How well do you know your cat?  

Unlocking the mystery behind our feline friend’s behavior  

The historical origins of the modern domestic cat is shrouded in mystery, but current evidence traces back to ancient Egypt around 5,000 years ago. Cats became valued members of society because they protected precious grain stores from rats and mice. Domestic cats gradually made their way across the globe, most likely on trading ships.

Today, cats are beloved worldwide because of their low-maintenance nature making them ideal pets for busy, working families. However, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the moods and behaviors of cats, and what they need to live happy, healthy lives alongside their humans. Contrary to popular belief, cats are emotional creatures and not just solitary predators. Play in cats is driven by their strong predatory instinct and has little to do with social bonding like that of a dog. Another common misconception is that cats are solitary non-social animals, 10% of cats suffering from separation anxiety. They should, however, have access to areas in the house where they can escape and hide.

Emotional systems and moods

Understanding your cat’s emotional state opens the door to sharing their joy and happiness, but is also key to understanding and ensuring their well-being. Experiencing negative emotions over a long period of time will influence your cat’s emotional well-being and can contribute to the development of behavioral problems. By educating ourselves about our cat’s nutritional and emotional needs, we can support their overall well-being while reinforcing our special and unique bond. Behavioral problems such as aggression, anxiety, and urine and fecal marking are typically caused by misunderstanding a cats’ needs. Several physical illnesses and diseases like urinary tract infections and high blood pressure that can also lead to anxiety.

As cat owners, it is our duty and responsibility to care for their emotional well-being. Cats, like people, experience a range of emotions – joy, happiness sadness, loneliness, fear and pain. The eight core emotional states shape our mood over time.  Just as our mood reflects our emotional state, cats’ moods can indicate their well-being. Poor moods can lead to behavioral issues and welfare problems. Understanding and supporting their emotional needs helps ensure they live happy, healthy lives.

Body language and expressions

Cats express their mood through subtle facial expressions and body postures. Depending on their personality, the same body posture may have different meanings. Here are the top 10 most common postures that are universal across all cat breeds:

Track your cats’ emotions and mood state

Tracking a cat’s emotional state several times a day over several days, can give you a good indicator of their mood. This method is similar to the monitoring that mental health professionals use to assess people’s mental wellness and state of mind. If you are unsure of any postures or emotions, take a picture for reference. Take a picture of your cat’s face and posture and keep a record. If you are unsure of your cat’s emotional cues, behaviors or mood state, seek professional behavioral support.

A happy gut is a happy cat

The gut microbiota plays a central part in your cat’s physical and mental health. The brain and gut communicate regularly through a vast network of neurons within the gut called the enteric nervous system, which is often called the “second brain”. The gut-brain axis not only ensures the proper maintenance of gastrointestinal balance, but also has been linked to motivation and cognitive function. Its role is to monitor and integrate gut function as well as mechanisms such as immune activation, intestinal permeability, enteric reflex and entero-endocrine signaling.

Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, can help modulate the host microbiota and are useful in addressing behavioral issues in pets. Lallemand, a leading expert in the development of microbial-based solutions for human and animal nutrition, offers natural, research-backed nutritional solutions for immune support, digestive care and overall well-being. Supplementation with Lallemand’s solutions can help support your cat’s health and well-being.

Conclusion

Your cat’s mood state reflects their overall emotional well-being and mental state. Negative emotions like loneliness, fear and pain have a negative impact on well-being. In order to maintain your cat’s emotional health and well-being, try to ensure there are more positive experiences and moods than negative. By better understanding their emotional cues and needs, we can support overall well-being, seek help if required, and strengthen our special and unique bond with our feline friends.