How Cats Communicate With You

Like all other domesticated creatures, cats were once seen to be nothing more than an aid to man in one way or another. In the case of cats, they were seen as a natural predator to rats and other kinds of pests, making it easier for people to get rid of the latter living in their homes. While man's view of cats did change later on, such as being held as a symbol of royalty and good fortune in some cultures and as elements of witchcraft and bearers of misfortune in others, the fact is that cats were seen more as things that served man's purpose rather than actual sentient beings.

It was not until very recently that science has exerted a little extra effort in proving that cats do have emotions and communication like people do, no matter how different. This became a step forward in helping pet owners understand their cats better, because like all other members of the family, providing food, shelter and other materials needs is simply not enough.
Cats are very intelligent and can communicate with you in so many ways. If you look close enough and are willing to learn you will be able to speak back to them effectively as well. Here's a short list of them:

• Blinking. Cats will sometimes look at their owners in the eyes and blink both eyes at them. This is their way of kissing (you didn't actually expect that they'd lick you in the face like dogs would?). You can do this to your cat too, and they consider it as a sign of affection.
• Nose rubbing. Cats also have a different way of kissing - pressing their nose against yours or some other part of your face. But this method of showing affecting has a deeper meaning than just saying that it likes you. It could be that it missed you or it is showing some form of concern.
• Recognizing family. All species of cats place their tails around their families as a sign of togetherness. If a cat puts its tail on a human being, that person is family to the pet. Cats also paw at individuals who they consider as parents.
• Back turning. This only means that your cat is mad or you've done something to upset it.
• Chewing. When a cat is licking or chewing and there's nothing on its mouth, it means it's hungry.
• Meows and purrs. Soft meows mean a nice hello, but as the volume and intensity grows they become more distressing and serious. Purrs are more difficult to understand, because they can occur both when the cat is happy or sad.

These are only the general ways cats communicate with their owners. The behavior might be different in some cases, but they always in some way relate to the ones above. It'll take a while for you to connect because cats are proud by nature, but they can't escape their own need for love and affection. Your job is to make sure they know you're there for them.  

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