Cat Language

Evolution-wise the cat is in mid-stream between being a solitary and a more social animal. This can also be seen in its language: it hasn't yet developed greeting signals, for example, as we know it from humans' smiling and shaking hands or the tail wagging of the dog. Still we are not in doubt if kitty is happy to see us, when we come home from work.
The reason is that we read the cat's signals as a unified whole since we humans aren't able to catch all the component signals as for example the little twisting of a whisker hair or the faint turn of an ear, or all the other signals that mean so much in the communication between cats.

To understand the cat it is also important to know that it may use its language in different ways. A very scared cat, for example, may send out both defensive and aggressive signals in an attempt to bluff itself out a difficult situation.
It is, by the way, obvious to both yours truly and other cat owners I've spoken to that our cats definitely speak a more simple and clear language when talking to humans than when they are talking to other cats.
Anyway, here are some tips on the "details" in cat language:

Sounds

To think cats only say "meow" would be quite wrong. Any cat owner will quickly find out that they have an even very highly developed sound language; furthermore they can easily vary their "tone of voice" in a thousand ways, so that the owner rarely is in doubt as to what it means.
Apart from this it has been discovered that cats only rarely say "meow" to each other, and when it happens, it is only between the cat mother and her kittens; "meow" is on the other hand frequently used when cats communicate with humans, probably because they soon find our sense of body language to be insufficient, or are they trying to imitate our language?
The Russian writer Leo Tolstoy has been attributed the remark that dogs can easily speak but are too smart to do so. Maybe it's the same with cats. One thing is certain: cats almost exclusively communicate with each other using body and scent language.
A signal rarely spoken of is “noisy champing”. This sound is the first a kitten hears in its life when lying sucking with its siblings, it is therefore a sound linked to the feeling of pleasure. All mammals use this signal to pacify another animal; but how often it is used depends on how social the species is. Since cats are not yet thoroughly social, this signal is rarely used and mostly by kittens. They may even champ both vigorously and loudly - so they even dribble - if they find themselves in a very menacing situation. Grown, superior cats may, however, also use this signal in order to calm down another, scared cat.
On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is strictly defensive and 10 strictly aggressive, hissing would be around 2 and growling around 3-4.
Some cats can growl, so that people, who hear it through a closed door, think it's a dog they're hearing (I have even had a cat who could yelp like a terrier).
If we were to find a sound that rates 10 on the above mentioned scale, it is screaming and howling. This is for example what you may hear outside, especially in the spring, commonly

known as "a cat concert". This is usually males fighting a life-and-death struggle over the favors of the females. Otherwise it is rather rare for us humans to hear strictly aggressive sounds from a cat. It is, by the way, also rare when cats are together without humans involved, because all prey animals are equipped with strong inhibitions of their aggressions.
The most interesting sound cats produce is purring. It is still a mystery how the cat produces this sound. There are as many theories as there are scientists studying this phenomenon. No other known species is capable of producing sound while breathing in.
Everyone knows the cat purrs when it is pleased and comfortable. Fewer know that it may also use this sound to say that it wants (peaceful) contact with you. The cat may also purr in expectation of something nice or in an attempt to bring it about; you'll often hear a lot of purring over an empty food bowl.
Cats will also purr in connection with any strong experience - also for example great pain. This may be one explanation why very injured or very ill cats are often purring loudly - in this situation, however, the cat will often purr in a somewhat deeper pitch than usual.
There are, however, also those who think the sound in these situations is meant to tell other cats that it is not looking for trouble but just wants to be left alone (in other words some sort of "Red Cross Marking").
Others again think the cat purrs in these situations to calm itself down or maybe because it is looking forward to the owner's help.
Female cats in labor may purr, too..
Why and when the cat purrs is still subject to research. Many think the key to this must be found in the relationship between the female cat and her kittens, since this is where you hear the most purring apart from the cat/human relationship.

