friend: don’t you ever worry about men thinking you’re high maintenance?
me: *in a silk bathrobe, on my 5th step of my PM skincare routine, trying to choose between 8 colors to paint my nails according to what best suits my mood and skintone, a cup of dandelion tea cools on the counter top, mixed with lemon, chia seeds, and raw honey* nah
I feel like the reason certain dog-lovers insist cats are evil is because they read their body language as if they were dogs. So here’s a very basic guide to common “mean” things cats do that actually aren’t mean at all if you know what they’re thinking.
Rolling and exposing belly- attacks you when touched Does not mean: Give belly rubs! - haha I tricked you! Actually means: I’m playful! If you reach for my belly I’ll grab your arm and bite it because I think we’re playfighting!
Lazily exposing belly - still attacks when touched Does not mean: tricked you again! Actually means: I’m showing you my belly because I trust you. Please don’t break that trust by invading my personal space. I might accept a belly rub if I’m not ticklish and I know you well.
Snapping at you while being pet Does not mean: I suddenly decided I dislike you! Actually means: You’re petting me in a way that gives me too much restless energy. Please focus on petting my head and shoulders instead of stroking the full length of my back next time.
Is in the same room but makes no attempt to interact Does not mean: I’m ignoring you Actually means: We’re hanging out! I’m being respectful by giving you space while still enjoying your company.
Slapping/scratching your hand when you try to pet them Does not mean: I hate you! Actually means: You’ve failed to establish that we’re not playing, or the way you’re approaching me scares me. Be calmer, speak more gently, make eye-contact and blink slowly at me before you try again.
I love this post omg, thank you so much. As a lifelong cat person, dogs perplex me because they’re so completely different behaviourally.
This is also why people assume “cats and dogs don’t get along.”
Their body language is totally different; a dog’s play posture is a cat’s hunting or aggression posture, depending on the situation.
Tail wagging is not a friendly, “HELLO! I am pleased to see you” with cats the way it often is with dogs, it’s more of an, “I’m annoyed, please go away.” if it’s outside the realm of playing/stalking behavior.
DOGS misinterpret cat body language and often assume a cat is friendly and wanting to play when the cat is displaying, “I’m uncomfortable and will either run away or attack you if you don’t stop.”
Cats also misinterpret dog body language; the tail wag and ears are two big ones. A dog with its ears back (assuming it’s the type of dog that can put its ears back) and tail wagging is often relaxed, but to a cat, that’s a pretty aggressive set of anger body language, so a dog that approaches a cat with tail wagging and potentially ears back is not often seen as a friendly hello.
Cats and dogs also play in different ways that don’t often mesh unless or until a cat and dog have had several months to get used to each other and figure it out.
