Cats know how to get their way.
They sense the mood and needs of their owners and use different methods to influence their behavior. How do they do this and why do they need it?
How Cats Communicate with Their Owners
Cats use different communication channels, such as:
Sounds
Cats make different sounds to express their emotions, desires and needs. For example, meowing, hissing, growling and others. Cats may also meow at inappropriate times to wake up their owners and get a reaction.
Gestures
Cats also use their body to communicate with their owners. For example, with their ears, tail, paws, eyes and other body parts. Cats can show their trust, submission, aggression, playfulness, curiosity and other states with their gestures.
How Cats Manipulate Their Owners
Using different communication channels, cats can manipulate their owners to get their way. Here are some examples of how they do it:
Meow
Cats may meow in different ways to get attention, ask for food, be petted, play, or open a door.
Friction
Cats may rub against their owners to show love, trust, and affection.
But cats may also rub against their owners to mark them with their scent and show that they belong to them.
Cats may rub against their owners when they want something, such as food, affection, or attention.
Present
Cats can bring their owners various gifts, such as dead mice, birds or other animals.
Cats may do this to show their hunting power, their gratitude, or their care.
Cats do this when they want praise or reward.
Earlier we talked about how to teach a cat and a dog to live together.
