Cats and dogs may not speak our language, but they still manage to communicate with us every day through their body language. Posture, expressions, and small movements are all ways that our pets give us insights into their mood and how they’re feeling. Even things that may not seem like much, like a flick of the tail, a change in the position of the ears, or a shift in posture, can carry more meaning than you’d think!
While many of us would like to think we’re in tune with how our pets are feeling, there are quite a few instances where a pet’s body language can be misread or misinterpreted — often doing more harm than good. That’s why in this blog, I’ll be breaking down how these signals can help you understand when your pet is happy, nervous, or in pain, and how knowing the different aspects of cat and dog body language can even help you give your pet the best care and quality of life possible.
The Ins and Outs of Cat and Dog Body Language
Because we don’t share a language, body language is the only way your pet has to tell you how they’re feeling. Recognizing how our pets use their bodies and posture to communicate can help you identify early signs of anxiety, discomfort, or illness before they become serious. This is especially helpful for cats, who tend to hide pain or stress and may only show subtle changes like avoiding interaction, moving less, or shifting their posture.
One of the most important things that pet owners need to remember when reading the signals their pets give them is that body language always depends on the situation. The same signal can mean different things depending on the environment, your pet’s history, and other stressors. For example, a dog’s yawn could simply signal tiredness when they’re in a normal environment, but in a tense situation — such as during a vet visit — it may instead indicate stress. Similarly, a cat moving their tail about could indicate playfulness during a game or agitation if they’re cornered and feel trapped. Owners should always consider the bigger picture before interpreting a single sign by itself. When in doubt, give any pet exhibiting signs of fear or anxiety space or allow them to remove themselves from the situation to avoid negative interactions.
Why It’s Important to Pay Attention to Your Pet’s Body Language
Learning to notice and respect your pet’s body language isn’t just about strengthening your bond and providing better care; it’s also a matter of safety for your family and your pet. Many bites, scratches, and other injuries happen because the early warning signs of stress or aggression go unrecognized. This is especially true in households with children, where dogs and cats are often hugged, grabbed, or restrained in ways that make them uncomfortable or anxious.
This is very true for dogs. Dogs — especially family dogs — are often put in situations where they are nervous or uncomfortable, but are unable to remove themselves from the situation. While many dogs can tolerate a little of these undesired behaviors, there is always a breaking point, and dogs will react by growling, lunging, or biting as a last resort to escape the situation or stop the behavior.
Cats also give off clear signals when they’re overstimulated or anxious, but these are often overlooked. A twitching tail, flattened ears, dilated pupils, or suddenly swatting a hand away can all be signs that a cat is feeling stressed and needs a break.
In these cases, it’s important for pet owners to be on the lookout for subtle signs of anxiety, including ears held down and back, wide eyes (often called whale eyes, where you can see the whites of the eye), and lip licking or yawning. If these signs of anxiety are not identified and the dog or cat remains stuck in a situation they are not comfortable with, such as being hugged or restrained by a child, things can quickly escalate and may result in an injury.
Body Language in Dogs vs. Cats
Dog and cat body language is very different, and it’s important not to interpret one through the lens of the other. Cats are not just small dogs, and shouldn’t be treated like them, especially in the context of behavior.
For example, tail positioning and movement can be very different between cats and dogs, and can be commonly misunderstood by pet owners.
- A wagging tail is usually a sign of happiness or excitement in dogs.
- A swishing or twitching tail in cats often signals irritation, stress, or hunting focus.
In general, dogs tend to be more outwardly expressive and, subsequently, a little easier to read than cats. While a dog’s body language is more straightforward, cats are much more nuanced, and often rely on smaller shifts in posture, tail position, or even the way they move around a room to let their humans know how they’re feeling. For this reason, cat owners need to pay especially close attention to subtle cues that may signal discomfort, stress, or pain.
Aspects of Cat and Dog Body Language Owners Should Watch For
In the same way that countless subtle gestures like posture, facial expressions, and tone of voice are integral to human communication, the same can be said for communication with our pets. Posture, tail and ear position, eye contact, and even vocalizations are all key facets of how our pets will display their emotions and feelings.
Tail Position and Movement in Relation to Mood
Tails are often one of the clearest indicators of a pet’s emotional state — but again, cats and dogs use them very differently.
Happy dogs have tails that are up and often wagging, while dogs that are experiencing pain, fear, or anxiety may be down or tucked. As we discussed earlier, cats will communicate with their tails a little differently. Cats that are relaxed or happy will have tails that are relaxed. Cats with curled or tucked tails, on the other hand, may be stressed or in pain, and cats with twitching tails are often feeling anxious or annoyed.
