan of your pet to ideally support their needs.
To Sum Up
It is the responsibility of all pet owners to understand the different types of body language of pets to identify the signals that the pets provide to convey their emotions or feelings. Recognizing these signs will help every pet owner to better comprehend their respective pets’ emotions to help them properly.