15 Signs of a Happy Indoor Cat
September is Happy Cat Month. The CATalyst Council started it to help spread awareness about the health, welfare, and importance of companion cats. If you hang out around the internet, you know how much we love our cats. And yet there’s this persistent idea that cats are aloof, independent, low maintenance pets that don’t need us the way dogs do. In fact, cats require the same level of care and attention that dog guardians give their furbabies. Cats need an enriched indoor environment, appropriate health care, and of course a lot of love to be happy and healthy. So how are we doing? Are our kitties happy? How does a happy cat behave, anyway? Check out these 15 signs your indoor cat is happy.
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Happy Indoor Cats Are Excited To See You
Your cats come running up to meet you at the door when you get up in the morning or come home from work. No, they don’t see you as a big can opener. It’s a great big welcome back.
They weave around your feet, head butt, rub against your legs, put her head on your feet and roll over in front of you. Don’t trip!
These rubbing, head butting, and social rolling behaviors are signs of affection and happiness. Especially when combined with purring and happy talk sounds.
We see purring as the ultimate happy cat sound. While cats do purr when distressed or in pain to self-soothe, when combined with the other signs of a happy cat is it is a sign of love and contentment.
Did you know that cats have developed a language just so they can communicate with humans? A happy cat will meow and talk to their humans. All those high-pitched meows, chirps, and chortles are just for us. Can you tell when Kitty wants something? The demanding meow, the “feed me now” call? Higher-pitched sounds show happiness, while lower-pitched sounds are like whining in toddlers. It shows more frustration and is more demanding.
Related Post: Learn more about how Kitty talks to us in our post about cat communication.
A Happy Cat is Relaxed
Look at Kitty’s body language. She’ll tell you a lot about how happy she is with everything from her fur to her ears to her tail.
These are signs of a happy, playful, and curious cat:
- Kitty’s ears are straight up.
- Happy cats have whiskers pricked slightly forward.
- Her body is relaxed, and her fur is smooth.
- Kitty’s telling you a lot with his tail. If Kitty holds his tail straight and high in the air, he’s confident and happy. A slightly crooked end is a cheerful hello greeting. He’s thrilled to see you if the end of his tail is twitching.
- Vulnerable body positions signal happiness and comfort. Cats are prey in the wild. If she’s lying on her back and exposing her belly to you, she knows she’s comfortable and safe.
- Certainly you’ve heard about the “slow blink” from Jackson Galaxy. Relaxed, half-lidded eyes are one of the telltale signs of a happy indoor cat. It is a sign of affection when your cat slowly blinks at you from across the room. Respond to him the same way. The eye-blink is a happy cat gesture.
Related Post: Guess What? Your Cat isn’t a Jerk and He Really Does Love You
Happy cats are curious and confident
A happy indoor cat shows interest in its environment. They play. Engaging in play is one of the most reliable signs of happiness in your cat. Obviously, an elderly cat will not play like a frisky kitten. But he will still show an interest in your wand toy and his favorite catnip toys.
Happy indoor cats are friendly. They show it by being close to their friends; both their humans or other felines. They play, groom, and cat nap with their buddies. Your cat is happy if she selects you as her napping spot and settles in “making biscuits” or kneading her paws into your stomach while you pet her.
Taking proper care of themselves is a sign of a happy indoor cat.
Happy cats groom themselves, their friends, and maybe even you! A greasy, ragged coat shows poor health or an unhappy cat.
They use their litter box properly. Cats like to be clean. If your furbaby pees outside the box, he’s telling you one of two things. He’s unhappy with the condition or setup of his litter box, or he’s not feeling well.
Kitty has a good appetite. Eating well is a sign of a happy cat. Check with the vet if Kitty’s appetite changes. Overeating can signal boredom. Losing weight is a symptom of many health conditions that need a vet consultation.
They go to the vet regularly
Okay, so Kitty probably isn’t super happy about going to the vet. But staying healthy makes for a happy cat. One pillar of Happy Cat Month focuses on proper health care for happy cats. Keep Kitty well by taking her to the vet at least once a year for a check-up and any necessary immunizations.
Related Post: Keep Kitty happy by learning more about the Five Pillars of Cat Care
Summary
Cats need some basics to stay happy and healthy: a healthy, feline appropriate diet, fresh water, a large, clean litter box, an enriched environment, toys to play with, places to hide, vertical spaces, proper health care and a sense of security and love from their guardians. When Kitty feels safe, he will show these signs of a happy indoor cat.
