How do I know if my cat is happy?

Congratulation! If you are reading this article, it is because you are concerned about the well-being of your feline and want to make it happy! But as humans, we don't have the same criteria as our animal friends to live a fulfilling life, and at this point, you must undoubtedly ask yourself the following question: "how do I know if my cat is happy?"
Granted, the language barrier is there, and unless you can communicate through meows, it's best to skip that option. However, not knowing how to speak, cats communicate through behaviors, gestures, or signs as varied as they are precise. Therefore, these clues must be analyzed to know if your cat is happy or not.
15 Signs My Cat Is Happy
1) Your cat often purrs (but not excessively)
A relaxed cat will tend to express joy by purring naturally or when petted. This is an excellent signal to know if he is happy to be in your presence and is not stressed. But, sometimes, it can also happen that cats purr excessively when they are in pain or not feeling well. In this case, it is best to contact your veterinarian to ensure everything is in order.
2) Your cat grooms itself, and sometimes yours!
At this level, cats are a bit like us humans. Hygiene is part of their daily life and tends to take up much time in their daily schedule. Indeed, the cat is well known for its cleanliness. So, if your favorite pet grooms regularly, it's a sign of physical and psychological well-being. Likewise, if he does yours, he trusts you and values you greatly.
3) He likes to eat, and mealtime is sacred
An important sign: appetite! If your pet does not balk at its bowl and enjoys eating, it is most certainly happy! Be careful, though, some cats are gourmets, and they may not like the contents of their bowls. Feel free to change his diet if you notice that he barely touches his bowl, a change which, in this case, will be gradual. Despite this, if you find that he eats little, a consultation with the veterinarian can be helpful. This may hide another problem.
4) A happy cat shows you his buttocks
It may not be THE sign of affection that delights you the most, yet a cat showing you its booty expresses its joy and confidence in you. What strange behavior, isn't it?
5) It also shows you his stomach
Already more pleasant than its hindquarters, a cat that lies down in front of you and awaits the tastebuds with its paws in the air is a very positive sign and of great confidence, there too, towards you. Indeed, by showing you his belly, he tells you that he recognizes you as his master and accepts your "domination." In the illusion, at least, because we all know that cats are superior beings of perfection, dedicated to controlling the world, but that is another story!
6) Your cat offers you gifts with great taste
When a cat brings home its prey, it's simply because it's worried about not seeing you hunt and trying to encourage you to do like it does. He, therefore, offers you gifts because he cares about your well-being and, in a way, monitors your diet. This an adorable little gesture from your cats, which is not always well received by their masters, especially when they wake up!
7) He makes eyes at you
Have you ever noticed your cat staring at you, blinking softly, or half-closing them when your eyes meet? This signifies that your pet is relaxed, zen, and enjoys your company. He is no longer on his guard and agrees to relax in your presence.
8) A happy cat also likes to play
It's no surprise to you; cats are born players since they are kittens and sometimes even when they are ancient. Accompanied or alone, they can have fun for hours and with tiny. A happy and fulfilled cat will tend to have fun with you or its toys. However, kittens or cats all have different characters, and sometimes some don't like to play or are very little, so it's up to you to understand your pet's behavior and see what he wants.
9) He hugs and kneads you
If your feline lies down on you and kneads you with its paws, it is pleased to be with you. One of the best signs of affection he can give you. It is said then that he is patient.
10) He has his tail up when he walks around the house
When your feline raises its straight tail, slightly curved at the end, it is another sign that it is happy. His body expresses everything, and you must observe it to understand his language, which is sometimes very subtle; we grant you that.
11) A happy cat greets you, says hello and goodbye
The more your cat shows you his affection daily, the happier you can consider him to be. Indeed, if he welcomes you when you come home from work and wakes you up in the morning to say hello, if he sticks to you a little, it is probably because he is fulfilled. If, on the contrary, your cat is wild, flees humans, and shows signs of hostility, it is even more worrying if this is not usual.
12) He has high-pitched meows
Did you know that cats mainly meow to try to communicate with humans? There are several levels of sound in their meows. For example, it has been found that high-pitched meows seem to be associated with well-being in the animal, while lower-pitched meows may indicate some discomfort. Still, others are extreme and somewhat stressful, especially when two males enter into competition and are about to fight.
