A flick of the tail, flattened ears, loud barking—most pet owners are familiar with these common behaviors, but what, exactly, do they mean? As with humans, animals have a number of ways to express themselves; the trouble, experts say, is that we don't always know how to understand them. From the angle of the ears to how fast the tail is wagging, read on to discover what your pet is trying to tell you.
Felines express a lot with their ears. In fact, it's one of the quickest ways you can tell what kind of mood your kitty is in. "If the ears are forward, they're generally happy or relaxed. If they're airplaned out to the side or flat back, that's an upset cat," says Trish McMillan Loehr, CPDT-KA, animal behaviorist at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Pinned-back ears mean a really, really upset cat—so ears are a good thing to watch." Photo: GK Hart/Vikki Hart / Getty Images
Cats tend to be quite stoic, yet their eyes can be very reflective of their mood. "When the eyes are wide open and the cat is looking at you, she is listening to what you are saying. But don't confuse this with a cat who is giving you a hard stare—eyes wide and no blinking—which means 'Don't bother me; stay away!'" says Mary R. Burch, PhD, CAAB, director of the Canine Good Citizen program for the American Kennel Club. Blinking is common for many cats; slow blinking in particular is a sign of happiness. On the other hand, if your cat's pupils become dilated, that's a clear sign to back away. When a cat feels provoked, "the pupils get really big. You'll notice the eyes get glassy, and that's because the reflective part in the back of the eye is getting bigger because the pupil is dilated," McMillan Loehr says. Photo: Thinkstock
With a cat, it's not so much the mouth that gives cues as it is the whiskers. When they are forward and relaxed, that's a sure sign of contentment. "When cats are hunting prey, both the whiskers [wide and fanned out] and ears are forward," Dr. Burch says. "If your cat is tense, excited or ready to attack, you'll see whiskers that are forward and stretched out." Photo: Ryan McVay / Thinkstock
While a dog's wagging tail is usually interpreted to be a sign of playfulness, it's the complete opposite for a cat. "If they are moving the tail from side to side, the faster it's going, the more upset they are," says McMillan Loehr. Dr. Burch agrees, adding that it also matters how the tail is positioned. "The cat's tail is like a feline mood ring," she says. "Relaxed cats will walk along with their tails down, and they will greet you with a tail that is up and not moving. If the tip of the tail moves, it means that the cat is unhappy (e.g., 'Where is my dinner?'). A quick swish or whip of the tail means the cat feels threatened." Photo: Thinkstock
While individual body parts are helpful, you have to look at the big picture to really understand what a cat is thinking. "Start with the whole body posture. In general, an animal that is going to be offensive with you is going to try to make himself bigger," says McMillan Loehr. "That's how you get your classic Halloween cat: They arch their back, put their tail in the air and make themselves puffy. That's a very upset cat." On the other hand, McMillan Loehr says, if they try to appear smaller, the cat is feeling afraid. "A cat will flatten down and drop its ears to the side if it's trying to make itself as tiny as possible." Photo: Tracy Morgan / Getty Images
It may not be body language per se, but the sounds your cat makes speak volumes. From purring to meowing, cats are very vocal animals. In fact, cats only meow to humans. "They will come and talk to you and tell you they want something, then you have to figure out what it is," says Karen Halligan, DVM. But in addition to the more common sounds, cats have also been known to growl, wail and even chatter. "Chatter is a predatory thing. They do it with their jaws," McMillan Loehr says. "There's the chirp, which is a friendly signal. When you first come home, your cat will come over and you may get that little chirp." On the flip side, hissing and spitting are unequivocal signs that your cat is feeling upset. Photo: Thinkstock
If you're still having trouble deciphering specific movements, look at your cat's actions overall. The number-one indicator that something is wrong is a drastic change in behavior. "Cats are very routine-oriented…so if they start exhibiting things like pooping outside the box, vocalizing or unprovoked aggression, it is a red flag that something's not right," says Dr. Halligan. But what about a happy cat? According to McMillan Loehr, people overlook one of the happiest cues: kneading with the front paws, like they're making dough. "That's the sign of a really, really happy cat," she says. Photo: Sharon Dominick / Getty Images
