Why Your Cat Opens Its Mouth
Have you noticed your cat standing in front of you with its mouth wide open? What’s that all about? Well, it relates to behavior that it shares with undomesticated cats called flehmen, which describes curling the upper lip.
Cats keep their mouth open to help them explore their surroundings. After they notice an interesting scent, they open their mouths to try and figure out what it is, wrinkling their nose and upper lip back. It’s a pretty funny face.
When Your Cat Sticks Its Tail Up Straight
Unlike when a cat’s tail is low, which is a sign of aggression when a cat’s tail is sticking up straight, it means it’s feeling social, confident, and friendly. It’s how kittens greet their mothers.
If your cat comes near you with its tail held up high, it’s looking for attention and interaction. It’s your cat’s way of greeting you. This is a great time to play and pet your cat.
Image by Gabriel Benois/Unsplash
While biting is usually seen as a negative behavior, with cats it can be a sign of affection. Love bites or love nibbles happen when your cat playfully nibbles you and it’s showing you affection.
This type of biting differs from aggressive biting because it’s not painful and it doesn’t cause harm. In some cases, love bites can even be ticklish. They can even be a sign that the cat is done with the interaction, so it’s best to stop petting them.