5 Signs That Your Cat is Happy | Lola The Rescued Cat
Wednesday, September 14, 2016

5 Signs That Your Cat is Happy

Hello and happy Wednesday!  When people think of September, they usually think about kids going back to school, sweater weather approaching, summer humidity ending, and pumpkin spice lattes. But the folks at the CATalyst Council are reminding everyone that September is Happy Healthy Cat Month. 




Happy Healthy Cat Month is an event created by the CATalyst Council to improve cat wellness by focusing on happiness. And as always I’ve got something to meow about it. We’re joining their celebration this month by sharing some information about happy and healthy cats! 

Lexy and I are very happy cats and we love our mom, our home, and our lives.  Mommy says she knows we’re happy, even though we can’t tell her (because she doesn’t speak meow) so this gave me an idea for a post. I thought I would put together some signs that can tell you your cat is a happy cat. (I think this is such a brilliant idea! But that’s just my opinion.) 




Being talkative

When your cat is being very chatty, she is telling you that she’s one happy kitty. I chose this to be number one because I am one chatty cat and I just love to meow with Mommy! I talk to her all the time about everything. I even have different meows – one for saying hello, one for asking her to pick me up, one for asking a question. You name it, I have a meow for it. 



It’s important to know your cat when it comes to this sign.  Higher pitched sounds are generally happy, while lower pitched sounds can mean frustration or even illness. I also have a meow that says I’m not feeling well, so when Mommy hears this one she knows something is wrong.  Now, not all cats are chatty like me. Take Lexy for example. She doesn’t meow very often, but when she does she has a happy meow.  If you have a less chatty cat that all of a sudden starts meowing their heads off, be sure to take a good look to rule out that there is something wrong. 


Lying on their back with their paws in the air. 

OK, I chose this to be number 2 because I do this all the time, too. Why is this a sign of a happy cat? Because it shows we trust you and we’re very relaxed around you. 



Our bellies are a very vulnerable area so when we show them to you we are giving you the ultimate compliment.  And a belly rub is just icing on the cake.  Warning: don’t rub Lexy’s belly. It won’t be pretty. 




A Happy Tail 

A happy cat has a happy tail. In case you’re wondering what this looks like, I’ll tell you.  A happy tail is straight up in the air, or it’s the question mark tail.  (Lexy always has a question mark tail. Mine is always straight up.) And if the base of your cat’s tail quivers (like mine does), it means we’re super happy. 


Photo: Barbara Wells - Flikr


Bringing you gifts

This is Lexy’s favorite sign. Cats are by nature great hunters, so when we bring you a little gift, it means we’re sharing our prize with you because you’re family and we want to provide for you. It also means we hold you in high regard! Now, sometimes our gifts may be a real mouse or a lizard. When this happens it’s best to remember not to reprimand your feline friend (then you won’t have a happy cat.) Lexy often brings her toy mouse or fish to Mommy, and Mommy always says thank you.  Sometimes we both get her a real water bug. She still says thank you because she's glad we killed it! 


Giving you head butts, cheek rubs, and the slow blinks. 

If a happy cat could hug you, they would.  So instead we give you head butts, cheek rubs and slow blinks (also known as kitty kisses.) 


Photo: Sarah Hopewell - Flikr

A sure sign of happiness is when a cat rubs her body against yours.  Lexy’s head bonking time is always in the morning.  She follows Mommy into the bathroom, sits on the sink and bonks away.  She even paws at Mommy’s arm to get her attention so she can head bonk her.  How sweet is that? I’m always rubbing my face against Mommy, and of course I lick her, too.  All the time. I just love giving her kisses.  Lexy has been giving Mommy blinks since not long after she took over the house moved in. 

So there you have it, friends.  Five signs that your cat is a happy cat. (There are lots more, but these are our favorites.) If you missed part one of our Happy Healthy Cat month series, you can read it hereWe teamed up with the folks at Meow Mix to bring you some great cat facts. 

How do you know your cat is happy? Tell us! 
Lola

Sources:Modern CatCovered In Pet Fur

Would you like to comment?

