February 15, 2024, 4:56 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
Is my cat doing well? Or is something wrong? Many cat owners ask themselves these questions about their beloved pet. Especially those who are inexperienced and haven’t had their furry companion for long often feel a bit uncertain. PETBOOK explains how to recognize that your cat is doing well.
If you want to know if your cat is doing well, you should look and listen closely. Cats show how they feel in quite subtle ways–whether purring, kneading, or cooing. If a cat feels comfortable, it shows it through the following 17 signs.
17 Signs a Cat Feels Comfortable
1. Purring
When petted, cats often emit a deep, contented hum. In most cases, this typical feline vocalization is a sign that the cat feels completely at ease. This sound should not be confused with the so-called healing purr. Cats also purr when they are stressed or sick to calm themselves and accelerate their body’s healing processes.
2. Head Bumping
Does your cat nudge you with its head or even jump to rub its head against your hand? Does it rub its nose or entire body against your legs? This behavior is also an indication that it is happy. By head bumping, the cat marks its owner and sends a silent message of connection: “This person belongs to me!”
3. Cooing
Cats can produce a variety of sounds–such as a plaintive meow, a demanding meow, and an excited chatter. A special sound is the cooing, which sounds a bit like a pigeon. Cats usually coo when they want to express their well-being.
4. Kneading
In the so-called milk tread, the cat kneads its owner. It alternately pushes its paws into their thigh or belly. This behavior is likely a remnant from the cat’s childhood when it massaged its mother’s teats to get more milk. Adult cats express contentment through kneading. A clear sign: The cat feels comfortable.
5. Playing
When cats feel safe in their home, they play and romp around exuberantly. They chase plush mice and balls or try to catch their owner’s play wand. Also typical for cats are the “crazy five minutes,” when they suddenly dash through the apartment to burn off excess energy. All this is only possible if the cat feels comfortable.
6. Cuddling
Most cats are naturally curious. So it’s not a sign of defiance if the animal sticks its head into the shopping bag or knocks something off the table. They simply want to find out what happens and what’s new in the apartment. A cat that feels completely comfortable shows this behavior quite often.
7. Cleanliness
Healthy cats groom themselves meticulously. They have a velvety, shiny coat without bald spots. Whether a cat feels comfortable can also be seen in its fur. Moreover, animals that live stress-free in their home usually have no problem using their litter box. If the cat is unclean, it is a sign that something is wrong–physically or emotionally.
Also interesting: New cat moving in? 9 tips for the first few days
8. Relaxed Sleeping Position
Want to know if your cat feels comfortable? Then watch it while it sleeps. The sleeping position reveals a lot about the animal’s inner state. If the cat lies relaxed and can calmly meet its sleep needs of 14 to 16 hours a day, it feels comfortable.
10. Every Spot is a Good Spot
If a cat feels comfortable, it doesn’t just sleep in one specific spot in the apartment or house but has several favorite places it claims for itself. This can even be the runner in the hallway, where it neatly positions itself in the middle, so you always have to walk around the animal.
11. The Cat Shows Its Belly
If the cat lies relaxed on its back and stretches out all fours, it usually means it feels comfortable and safe. After all, it can show its sensitive belly without fear of an attack. However, this can also be an invitation to play and should not be taken as an invitation to pet the sensitive belly. If you have a cat that allows you to pet it there, it’s a clear sign that it feels comfortable and also has great trust in its owner.
12. Blessed Appetite
Unlike dogs, cats are more selective about their food–much to the chagrin of their owners. If a cat refuses a meal, it may mean it doesn’t like it or that it feels unwell. Conversely, it’s a good sign if a cat empties its bowl and licks it clean–it clearly feels comfortable.
13. Tail is Upright
Cats that feel comfortable also clearly show this through their body language. For example, their tail is upright when in a good mood or forms at most a small hook at the tip. When the cat walks through the apartment with its tail up, it’s always a good sign.
14. Cat Seeks Contact
Cats that are satisfied with their living conditions often seek contact with their owner or other cats. For example, you can tell by the fact that the animals want to touch you when it’s bedtime. This can be a paw on the arm or face, or the animal retreats under the blanket and seeks full body contact with the belly or legs. But even when they lie on their humans’ feet or lap, they feel particularly comfortable. And hopefully, they get a petting session in return.
15. Ears are Upright
Cats communicate a lot with their ears as well. If they are laid back or positioned sideways, it can be a sign of pain or aggression. However, if they are upright and only occasionally turn when the animal is trying to locate a sound, it feels good.
16. The Cat Shows Its Rear
At first glance, it may seem strange, but it’s a sign of affection: Cats that feel comfortable present their rear to us. With this gesture, they show trust and affection. Cats that like each other also greet each other with a raised rear. If the cat shows this behavior with humans, especially when you come home after a long day, it shows that they like their owners and can express their communication.
17. Blinking and Closing Eyes
In nature, cats are smaller predators that can hardly afford to be inattentive. Larger animals could contest their prey or attack them. Therefore, if a cat shows slightly closed eyes or a half-open gaze at home, it means it feels so comfortable that it can let its guard down. Cats that feel comfortable also show another behavior with their eyes. A slow blink is, so to speak, the cat’s hug. It shows that they like their humans and feel relaxed and safe.
Sources
- Planet-wissen.de, “The Language of Cats” (accessed on 02/15/2024)
- Lieblingskatze.net, “How’s It Going? Five Signs That Reveal Your Cat Feels Comfortable” (accessed on 02/15/2024)