These indicators of affectionate feline behaviour present that your cats are pals with one another.

Picture: Fernando Calmon/Shutterstock

By Zazie Todd PhD

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When you’ve got a couple of cat, it helps lots if they’re good pals. Stress between cats may end up in stress for them and maybe additionally for you. However how have you learnt if they’re pals?

Listed here are the indicators to look out for.

They greet one another with the tail up. The tail up greeting is when one cat approaches the opposite with their tail straight up, typically with just a little hook on the finish, a bit like a query mark. You may also see this when your cat approaches you. The tail up is a pleasant sign. 

These two cats are touching heads, our bodies, and tails, and so they’re additionally displaying the tail up sign. Picture: ClementineKANJ.

They sniff noses. Sniffing the nostril is one other method that cats who’re pals greet one another. By the way, canines who stay with cats can be taught that that is the correct method for them to greet their feline housemate, so you may additionally see this occur with a canine otherwise you may sniff noses with them your self. They’re additionally utilizing their nostril to get details about the opposite cat (otherwise you). 

The Companion Animal Psychology emblem, by Lili Chin, depicts my tortoiseshell cat Melina sniffing noses with my late canine Bodger. Notice how Melina has her tail up.

They rub their heads collectively. Typically they could even rub their head and their complete our bodies collectively, letting their tails contact or entwine. Head-rubbing deposits pheromones and it’s believed that cats head-rub to construct up a bunch scent. Head-rubbing occurs extra typically when no less than one of many cats has their tail up when approaching the opposite.

These two cats are resting collectively, touching, and it appears to be like like they is likely to be about to do some head-rubbing too. Picture: Scalia Media

They groom one another, sometimes across the head and neck. That is known as allogrooming. It’s often a pleasant behaviour wherein the opposite cat cooperates, however typically one cat will appear to carry the opposite down whereas grooming them. When this occurs, perhaps it helps to dissipate some stress.

One cat is grooming the opposite cat’s ear and prime of their head. Picture: Chris Hill/Shutterstock.

They sleep subsequent to one another. Cats who get together with one another typically snuggle collectively after they relaxation. Typically they even squash into tiny areas, just like the house on the prime of a cat tree, to make this occur. They’re not doing this merely to maintain heat, as a result of they’ll cuddle collectively even when it’s scorching—it’s a option to snuggle up with their pal. That is almost definitely in cats who grew up collectively as kittens.

These two cats are cuddled collectively beneath a blanket. Picture: Mi Wang/Shutterstock

They play collectively. Cats who’re pals will interact in rough-and-tumble play that’s enjoyable for each of them. You’ll see them take turns (e.g. at being on prime or beneath when wrestling) and alter actions throughout play. You’ll discover that the claws are in and there’s no caterwauling, hissing, or spitting, which might imply it was preventing as a substitute. Chasing might be a part of social play, but when it’s one-sided it may be one cat attempting to get away, so concentrate. Kittens play most and older cats play much less typically, so don’t fear for those who see much less of this in your older cats.

Picture: Elisa Putti/Shutterstock

One other factor you may discover is purring. Cats typically purr throughout pleasant interactions, similar to when they’re cuddled up collectively, after they rub heads collectively, or groom one another. You’ll most likely additionally hear them purr when rubbing their head on you or resting on or subsequent to you, similar to after they sit in your lap. 

These two cats are touching heads and our bodies. Picture: foxaon1987/Shutterstock.

Cats who’re pals with one another might sometimes have minor disagreements, similar to individuals typically disagree with their pals. However on the entire, you’ll see these pleasant behaviours from daily. 

One factor you are able to do to make it simpler on your cats to get alongside is to make sure you are offering the correct environmental set-up for them, together with multiples of all sources (unfold out round the home) in order that they don’t must compete for entry to issues they want, like meals, water, and the litter field. You also needs to be sure that every cat will get some one-on-one time with you, together with playtime.

One other instance of the tail-up sign. Picture:Stokkete/Shutterstock

Indicators that your cats aren’t getting alongside would come with any apparent indicators of stress between them, similar to hissing, caterwauling, or preventing. Cats that don’t like one another won’t select to spend time close to one another, besides when the availability of sources leaves them little selection. A extra delicate signal that cats aren’t getting alongside is when one cat blocks entry e.g. by mendacity throughout the steps or in a doorway making it arduous for the opposite cat to get previous them. 

In the event you discover a sudden change in your cat’s behaviour, schedule a go to along with your veterinarian in case there’s a medical trigger. In case your cats aren’t getting alongside, it’s higher to do one thing about it sooner slightly than later, so search assist out of your veterinarian, a cat conduct marketing consultant, or board-certified veterinary behaviorist as wanted. 

For tips about the right way to care on your cat, try my e book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Joyful. 

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