Cat Social Behavior

Cats can be more social than they're given credit for.

Cats live by a different social structure than people, so sometimes it may be hard for us to understand. They use very specific social behavior to convey certain feelings or concepts.

Hierarchy

Cats living in groups typically establish a hierarchy. Age, gender and aggression are all determinant factors in the social order.

Vocalization

Cats have a few distinct vocalizations that mean specific things. For instance, meowing is a cry for attention--the cat probably wants something. Hissing and growling are signs of fear and aggression, while purring is most commonly associated with happiness or being content.

Positive Body Language

Cats rub against their human companions to both show affection and mark you as "theirs." Licking is their way of grooming, and when they do it to other cats or people it's a sign of affection.

Negative Body Language

If a cat's tail is hung low, it often indicates unhappiness. If the tail is twitching around, it usually indicates that the cat is annoyed or angry, but cats may also twitch their tails when hunting.

Nipping and Biting

Gentle biting, or nipping, is a sign of deep affection. This is similar to humans who may exchange non-romantic kisses, such a mother and son. Harder biting is a sign of agitation--it's not intended to injure you, it's just the cat's way to ask you to stop doing whatever is annoying it.

References

• Cats and Behavior: Social Behavior of Cats
• Perfect Paws: Social Behavior of Cats