Eye Contact and Emotions
Eye contact can mean very different things to pets than it does to people. Direct eye contact from people is often perceived as threatening by most animals, especially if they are already feeling tense or nervous. If a dog makes direct eye contact with you, they’re likely trying to communicate aggression or tension. On the other hand, looking away or lowering their gaze often shows submission or nervousness. Relaxed, soft eye contact usually means a dog is calm and comfortable.
Cats, however, use eye contact in a little bit of a different way. They may make and hold eye contact as part of normal communication, but when paired with other signs such as pinned ears, a tense posture, or a twitching tail, it can signal agitation or aggression. Interestingly, slow blinking from a cat is often interpreted as a sign of trust and affection.
Vocal Cues
Although both dogs and cats rely more on body language than sound, their vocalizations still carry important messages! Vocalizations can give additional context to a dog or cat’s body language, and in some cases, may be a more obvious sign that your pet is trying to tell you something.
Generally, growling is almost never a good sign for both cats and dogs, as it can commonly indicate fear or aggression. It’s important to pay attention to, because many pets will growl as a warning that they are reaching the end of their rope in a situation where they feel fearful or cornered, and may precede a bite.
Whining, on the other hand, can mean many things in dogs: pain, anxiety, or sometimes just overstimulation and excitement. For cats, frequent meowing, growling, or hissing are often signs of stress, discomfort, or a demand for space. The key is to interpret these sounds alongside body language and context in order to get a complete picture of what feelings or moods your pet is trying to convey to you.
What Your Pet’s Body Language Could Mean
Positive Body Language Signs
When dogs are relaxed and content, their ears may be facing forward or gently relaxed to the side, their tail is held naturally or wagging loosely, and their facial muscles are soft and relaxed. A happy dog often moves with ease and may show playful energy or approach affectionately.
Cats who are content display forward-facing ears, a relaxed tail, and a loose, calm body posture. They may knead, purr, or softly rub against objects or people as subtle signs of comfort and trust.
Nervous or Fearful Body Language Signs
Nervous dogs often hold their ears down and back, tuck their tail, and may pant, yawn repeatedly, or lick their lips excessively. Their eyes may appear wide, with visible whites (“whale eyes”), and their facial expression can look tight or tense.
Nervous cats will similarly tuck their tail, pin their ears back, and curl their body to make themselves appear smaller. They may hide, avoid eye contact, or move cautiously, signaling they feel threatened or uneasy. If you notice these signs, it’s time to give your cat the space they need to calm down.
Aggressive or Defensive Body Language Signs
Owners should always watch for the subtle signs of anxiety or fear outlined above to avoid escalation to aggressive or defensive behaviors. Dogs showing defensive or aggressive behavior may have alert ears or ears pinned tightly back, hold direct and unblinking eye contact, growl, or lift their lips to bare their teeth. These are warning signs that the dog feels threatened and should not be approached.
Cats who feel defensive may hunch their bodies, twitch or lash their tail, flatten their ears, hiss, or swat. These signals indicate that a cat is ready to defend itself if necessary.
It’s important to remember that ANY dog or cat will bite if provoked, and while tolerance levels may vary between individuals, no pet should ever be put in a position where people are at risk for a bite or injury.
Signs of Illness or Pain
Illness and pain also shape how pets carry themselves. Dogs and cats in pain may appear withdrawn, hold their head or tail low, pin their ears back, or adopt a stiff, guarded posture. While these behaviors can be mistaken for depression, fear, or even stubbornness, they may actually be your pet’s way of saying they don’t feel well.
Undesired or “Bad” Behaviors and How Body Language Can Help Us Better Understand Them
Many so-called “bad” behaviors that are common in pets, like destructive chewing, excessive barking, or inappropriate urination, are often misunderstood by owners as spiteful acts. In reality, these behaviors are usually signals of stress, anxiety, or discomfort, and body language can give critical clues about what your pet is feeling and why they may be engaging in these behaviors.
For example, a dog who chews furniture or has accidents when left alone may show subtle signs of panic before the behavior occurs: pacing, drooling, yawning, or lowering their body posture. Recognizing these early signals can help owners intervene before the behavior escalates. Similarly, a cat who avoids the litter box may display body language that hints at discomfort or stress, indicating they feel unsafe, unwell, or anxious. In these cases, understanding how to interpret your pet’s body language can help you identify the root cause of their “bad” behaviors sooner and get them the help or support they need faster.
Training classes and structured enrichment activities can also help address undesired behaviors, while also improving your own ability to read your pet’s body language. If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at 678-407-0700, or you can email us at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram.