Greetings and salutations everyone. My name is Sabrina and today I will be going over an important topic with you, cat body language. Felis catus or domestic cats, the name we are more commonly known, have a very extensive spectrum of feelings that are revealed in our body language. You can learn us in lots of ways, from the way we slumber to the way we communicate with humans.
In today’s online journey I will cover how a cat sleeps, and meows and what that means for you. I would love to think we are exceedingly complex creatures, but at the same time, we yearn to be understood. So, without further ado let us begin today’s topic.

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Loafing or more commonly known as Cat Loaf
When a cat is not exactly engrossed in a full-on nap but at the same time would not mind some well-deserved shut-eye, they form what’s endearingly referred to as the “cat loaf.” We will tuck our front paws under our body but otherwise remain upright.

Now when we slip further into a slumber, we might form the “collapsed loaf” with our forehead on the ground. But usually, when we are content, we will lay this way and let our eyes slowly close. Now do not be bamboozled, we are ready to spring into action, but mostly we are enjoying our comfortable surroundings.

Belly up
A feline’s stomach is our most vulnerable area and is cognizant of what would happen if we exposed our abdomen section of skin to the wrong creature. When we are sprawled out on your couch or floor with our legs pointed at odd angles and our stomach facing the ceiling, consider this a compliment. A feline will only expose their abdomen if they feel complete confidence and complacent with what and who is around them.
It is important to know that if something were to happen while we are lying on our back, it would take too long to jump to our feet. The belly-up sleeping position shows we are confident, we are safe, and not going to be attacked. Now I am aware it is extremely difficult for humans to resist the soft fuzz of our belly, but remember your cat is trusting you. At least let them sleep a few minutes before waking them with your belly rubs.

Curled up cat
A cat that is curled up with their tail in a graceful swoop around their body and their head tucked in toward their chest is doing their best to conserve body heat. Now this sleep position offers more than just heat conservation, we are also protecting our vulnerable organs. Our feline cousins in the wild sleep like this, and it’s a natural instinct even to the most pampered house cat.
This sleep pattern will tell you that your cat may not be worried about a rival animal sneaking upon them in their sleep. A curled-up cat wants to be left alone, and not disturbed even if we do look adorable.

Cat In A Box
There is always something about a cat in a box that makes humans want to rush for the camera. There is no doubt it is cute, but did you know it also sends a message about your cat’s sense of safety and comfort? Felines will seek out small spaces because they make us feel secure. A box with four solid walls where we can squeeze our bodies into a captivating scene of fluff is the perfect form of security.
Felines that live in active households with children or other animals may seek out a box, drawer, or another kind of hidey-hole to settle down for a deep, and what we strive for, uninterrupted sleep.

Cat sleeping on you
Lastly, we will cover some of my brothers, sisters, and my beloved sleeping patterns. Whether it’s your arms, your stomach, your legs, or even your head we felines choose to sleep with you because we have a desire to be near you, while we are letting our guard down. We will typically choose to sleep at parts of your body that are less likely to move as we do not like to be disturbed when we are sleeping. Although to be completely honest, our human companions are horrible at this because they always move or get up, but we forgive them instantly and go right back to our spots after they sit or lay back down. Although truly, in a nutshell, if we are choosing to slumber with you it is our ultimate sign of trust and respect.

Now we have covered the sleeping positions and what they truly mean to us so you know what is going through our mind, but what about talking? We only meow to talk to you, as this is not a way for us felines to communicate with each other. So let’s go over some of the meows.

Cat Chirp
Generally, cat chirping occurs when a cat is interested in or provoked by prey. An example would be a bird, a squirrel, or a rodent. It’s more of an “I’m excited” sound and less of a sound used to hunt. It seems to be universal to cats of all ages and breeds. These strange cat sounds might also have to do with frustration. Celia Haddon, a cat behaviorist said “We usually hear this chattering behavior when a cat cannot get to the prey. Cats often chatter when they are in the window looking out at birds, for example. I think it is the result of almost overwhelming frustration. The drive to hunt is so strong that it is hardwired into cats.”

My siblings, AKA Kittystead, are bickering at me to hurry up saying that I need to wrap up my point. I will not hinder your education dear reader, but, to save space, I will now go over a list of meows without pictures.

Illness. Numerous diseases can cause a cat to feel hunger, thirst, or pain, all of which can lead to excessive meowing. Cats of all ages also can develop an overactive thyroid or kidney disease, both of which can result in excessive vocalizations. So if your cat is not an active talker but starts TALKING a lot then a visit to your local veterinary might be a necessity.
Attention seeking. Despite what some people think, we felines despise being alone a lot. Felines often meow to initiate play, pettings, or to get you to talk to us.
Wants food. Some felines (Aria, Cadabra) meow every time someone walks in the kitchen, hoping to get a bite. And many cats become very vocal when it gets close to their feeding times.
Greeting you. Many of us felines meow when their people come home, or even when they just cross paths in the house.
They are lonely. If your pet spends too many hours a day alone, think about getting a pet sitter to enrich your pet’s life. Put a bird feeder outside a window they can watch. Leave foraging toys out with food inside. Get them a kitty condo and rotate different toys that you leave out for play.
A stressed cat. Cats that are experiencing stress often become more vocal. A new pet or baby, a move or changes to the home, an illness, or the loss of a loved one can turn your cat into a talker.
Aging cats. Cats, just like people, can suffer from a form of mental confusion, or cognitive dysfunction, as they age. They become disoriented and often cry plaintively for no apparent reason, especially at night. A nightlight sometimes can help if your cat becomes disoriented at night, and veterinarians often can prescribe medications that help these symptoms.

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Thank you, dear reader, for being here willing to educate yourself about us Felis catus and I hope I was able to shine a glimmer of light of knowledge into our complex world. Be sure to sign up for the Kittystead newsletter for what is to come, tips and tricks into the pet life and so much more. We will see you soon with more pet knowledge.