  1. I do all of those, so I guess I'm a happy guy!

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  2. Of course I do ALL of this! Well, maybe not so much the talking part. I talk more when I'm on therapy visits, but at home I'm pretty quiet.

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  3. These are fantastic pointers for people with cats. Love them!!

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  4. I have two cats. One is a very chatty boy, loves to have complete conversations with you - very funny really. The other cat, although not so chatty, loves nothing better than to just sit beside you and purr but she does communicate with the slow blinks.

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  5. Lola, this is an excellent post! I am so happy to recognize all of these signs in my kitties, which makes me happy that they are happy! And your #1, obviously my three cats are quite chatty. It's one of my favorite things about them. I love that they talk to me (or at me). Yay for Happy Healthy Cat Month!

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  6. Love this list! Karma and Seren also celebrate their happy cat status in these ways.

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  7. Cute! I'll be on the lookout for these from Trout!

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  8. I do all those, apart from the fish and bugs (but that's cos I'm an indoor cat).

    Purrs xx
    Athena

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  9. I used to have a cat named Skippy that looked very much like Lola. He was the best cat. I love Tabbies!

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  10. I am a happy, healthy cat but I'd have to disagree with #2. I cannot physically lay on my back. It's certainly not a trust issue but should someone roll me over, I will go into respiratory distress. The rest of the post is pawsome, Lola.

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  11. At my age, of almost 17, I am a happy boy but things are WAY MORE "subtle" these days than they used to be. I talk way more than ever before (which drives Mom just a little crazy since I don't really WANT anything, I'm just talking).....and I still let her know I love her by waking her up all night long about every half hour! I know she loves me and she knows I love her - when at last my journey is over, it's in her arms I want to be - now that's love.

    Hugs, Sammy

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  12. It's so nice of you to bring presents! I don't know if I'd appreciate a water bug but like you said, they're dead!

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  13. Great signs, indeed! Happy Healthy Cat Month to you all!

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  14. I am glad you are both happy. My kitties are all happy too :)

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  15. L & L......what a grate post two day....& gram paw dude musta been de happee est cat on de planet coz him talked.......constant lee !!!!! ♥♥♥

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  16. I had a cat that would give head butts and love nips.

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  17. Our kitties do all of these, but Charlie is our talkative chatterbox - he's loud too! I have to keep the windows closed first thing in the morning otherwise he'll wake up all the neighbours.

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  18. My cat has always been pretty quiet except right before breakfast. I appreciate reading about the signs of a happy cat, because I've only had experience with one cat and still feel like a novice when it comes to cats. Even though our cat is 15 years old, I only feel like I understand him, not cats in general.

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  19. Bringing you gifts, love it! I have to be thankful our cats don't hunt living creatures. hahaha

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  20. A happy cat is a happy Mom and thanks for showing us those signs, am chuckling over the gift but its the thought that counts

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  21. I don't know that much about cats but I'm really glad to know about a happy tail. I never knew this before- it's awesome!

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  22. I have always been a fan of the happy slow blink! Our cat, Elsie, always had an adorable high-pitch chirp, but in the last few months of her life it changed and was very low. Poor baby.

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  23. You both are so cute! Our adopted feral kitty does these! He is especially chatty! I love the head butt and oh, my, the gifts! Yes! He's so proud of those bird hearts, dead mice, and bugs. (Yuck!) But, alas, his "gifts" let us know we are loved back! Great post! Pinning!

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  24. I know my cats are happy when they are both beside me in the home office or living room.

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  25. Bear does all of these. I'm very fortunate that he's such a cuddly sweetheart. He lets me wrap him up completely in my arms and pull him to me. Heaven :)

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  26. On all those signs, I am a happy kitty too, Lola :D Pawkisses for a Happy Day :) <3

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  27. We're right there with you and we love our world of happy!

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  28. this post was SOOO well done and adorable!!!!!! Cody isn't happy with me at all today, he went to the Vet!!! catchatwithcarenandcody

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  29. These are all sure signs of a Happy Healthy Cat! Your hsppy cat photos are beautiful.
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  30. These are all sure signs of a Happy Healthy Cat! Your hsppy cat photos are beautiful.
    Love & biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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