@Remittancegirl @futurebird purring, also not a single meaning indicator. Broke my heart a bit to learn that the big kitty I liked to pick up was nervously purring to itself that it would all be okay.

@c0dec0dec0de Very sick cats are a little different. They’ll purr alone, to self soothe for sure. But I promise you, big kitty was feeling happy in your arms. Otherwise, it would have left! hahahah @futurebird

@c0dec0dec0de That’s what I really love about cats. They’ve got little time for dissembling unless they’re hunting. Then, of course, they can be pretty crafty. But they’re mostly no bullshit when it comes to humans.

Like the shit I interpret as lovey dovey, but actually, they genuinely mean: I love you now feed me!

@futurebird

@Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de

When cats receive affection or kindness they never ever question or worry if they deserve it. "Of course I do!" and they feel the same about giving affection.

It's a much more healthy way to look at such things and I try to learn from Pica in this one area.

@futurebird @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de is there... a course? Maybe?

@PalmAndNeedle @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de

Oh god... is she selling her online courses again? I'm so sorry I've been trying to stop her.

myrmepropagandist (@futurebird@sauropods.win)

My regular reminder that Pica DOES NOT have a "degree in sleeping" and she cannot issue valid diplomas. She does claim to offer "courses" that "teach u 2 sleep better" but there is no evidence that these courses do anything and her LLC isn't an accredited university or college. Under no circumstances should you give her your SS number, credit card number or... really even your age or height. You have been warned.

Sauropods.win (sauropods.win)

Do people who have no experience with small mammals and cats in particular read cat body language correctly?

Some things are pretty obvious, such as hissing and teeth.

But what about "airplane ears" or a thrashing tail?

Or blinking and looking away? (happy cat)

I wonder how much of this is based off of similar human expressions, if any of it is "hard wired" ... etc.

@futurebird In my experience, they don't (I'm Official Cat Body Language Translator for several friends). Like, question mark tail ? Absolutely not intuitive for someone who doesn't know cats well.

@TheOtterDragon

What does question mark tail mean?

I've never lived with a cat. I'm aware that I can't read cats' body language and behaviour. I do think it's easy to anthropomorphise non-human animals, and even people who live with cats do so — look at the number of photos of "grumpy/angry/happy-looking" cats on Fedi. What you're seeing are expressions being interpreted as if humans were displaying them.

@futurebird

@CppGuy @TheOtterDragon @futurebird I had a gray tortie with prominent tufts over her eyes like a scotty dog, and people often thought it made her look angry or skeptical (a picture I took of her actually became a variant of the "Skeptical Cat Is Skeptical" meme). But of course she looked like that regardless of how she felt.

@mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon

When Pica makes her face she is annoyed. But she also has a "give me stuff" face too.

@futurebird @mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon I too have a cat who looks perpetually annoyed.

@mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon

When Pica makes her face she is annoyed. But she also has a "give me stuff" face too.

@CppGuy @TheOtterDragon @futurebird I had a gray tortie with prominent tufts over her eyes like a scotty dog, and people often thought it made her look angry or skeptical (a picture I took of her actually became a variant of the "Skeptical Cat Is Skeptical" meme). But of course she looked like that regardless of how she felt.

@futurebird uh, cats close their eyes to appear less aggressive and show affection