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ScottF
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18 Aug 2009, 5:35 pm

1. Yes. I know that with my cat, a straight up tail and ears that face forward mean she is happy. If they are flat back against her head, it means she is angry.
If she is lying on her back, that means she is content.

2. Yes, generally. I know when she want something and just wants to talk

3. Diva's personality is drama queen. She likes the spotlight, and to be the center of attention.


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Feather
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18 Aug 2009, 9:02 pm

Animal body language is so much easier - they don't ever use verbal language or try to fake posture/gestures etc. to hide what they are really feeling. If a cat puts its ears back it's not just pretending to be upset or frightened/aggressive, and it won't ever tell you 'no I'm fine' whilst displaying contradictory signals.

I have experience with both cats and birds - and I think I have a very good understanding of the signals both of them use to communicate - there's never any ambiguity or mixed messages or contradiction between verbal and physical. It's very straightforward. Because they never try to hide their feelings (and don't even understand the concept of trying to do so) it is much easier to 'learn' their language than it is to learn the very intricate and complex rules of social interaction with other people - when those rules often include shielding your true feelings, or saying something you do not really believe, just for the sake of propriety.



Greentea
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19 Aug 2009, 1:23 am

Feather, I think you're saying that the nonverbal is easier to understand than the unsaid... Have you seen THIS THREAD on this topic?


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pensieve
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19 Aug 2009, 2:17 am

I had this weird experience with my cat. I perfectly mimicked a cat's meow that like to follow him around the street. I thought he would claw my face off but he got quite ahem...amorous.
I think I just decoded the feline mating call. 8O


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Greentea
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19 Aug 2009, 11:33 am

:lmao:


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