Because of variations among breeds' ears—some are pointy, others floppy—a dog's ears are a little harder to read, but in general, the same principles for cats apply. "When your dog is relaxed, comfortable and under no stress, her ears will be held in the natural position. When your dog is alert and watching something closely, her ears will be raised and turned to whatever she is paying attention to," says Dr. Burch. In addition, she says, if the ears are gently pulled back, it's a "sign of a friendly greeting." If the ears are completely pulled down and back, however, your pooch is most likely feeling afraid. Photo: BananaStock / Thinkstock
People use the term "puppy-dog eyes" for good reason: A dog's eyes can practically express the same emotional diversity as a human's. "When a dog is stressed or frightened, the eyes are not as wide open and they appear smaller. If the dog starts to squint (assuming there is no sun in his eyes), it could be a sign he is in pain," Dr. Burch says. Not only will a dog change the size and shape of its eyes, but the direction of its gaze is also a clear indicator of mood. Be forewarned that if a dog stares at you squarely in the eyes, or avoids looking at you in a way that lets the whites of his eyes show, he's on the defensive, so steer clear. Photo: Thinkstock
A dog baring its teeth is a universal sign of aggression, but many people don't know that a dog can also express other feelings with its mouth. "When your dog is relaxed, its mouth is usually closed or open just a small bit. Dogs who are stressed or afraid often close their mouth and the lips are pulled back at the corners," says Dr. Burch. To better understand your dog's mood, it helps to factor in its whole body, advises McMillan Loehr. "One interesting thing dogs do that can be mistaken for aggression is the submissive grin; that's when they pull their lips back from their teeth, which might make you think the dog is going to kill you," she says. "Put it in context with the rest of the body." If her posture is relaxed and not stiff, "she might be doing a submissive grin." Photo: Thinkstock
While a wagging tail generally does mean that a dog is happy or excited, that's not always the case, according to Dr. Burch. "One of the greatest myths regarding canine body language has to do with the dog's tail. The myth is that a wagging tail is the sign of a friendly dog," she says. "A dog that is thinking about attacking may hold his tail high and move it back and forth. The key is to look at the rest of the body; if you see the wagging tail with stiff legs, tense muscles and lips that are starting to be pulled back, you could be in for some trouble." Photo: GK Hart/Vikki Hart Getty Images
A dog's body posture tells a similar story to that of a cat. "Aggressive dogs try to make themselves look as big as possible. Their legs are stiff and they sometimes rise up on their toes. Dogs that are afraid may lower their bodies, dropping to the ground as if to say, 'It's OK, I'm so tiny and small, I'm not a threat,'" says Dr. Burch. The one posture that people seem to misunderstand the most, says McMillan Loehr, is when dogs freeze. "A dog who is panting and then stops panting—that's a sign that something is about to happen. A freeze is a sign that a dog is getting uncomfortable and it is often a threat," she says. Signs a dog is happy include an open mouth that looks relaxed and a shift in weight from side to side. Another big cue, adds Dr. Halligan, is when their body is curved into a C shape, which is called a "play bow." Photo: Tracy Morgan / Getty Images
If your dog's movements aren't telling you enough, listen to his bark. Barking can indicate any number of things. According to Dr. Burch, you have to take it in context. "Barking related to play will usually be accompanied with a relaxed body posture and sometimes a wagging tail, whereas barks that are short, insistent yips can mean 'Stop that!'" she says. "If you see a stiff body along with a low-pitched growl, the barking can be a warning sign; also, some dogs have barks that are intended to get your attention." And then there's watchdog barking, which is a series of short and loud barks. "It's a warning or alert bark designed to let you know someone is coming—and to let [whoever that is] know there is a dog here that is ready to handle the situation," Dr. Burch says. Photo: Hemera / Getty Images
When all else fails, watch for significant behavioral changes. Destructive behavior, like chewing things, is a big cue your dog is not happy. "The number-one reason they're destructive is that they're not getting out enough or being exercised enough," Dr. Halligan says. Another cue that something's amiss about their mental state is a drastic change in behavior—sleeping in a different place, hiding more or sleeping more than usual. Photo: Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images
For more information about how to interpret your cat's or dog's behavior, visit the ASPCA's Virtual Pet Behaviorist.