Body Language and Facial Expressions

Apart from their sound language cats have equally well developed body language and facial expressions. If it is for example lying flat on the floor wriggling its behind, it's preparing for a final attack, and the rubber mouse or the squealing animal would be wise to take cover. Even though a part of the cat's language is inborn, the kitten needs to learn adult behavior, body language, and defensive and aggressive signals. The best - almost the only qualified - to "teach" these "classes", is the kitten's mother.
Since the language learning will not start till the kitten is ten weeks old and takes from two to four weeks, it is very important not to get your kitten before it is at least twelve weeks old, it is even best to wait until it is fourteen weeks. By the way, there is no harm done in letting it stay longer than that with its mother.
The mood of the cat is reflected in the size of the pupil and the eyes. Nobody doubts that a cat looking at us with large pupils and all open eyes is enjoying the sight of us or that half closed eyes express relaxation and confidence in our friendship. If on the other hand the cat is staring hard at us with open eyes and narrow pupils it is a sign of aggression. This is why you shouldn't stare directly into its eyes, for this will scare it. So if you want to study your kitty, use a little tactics: look mostly at it, when it isn't looking at you, or focus on its ears instead of its eyes, you'll still be able to see it. You may also do what cats do when facing the same problem: screw up your eyes, so it "doesn't look so bad". You will often see that the cat will "answer" by also

screwing up its eyes - and you've had your first conversation in cat language ...
As light intensity and the distance to what the cat is looking it has a great influence on the size of the eyes and the pupils, it is in practice impossible to "read the cat's mind" by looking at the eyes alone.
The signals from the ears are a lot easier to read for humans. Completely upright ears are either a sign that the cat is listening to something or is friendly and relaxed, the more the ears are being put down, the more scared or angry the cat is. If the ears are put backwards and down, it usually expresses fear, if they are put down to the sides, it usually means aggression. The reason why the ears are put down with these emotions is simple: fear and aggression may mean a fight, and if the ears are put down they will be spared quite a bit during the brawl.
The cat will often mark its territory by rubbing its cheeks against objects. When the cat is "marking" us this way, it is a declaration of love, it tells us how happy it is that we belong to it(!).
We all know that an affectionate cat will rub against our legs with a slightly arched back. If on the other hand the cat is standing still, turning its side to us with an arched back and bristling fur, it is a sign of anxiety that may turn into aggression with further provocation. By this position the cat seems more deterring because four-footed animals look larger when seen from the side. Kittens often use these signals when playing, jumping sideways on stiff legs. A very superior and self-assured cat will turn its front towards the opponent.

Tail positions

- are probably some of the signals that are the easiest for us humans to understand.

A signal which is often misunderstood, however, is tail wagging. Many people think this always means that the cat is angry. This is not the case. It would be more precise to say it is excited or in suspense, and the contents of the excitement may be both pleasant and unpleasant. Some think the origin of tail wagging should be seen in the cats hunting technique, which includes patient waiting for the prey to come out. In this situation the cat will of course be excited, and this has to be discharged in some way. Nature, then, has prudently chosen to let this discharging happen in the end that turns away from the mouse hole, so that the prey won't be alarmed. Since then wagging has spread to all other situations, where the cat is "turned on". A cat may well lie on your lap purring so your windows panes are clinking, while its tail is wagging vigorously. Wagging may also be a sign that the cat is in conflict with itself over something.

If the tail is straight with bristling fur, the cat is aggressive.

This cat is ill at ease and may attack if further provoked.

Relaxed cat

Tail between the legs: scared cat that has given in completely. May for example be seen when kitty is at the vet's.

This cat is becoming interested in something.

The tail is standing up straight quivering all over: mostly seen in spraying cats, but may also occur in a cat that is very happy to see its owner.

The female cat inviting to a "cheek-to-cheek dance" (The old Webmaster is blushing).

Interested, obliging cat, which is, however, a little reserved.