Kirsten
09-27-2004, 06:50 AM
I would like to add a chapter on this to catmom.de (http://www.catmom.de/engl/) since there doesn't seem to be much information on this subject so far, but I think there's still a lot of potential that hasn't been documented yet.
I'm not talking about only reading the cat's body language, I know there are books about it; I'm more talking about ways to try to find a "common" language or to use parts of of the feline (body) language/behavior pattern to have a better communication with cats.
For example I found out that when you're blinking at cats with both your eyes, they would often come to you and want to be petted. Blinking is a friendly gesture in the feline world, it is their way to smile at someone, so it seems to me they recognize this when you do it to them.
Or something I copied from the mother cats to "discipline" kittens when they're acting too wild: Growing at them or nudging their noses, for example when they're biting your hands (something many kittens love to do, especially when they are teething). This method worked very well with both Luna and Lily when they were little. :)
To approach a cat, even one I haven't seen before, I'm kneeling down to their size (well, at least almost) and reach out my hand, showing them the back of my hand/fingers to let them sniff first. Often they would come over that way to get to know me, and if they don't, it's their decision. I'm even doing that with my own cats before I pet them, I let them "greet" me first.
Anyone else here who has developed a kind of a mutual language? And if so, what are you doing to communicate? I would like to use some examples in my report, if you agree. :)
Kirsten
I'm not talking about only reading the cat's body language, I know there are books about it; I'm more talking about ways to try to find a "common" language or to use parts of of the feline (body) language/behavior pattern to have a better communication with cats.
For example I found out that when you're blinking at cats with both your eyes, they would often come to you and want to be petted. Blinking is a friendly gesture in the feline world, it is their way to smile at someone, so it seems to me they recognize this when you do it to them.
Or something I copied from the mother cats to "discipline" kittens when they're acting too wild: Growing at them or nudging their noses, for example when they're biting your hands (something many kittens love to do, especially when they are teething). This method worked very well with both Luna and Lily when they were little. :)
To approach a cat, even one I haven't seen before, I'm kneeling down to their size (well, at least almost) and reach out my hand, showing them the back of my hand/fingers to let them sniff first. Often they would come over that way to get to know me, and if they don't, it's their decision. I'm even doing that with my own cats before I pet them, I let them "greet" me first.
Anyone else here who has developed a kind of a mutual language? And if so, what are you doing to communicate? I would like to use some examples in my report, if you agree. :)
Kirsten