PBIO 004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Cat Communication, Nonverbal Communication, Body Language

• School: University of Vermont
• Department: Plant Biology
• Course: PBIO 004
• Professor: Mary Lauretta Tierney

Document Summary

Forms of feline communication are body language, scent and vocalization: vocalization is the easiest for humans to interpret. Cat communication is a spectrum not a single event, the forms of communication are usually used in combination with each other. Cats have limited need for vocalization in the wild because they are independent hunters: use is limited to mother and kitten interaction, mating partners and adversaries. Otherwise the sounds cats make are designed for human interaction (1) this has arisen from domestication and close contact with humans. Types of vocalization: chattering: response of cat seeing prey where their teeth and jaw click together. Body language is a nonverbal communication technique where thoughts, intentions or feelings are expressed by physical behavior: cats use every part of their body to display feelings, types: Pawing: use of paws to interact with something in a non-aggressive manner (a) used in a variety of ways, such as attention seeking, playing, investigating and burying (11)