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Cats
exhibit many common behaviors that are discussed below. The
behaviors described are generic and may vary from cat to
cat. As you get to know your feline you will learn
to understand their body language, which can be extremely
different depending on the cat you are dealing with. If
there are other behaviors you'd like defined or have meanings
of your own that you would like to add, please contact
us.
Ears
A
cat's ears are able to turn 180º and they often will
turn them in the direction of sound to hear better, even
when that sound is behind them. Both ears can move independently
of each other, with 30 muscles controlling each ear. When
a cat's ears are upright they are happy and relaxed, while
ears flipped back or to the side and pressed down against
the head signal that a cat is scared, cautious, or angry. A
cat's ears pointed forward show concentration - like when
they are playing with a toy (see illustration below). A
cat's sense of hearing helps it determine the location and
size of its prey or of an aggressor.
Eyes
The
pupils in cat's eyes get larger and smaller depending on
the light available. When a cat is in sunlight a cat's
eyes will be a very narrow slit, and when a cat is in the
dark its pupil will often be almost as large as the iris,
the colored part of the eye (see illustration below). The
layer of reflective cells that allows a cat's eyes to better
utilize light is called the tapetum lucidum. Dilating of
the pupils also occurs during intense play when the cat is
stalking an object - this allows him to be able to take in
all of his surroundings better.
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You
can see in this picture how large the cat's pupils
are. She is stalking a toy, which is the cause
of the dilated pupils. You can also see how her
ears are alert and facing forward so that she can hear
as well as see movement. |
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In
this picture the cat was outside and you can see how
small her pupils are. This allows her to be able
to see clearly in the bright light without squinting. |
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