While cats may appear complicated creatures to some people, others believe that knowing a cat is as simple as paying attention. Cats are highly emotional creatures.
They are skilled communicators who employ various techniques to ‘speak’ to humans and animals. Cats communicate their thoughts and feelings through their ear’s placement, body language, and vocalizations.
Understanding the cat’s ear placement through this article on cat ear positions chart can help you establish a friendly relationship with your cat. Read on to become your cats’ favorite human being.
How do cats’ ears communicate?
First of all, it is crucial to understand the meaning of cat ear positions.
Each cat’s ears have 32 muscles. That’s more than five times the number of muscles you have! All those muscles contribute to your cat’s ears having an incredible range of motion, including the capacity to swivel up to 180 degrees. That remarkable range of motion contributes to your cat’s keen sense of hearing.
Aside from allowing her to hear the smallest move from prey or a potential enemy, her ears’ range of motion allows them to be quite emotive. Paying attention to the cat’s ear placement can offer hints about her attitude.
- When a cat’s ears are facing forward, it’s a sign that it’s content and in a joyful mood.
- If a cat’s ears are standing up straight, it is alert and interested in what is going on around it.
- When a cat is nervous or terrified, it will turn its ears back or to the side.
- When a cat’s ears are down and facing out, it’s probably not feeling well.
- When a cat has one ear down or folded, it feels confused and doesn’t know what to think.
Cat’s ear positions
Here is a quick and accurate detail about each ear position and what that position communicates.
Flat Forward Ears
The normal, or neutral, posture for the ears is with the ear canal facing forward. When your cat’s ears move like that, it’s a sign that it’s happy, at ease, and ready to play.
When your cat’s ears are forward, it wants to interact with you. It’s the safest moment to pick up your cat and snuggle it without getting in trouble.
Even if they’re in a good mood, some cats will not tolerate this. It all depends on the cat’s temperament as to whether or not it will tolerate being petted.
If for some reason, your cat has never shown any interest in being picked up, no amount of positivity on its part can ever cause it to appreciate it. Instead, pay attention to your cat’s preferences while you play with it.
Your cat’s ears will twitch as it checks out its environment, even if it’s just resting in its favorite location. The ears, at the very least, will stay perked up. They might also rotate continually as your cat follows the sound it hears.
Ears turn sideway or backward
When a cat’s ears are pulled back or bent to the side, it’s a sign that it’s feeling worried. Therefore, the cat may turn violent to cope with its anxiety. If you look closely at its eyes, you can know for sure. Fearful cats have huge, dark pupils, and their ears are back or turned to the side. This ear posture means the cat is ready to fight or run.
Additionally, if the cat shows increased vocals, a stooped posture, and pin back the ears, it is a common sign of depression. When humans approach a scared cat, the cat may react by swiping or scratching. It is wise to let a scared cat have some space to relax. When cats feel trapped, they can become hostile. If your cat is generally docile, this may come as a shock to you.
Ears Straight Up
When a cat’s ears are perked up, it is attentive and curious about what’s happening in its immediate vicinity. A cat’s ears will be straight up while it listens to the sounds around it in an effort to identify what they are.
To focus on a particular sound, a cat’s ears may swivel in all directions. This ear placement is especially common in cats that spend a lot of time observing birds outside the window or in-home guard cats. Since cats have such acute hearing, it’s important to take their warnings seriously in the event of intruders or other threats, even if humans can’t hear what the cat does.
Ears Low and Facing Out
If your cat’s ears face out or lower down, it could mean it’s not feeling well. This way, sick cats unconsciously communicate with their owners about their condition by laying their ears down and looking outward. Sage journals explain that cats are descended from solitary creatures for which the ability to conceal disease was crucial to survival. This is why housecats rarely show signs of anxiety.
If you want to be sure, observe your cat for any signs of distress or a change in temperament. If you find your cat hiding or if it suddenly stops eating, it might be going through something serious.
Bad stomachs and other minor illnesses are common problems that affect all cats. This is very natural, and your cat will heal or recover more quickly after some rest.
One ear folded downward
If your cat has one ear folded downward, or its ears are constantly moving in different directions, it may feel uncertain or confused. It happens when the cat encounters something new, trying to multitask or forming opinions about its surroundings.
This ear position is also common after a major life change, such as shifting to a new place or adding a new pet. However, your cat could be hurt or suffer from an ear infection if it is laying down with one ear down. It’s typical to get an illness caused by bacteria or yeast. Additionally, when a human comes too close to a cat’s ear canal, the cat will fold down one ear out of distress.
Wrap up
Cats have a terrible reputation for being difficult to understand. However, they have a different mode of communication than humans, which is not their fault. With their posture, ears, eyes, tails, and vocalizations, they’ll inform you if they’re comfortable or not. Lastly, you must remember that a cat’s body language and actions are components of a larger whole. We bet understanding this cat ear positions chart will help you become your cat’s friend in no time.
