Cat Whisperer

I have heard of dog whisperers, horse whisperers and even ghost whisperers. But, cat whisperer was something new to me. I am owned by a very handsome tom-cat, who has chosen my house as his abode. When I was told by a friend about people who could talk to cats, I was really impressed. I found this as an opportunity to unfold the mysteries surrounding the strange cat behavior I witnessed every day. Peppers, my cat, would be calm and angel-like this moment and the very next moment he turned into a little devil out to destroy my sofa and tear me to pieces with his sharp claws. Was he possessed by a force unknown to me? Or was there something I did to face his wrath? Such a person was the answer to all my queries about my 'Peppers'.

Who is He?

Cat whisperer is a person who can talk and communicate with cats. Talking to a cat does not mean in the literal sense, but it means understanding the spoken and unspoken words of a cat. He can decipher what the cat is trying to say by understanding its physical and verbal communication. They can help treat a cat emotionally and physically.

Not all cats are lucky to have caring and considerate owners. Many felines are abused by cruel owners or mistreated by children. Cats that were once safe in the warm chair of the living room, are abandoned by thoughtless owners. They either end up in shelters or chased helter-skelter by dogs or passing cars and people. Such cats are emotionally and physically tortured and tend to get aggressive towards people. Many feral cats also cannot adjust themselves in homes. These cats are brought to normalcy and helped get used to the love and care of affectionate owners. They help build their damaged trust and respond with care and love.

They have many feral cats or homeless cats around their backyards. These cats find their way around one by one towards the people who train them as they train and tame cats and strengthen the bond between the owner and cat.

You too can become a cat whisperer if you learn to understand the body language of your cat. That's what I tried to do. I have understood what Pepper wants and tries to say and act accordingly.

Whispering to Cats

They are animal behavior therapists who help by understanding their behavior pattern. They make the animal understand that they are respected and loved to enforce a positive feedback. You too can learn a few tricks of the trade and understand your kitty's day-to-day behavior.

You should understand the body language of your cat for communicating with it. If you find your cats ear in their normal upright position, the whiskers fanning out straight from the face, it means she is happy and relaxed. If the cat has her lower body close to the ground and ready to attack it means she is angry or in an aggressive mood.

When the tail is either upright or relaxed and the cat is purring, means it is happy and content. If the tail is thumping the ground or swishing and you hear her hiss or growl, better stay away; she is in an angry mood. Other sign of aggressive cat behavior is constricted pupils with ears flat and pulled back against the head.

A cat with eyes wide open and looking right at you means, she is attentive and ready to listen to you. Or she maybe asking you 'Do you need me?'. When the eyes are half closed it may mean she is a sleepy cat or she may want you to know, 'I trust you and everything around me, I'm secure.' When the cats eyes are clouded it means she is ill or may even be in a relaxed mood. Blinking and winking eyes mean she is talking to you or even a way of saying 'I Love You'. When the cat stares at you she means she wants you to stay away and does not wish to be disturbed. When her eye pupils are in slits, it means she is alert and confident when she looks at you and turns away, she probably is saying, 'it's just you'.

If your cat is frightened, she will have dilated pupils with whiskers pulled back. The ears pulled down and may twitch. The hair on her back and tail may stand up. Hissing, flat ears and flicking of the tail means she is annoyed. A sick cat with third eyelid exposed indicates a sick cat. Another sign, the cat is sick is a hunch back kitty with her tail between her legs. The ears and whiskers will be droopy and will purr to comfort herself.

You should understand these signs to communicate with your cat. Cats are complex animals that do not lack intelligence. Each and every cat is different and an observant owner will quickly learn to interpret the body language of their cat.

It's not just the body language but the feelings that you need to consider while trying to understand your cat. If you are petting your cat and you see her wagging her tail, it means she is happy and loves to be petted. But suddenly, you get a bite means she wants you to stop petting that instant. If the cat is sitting and thumping and flicking her tail it means she is ready to attack. Cat kneading on your leg means she loves and appreciates you. Cat kneading is a habit developed in kitten-hood to press the mother's breast for milk.

When a cat rubs her head, face, paw pads, etc. on people or any object, means she is happy and appreciates it. Cats have scent glands on their forehead, paw pads, tip of the tip and around their anus. When she rubs herself against you, it means she is claiming and proclaiming to the world that you belong to her. Cats are highly territorial animals and rubbing or marking helps them claim their territories. Male cats that are intact will mark their territories by spraying urine.

A cat scratching your sofa to shreds is an emotional outlet for cats. They may even scratch after a nap as a way to stretch or even sharpening their claws. When cat runs under the couch or cupboard, it is because she is searching for comfort. They also love to climb up on trees or elevated positions as they feel safe and find it as a way of entertainment.

People who have developed their skills as a person to train a cat have a lot of talent. They are able to understand the animals and bond with them emotionally. However, as a cat owner you too can learn to understand your cat well, by knowing your cat's unspoken words. Cats are not good at displaying their emotions like the dogs, but prove to be good friends just the same. With a bit of understanding and patience, you too will get the hang of becoming a cat whisperer.