Does Your Pet Talk to You?
All pet owners know that pets use their body language to communicate with us. Since they live much simpler lives than we do and are so dependent on us, they need to be able to convey their requirements. Cats do this with their ears, bodies and a wide range of sounds. Sometimes they simply want our attention, while other times, they’re telling us “My food bowl is empty”. A pet owner can soon become attuned to the facial expressions and the unspoken word the body speaks.
from youtube
I’ve five house cats. They’ve each taken responsibility for telling me different things. The oldest, Pepper, (a Persian mix) keeps me informed when their food bowls get low. She never lets them get empty before she alerts me. The next oldest, Smokey (a Russian Blue) lets out a howl, when coming through the pet door from their outdoor kennel, to let me know it’s either raining or too cold for his liking. He does this continually, until it stops raining or warms up outside. Then, there’s Squeaky, (a gray Tabby) who jumps up on my computer desk or my lap and whines to let me know that one of the other cats is picking on her. Bringing up the rear are our two year old siblings, Little Bit and Precious (Manx & gray Tabby mix). Little Bit assists Smokey with the weather reports and Precious reminds me when it’s time for “our” nap. With the five of them, I never lack for noisy conversation.
The more we show our understanding of what they’re telling us, the better our pets will be able to communicate with us and the more the conversations will expand. Try paying close attention to what your pet is “telling” you and you’ll find a companion eager to converse with you.
A recent poll conducted by GfK Roper Public with help of the Associated Press and Petside.com found that 62% of the persons polled believed their pets understand them, when they speak to them. At least 18% believe their pet comprehends completely. 67% of the participants believe they understand the meows and woofs and what their pet requires. The poll highlighted among other things, the high level of communication and the bond between several owners and their pets. With many households having more than one pet, 74% of pet owners have a dog, while 46% have a cat, according to the poll.
Although 15% of all owners said they’ve cut back spending for their pets in the past year, 48% of dog owners and 28 percent of cat owners said they planned to buy their pet gifts this past Christmas.