National Body Language Day falls on Friday. It is a day to recognize the messages that friends and family send each other in everyday life. The body language of our animals and humans is often revealed by a simple smile or head tilt.
Each day, shelters kill more than 1,000 pets. According to Best Friends Animal Society, understanding a pet’s body language can encourage adoption rates and ultimately tackle the overcrowding crisis within shelters nationwide.
In celebration of the holiday, BFAS provides some helpful tips in reading your pet’s body language.
Cats:
• Heads or tails: A tail that is pointed up is a signal for welcomed engagement. However, if your cat’s tail is wagging back and forth, it often means they are overstimulated and may need some personal space before the next petting session.
• Look at my belly: According to the release the cat’s stomach is regarded as the most vulnerable area. Your cat exposing its stomach to you is a sign that it trusts you.
• Eye contact: Another sign your cat trusts you is when they softly blink at you. You can calm your cat down by blinking slowly back at it. This will let your cat know that they are in a safe environment.
• Stretching is important: The more comfortable the cat feels in its environment the more relaxed and looser the body will be. According to a release, cats become rigid and stiff when they are under stress.
Dogs:
• Yawning: The release states dogs tend to yawn to help reduce stress. You should yawn along with your pet when they are experiencing stress or anxiety in a new situation.
• The tail never lies: Dogs’ biggest emotional indicator is by the way they wag their tails. When alert, dogs will raise their tails in a vigorous way. Tails tucked in often indicate that a dog is afraid. While a tail that follows along the dog’s spine often means they are relaxed.
• Walk the walk: According to the release, dogs feel more comfortable when their owners approach them from the side, moving in an arc, instead of moving toward them head-on.
The blinking of the eyes is another way to reduce dog stress. According to the release, squinting is a sign that a dog is relaxed.
Madison Willis is a writer for The Eastern New Mexico News. To suggest a story or nominate a “Pet of the week,” contact her at: [email protected]