What is my cat saying?
Cats are subtle, and an old cat more so. Pick what you are seeing to learn what it usually means and what to do.
What are you seeing?
What it usually means
A friendly greeting. Cats raise the tail like this to people and cats they like.
What to do
Say hello. A slow hand to sniff and a rub on the cheeks is the usual reply.
What it usually means
Irritation or over-arousal. Unlike a dog's wag, a lashing tail usually means enough.
What to do
Stop petting and give space. This is the warning that comes before a swat.
What it usually means
Fear. The cat is trying to look bigger because it feels threatened.
What to do
Do not approach or pick up. Remove the cause if you can and let the cat retreat.
What it usually means
Unease, cold or pain. A cat sitting hunched with its tail wrapped and feet tucked for long periods may be hurting.
What to do
If it is new or constant, have a vet check for pain or illness.
What it usually means
Relaxed and trusting. Many cats return a slow blink.
What to do
Blink slowly back. It is as close to a smile as cats get.
What it usually means
Excitement, fear or play, depending on the moment. Pupils that stay large in good light can be a sign of pain, high blood pressure or sight loss in an old cat.
What to do
In play, fine. If the pupils are large all the time, or one is bigger than the other, see your vet soon.
What it usually means
Sideways ears mean unease or irritation. Ears flat back mean fear or readiness to defend.
What to do
Back off and let the cat choose the distance.
What it usually means
A common picture of pain in cats, especially with ears slightly rotated out and a hunched posture.
What to do
Call your vet. Never give a cat human painkillers; they can be fatal.
What it usually means
Usually contentment. Cats also purr when frightened or in pain, as a way of soothing themselves.
What to do
Enjoy it, unless the purring comes with hiding, not eating or a hunched posture, in which case see your vet.
What it usually means
Trust, and often an invitation to play. For most cats it is not a request for a belly rub.
What to do
Admire it from where you are, or offer a toy. Reaching for the belly often ends in claws.
What it usually means
Cats hide when they are frightened, unwell or in pain. In an old cat it is one of the more reliable signs that something is wrong.
What to do
If it lasts more than a day, or your cat is also eating less, book a vet visit. A cat that has not eaten for a day needs a vet promptly.
What it usually means
Fear and a clear request for distance. A cat that hisses when touched in one place is often in pain.
What to do
Give space and do not punish. A new hiss in a gentle old cat is a reason for a vet check.
This tool organizes what you have noticed. It can't examine your pet, and its result is not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. Take what it shows to your vet; if your pet is in distress, go to an emergency clinic now. Full disclaimer
Reading the whole cat
No single signal settles it. A swishing tail during play means something different from a swishing tail while being held. Look at the tail, ears, eyes, whiskers and posture together, and at what just happened.
Old cats go quiet. They jump less, groom less, sleep in one place and stop greeting you at the door, and it is easy to call it age. Often it is arthritis, dental pain, high blood pressure or failing sight. The face is worth learning: squinting, ears rotated outward and a tight muzzle are how many cats show pain.
A cat that purrs is not always fine, and a cat that hides is rarely just being a cat. When the body language changes and stays changed for more than a day or two, it is worth a vet visit.
- Arthritis in senior cats: signs, causes, and treatment optionsHealth · 16 min read · 17 Apr 2026
- Why is my old cat hiding? 9 causes and when to worryHealth · 14 min read · 7 Mar 2026
- Why is my old cat suddenly aggressive? 9 causes and what to doHealth · 14 min read · 31 Mar 2026
- Why is my old cat suddenly clingy? 9 causes and what to doHealth · 14 min read · 16 Mar 2026
- Why is my old cat meowing so much? 8 reasons explainedHealth · 9 min read · 2 Oct 2025
More tools
All tools →- Can my dog or cat eat this?Type a food. See whether it is fine in small amounts, only with care, or a no, and read why.
- Euthanasia and cremation cost estimatorClinic, home or emergency visit, with or without cremation. A typical range before you call for quotes.
- Is it time? A checklist for dogsThe things vets weigh when a dog's quality of life is failing, set out so you can see where yours stands.
- Is it time? A checklist for catsThe things vets weigh when a cat's quality of life is failing, set out so you can see where yours stands.