Animal Behavior: Cat Language

This camera operator has captured some authentic cat language. This is a rare capture, because cats faced with a human camera operator usually take an interest in the camera or the human and ask questions of the human. But here, for once, we see a fairly normal cat exchange. And I see people have been aware of this footage for some time, but it is new to me.

The first noise is a slight distress mew. The one that the cat on the right makes, that sort of purring uplift mew, is an inquiry. This is a "What is up with you?" remark. The other cat expresses some concerns and then asks the same of his friend. The exchange doesn't sound too alarmed. I would say that something has unsettled the cat on the left, but not so that it is overly agitated. Perhaps the cat on the left was wondering about the human acting weird, because he seems to inquire the human as well. This whole exchange is a rather subdued debate on the left cat's concern, perhaps a tummy ache or a slight worry. I don't know maybe he wondered why the human has a camera pointed at them. The cat on the right submits to his friend, that is the upturned belly moment. That is an offer to be of help. He asks, "What can I do for you?" The cat on the left wants huggles. And finally the cat on the right offers some comfort, a nose bump of love. There is a bit of licking, which is comforting to them both. The licking is almost rejected and then accepted with a nice purr.

I have had this same type of exchange with a cat many times...as I tended to lead a dramatic and stressful life in my cat-keeping days, and my cats were often concerned about me. I would come home agitated. They would burble a question. I would offer my explanation, and get some cat advice and there would be mutual comforting.

Lest you doubt my understanding, I will tell you that keswindhover recently showed me a scientific-type study of people identifying the barks of dogs, without having any idea what was happening to the dogs. I spent a good part of my childhood with a cat as a baby-sitter and we definitely communicated. Though mostly I can translate concepts like concern, inquiry, hunger, distress, irritation and "You are an imbecile."