How can I tell if my cat is happy?

How can I tell if my cat is happy?

An experience with a cat is like no other animal. Whether passing them on a wall or cohabiting with them for many years, the variation of tolerance, friendliness and mannerisms is so vast amongst each individual cat that it takes an age to be able to understand them.

The independence that cats have unlike other domesticated pets allows them the freedom to have that slight grumpiness with a side of unknown. Until you’ve spent a lot of time with a specific cat (and that could take a while depending on how much time they want to spend with you) it’s difficult to determine if they’re content. Each cat has its own desires and needs dedicated time to understand them. If you’ve recently got a cat, or you're just intrigued about cat’s happiness, we’ve put together the top 4 things you should be looking for to confirm that your cat is happy!

Healthiness
 

We all as mammals have requirements for daily functionality. We need food, warmth and shelter. Breaking this down, we require a nutritious diet to keep us going, somewhere we can rest our bodies and somewhere we feel safe and secure. By providing your cat with these basic necessities you're on the path to have a very content and happy cat.

Noises
 

If your cat is vocal on your arrival or when they come into a room, sometimes it’ll be them demanding food, but most of the time it’s them asking for your attention - because they like you! If they were unhappy they wouldn’t seek you out to sit on you at an awkward time, they would avoid you. They’ll also purr. It might only be short lived if they only wanted you to stroke them for 20 seconds, but a purr is the sound of happiness.

Body Language
 

Being able to read a cat's body language is a very useful tool. By being able to identify when they want to be left alone you’ll be sure to have a positive, happy and healthy relationship with them. Tails up, walking tall and brushing against things are all signs your cat is in a good mood. A thrashing tail, ears flat and slow purposeful movements are all indications that they’re not so pleased about something.

Sleeping
 

Whilst cats spend most of their time sleeping, where they sleep can tell you about how they feel about their home. If they’re in communal areas laying flat out in the sun it can be deemed they’re pretty happy and feel very secure. If they’re spending time in quiet rooms this could just be that they prefer their privacy but are content. But if they’re hiding away to sleep, under beds or squishing into small spaces, you might need to make some home adjustments for their happiness.

All cats are different, as are all animals, but the variation between cats is often huge. Learning your cat’s likes, dislikes and independence levels will all help towards having a happy home and healthy relationship.

Don’t forget to get your 10% of your Luxury Cat Treat Bundle for extra gratitude points from your cat by using the code SPOILTCAT10 at checkout!