Practical feline behaviour understanding cat behaviour and improving welfare

30 Chapter 3

Whole body signals

Distance increasing

Along with piloerection along the back and tail, arching the back to appear bigger
and taller can be a direct response to a sudden severe threat such as a potential pred-
ator (Fig. 3.6). The tail may be positioned slightly to one side, towards the perceived
threat, and is usually held down, although it might also be slightly raised at the base.
Although one defensive reaction is to appear bigger, another feline response to
threat and potential danger is to attempt to appear much smaller by lowering the
body towards the ground as much as possible, with the head lower than the body. If
the cat has the opportunity, it will also attempt to hide (Fig. 3.7).
Encounters between rival cats can promote offensive and defensive body postures
(Fig. 3.8):

● Offensive body postures: In antagonistic encounters with other cats it can be an
advantage to appear confident and unafraid. To achieve this, the body carriage is
generally raised and forward. The hairs on the body and tail may be raised
(pilo-erection) to make the cat appear larger. The tail is held down and close to the
body. The ears are forward and the eyes are open with intentional direct eye con-
tact with the other cat.
● Defensive body postures: A defensive or fearful cat in an encounter is more likely
to have a lowered body posture that is held back away from the challenger. The
hairs on the body and tail may also be raised. The tail is held down and tight
to the body. The ears are more likely to be flattened and/or rotated backwards.
The other cat is watched closely but prolonged direct eye contact may be avoided
by blinking, partial closure of the eyes and/or by occasionally looking slightly off
to one side.

Fig. 3.5. ‘Tail up’, a distance-decreasing signal that is often used as a friendly greeting.