(CBS) Just because your family pet can't actually speak to you
doesn't mean it isn't trying to tell you something. In fact, the body
language of most cats and dogs should be enough to present a clear
picture of the animal's thoughts and feelings.

Veterinarian Debbye Turner shows The Early Show a number of different
positions of both our canine and feline friends, and explains what they
mean:
Turner says cats, like dogs, express the following emotions through
body language:

Happy:
This includes three positions: standing, lying down and cleaning
itself. In the standing position, the happy cat is displaying
confidence. It's ready to explore its environment and engage those it
meets along the way. This cat has friendly intentions. The key
identifying features are: standing straight and tall; tail up; ears
forward; purposeful walk.

When the happy cat lies down, it stretches out on its side or lies on
its back, exposing its belly. This cat accepts being approached, but
doesn't necessarily want its belly rubbed (it might grab your hands and
bite you). Key features of the happy, laying down cat are: stretched
out body; head and ears up; paws flexed in kneading motion; stomach
semi- to completely exposed.

The third happy cat position is when it's cleaning itself - a cat will
not groom itself if it feels threatened. This posture is obvious - the
cat is lifting a leg and licking it's stomach, etc.

Territorial:
Territorial behavior is distance reducing for a cat. This encourages
approach and interaction and is meant to indicate that the cat means no
harm. This is when a cat rubs its face against another cat (scent
marking) or a person's hand, etc. to give off pheromones. This action
is calming for the cat and essentially guarantees friendly interaction.
The identifying features of this posture are: tail up; face rubbing to
distribute glandular facial pheromones from the forehead, chin or
whiskers.

Fearful:
The fearful cat tries to make itself look smaller by crouching into a
ball. Muscles are tensed and the cat is posed to flee, if necessary.
The key features are: body hunched and muscles tensed; tail held close
to the body; enlarged pupils; ears swiveled sideways.

Aggressive:
Again, this includes defensive aggressive. In the defensive aggressive
posture, the cat is preparing itself for an unwanted interaction from a
more dominant animal. This occurs when the cat determines that it
cannot escape. The cat will roll slightly to one side to expose its
paws, so it can protect itself. The key features of this behavior are:
ears flat against the head; pupils dilated; body rolled to one side
with paws exposed; claws out; facial muscles tense and teeth bared.

In the regular aggressive stance, the cat is trying to keep others from
coming closer. The cat is standing up with its back arched and hair on
end - this is the cat's way of appearing as formidable as possible, in
order to maintain a distance-increasing behavior. The key identifying
features are: arched back; fur standing straight up; ears sideways;
pupils dilated; whiskers pulled back; paw slightly raised and ready to
swat, if necessary; tail tensely curved and swishing.

full story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/06/earlyshow/living/petplanet/main610522.shtml

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"The man who kills the animals today is the man who kills the people
who get in his way tomorrow." - Dr. Diane Fossey, Woman in the Mists
(Dr. Fossey was killed by someone who killed animals yesterday.)
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