13. Your cat's eyes dilate when you play with it.
This index is more subtle and to be taken with a grain of salt because when a cat has dilated eyes, it can indicate several things: excited, satisfied, fearful, aggressive, or simply because there is little light in the room. In the worst case, he may suffer from a pathology. But, in general, tell yourself that if your feline has dilated eyes when you play with him or when he does an activity that he likes, it's a pretty good sign.
14. A happy cat rubs against you
Your animal passes close to you while rubbing, then irons and irons again and again... This positive sign shows that it appreciates your presence and is close to you. He expresses his joy to you in his way. That said, an unsterilized cat will behave similarly during her heat. This is a sign of sexual arousal. Madame needs to meet a male to reproduce.
15. Your cat is sleeping, slouched, with paws in the air, or in an unlikely position.
If you have a kitten or adult cat, you have surely noticed that these little balls of fur love to sleep in positions that are sometimes inappropriate and often very strange. But, if he gets close to you, on his back, with his paws folded down, he is in great confidence, totally abandoned, relaxed, peaceful, waiting for "tasteful tastes." He greatly appreciates your presence—pretty good sign.
Here are the main signals you, the human, can observe to determine if you have a happy cat at home! However, and this is important to mention that not all cats are the same. The behaviors and characters of felines can vary infinitely, each being unique, and all the signs we have said will not necessarily adapt to your animal's character.
After discussing the signs you may have observed in your feline, let's talk about the actions you can take to make your feline the happiest in the world!
How to make your cat happy?
Making your pet a happy companion is simple if you respect four essential principles: quality food, perfect hygienic conditions, absolute comfort, and lots of love!
1) Joy comes first and foremost through food!
Yes, as for us humans, a well-filled stomach will bring him happiness daily!
Make sure to find what he likes (fish, meat, etc.), and be bold and vary the recipes from time to time (keeping the same food base and introducing new foods gradually).
Do not serve him frozen or cold food at room temperature (38°) or even slightly heated if he does not want it. This will revive his taste buds!
Serve it at will (unless it suffers from obesity) because a cat likes to nibble every 2-3 hours and is self-regulating.
Make sure he has a meal area just for him, quiet and clean. This is very important for his daily landmarks. For obvious reasons, don't place his eating area near the litter box.
Always leave clean, fresh (but not chilled) water available to quench his thirst throughout the day, and consider buying him a practical water fountain.
Occasionally, you can offer him cat treats to reward or to please him, and do not forget the catnip he loves, finally, in general!
2) My cat is happy when his hygiene is impeccable
It is often said that cats are clean by nature, and it is often true. As we mentioned before, the toilet is an important moment for felines. And we also have a significant role to play in the hygiene of our animals. Here's how to keep them clean and thriving.
Keep its litter spotless and maintain it at least twice a week to remove excrement and urine clumps. The ideal would be to remove them every day. Your cat likes a clean toilet. So thoroughly clean its litter box every week.
You can optionally add a "natural scent" to your cat's litter, such as garden soil; he will be delighted. However, don't be fooled by scented, chemical litter, which are made more for human comfort than for your hairballs.
This will sound funny, but give your cat some privacy when he defecates in the litter box. Like you, he can be modest and does not like being looked at when in his toilet!
3) Cats like comfort and outings and are inveterate players!
Cats like comfort (in general), but they are also very playful animals who need to move:
Consider installing a cat tree in your home because it is multi-functional and will cover him with happiness for several reasons. Indeed, cats like hiding places and the feeling of height they can experience with this accessory. They also need to scratch regularly, so it's best to do them on a suitable scratching post rather than on your new sofa. Finally, some cat trees have built-in ropes/toys, ideal for distracting them.
Allow him to go outside if you have a garden, or go for a cat leash/harness to walk with him. Be aware, however, that some cats react badly to these accessories and that it is best to get used to them little by little so that the walk goes smoothly.
Play with your cat, and offer him toys (fishing rod, balls, mice, some filled with catnip, etc.). You will be spoiled for choice on the web.
4) Lots of love, but with limits
Taking care of your cat also means giving it love daily and covering it with tenderness. However, be careful not to go overboard and always consider his needs before yours!
In general, cats love contact, whether it's through your caresses or by rubbing against you. Indeed, the contact against you allows them to spread their scent. So please don't skimp on the cuddles, but don't be too intrusive, and learn to recognize when he wants to be quiet. He will only be happier.
Thank your tomcat for his gifts (the prey he brings back to you), and devote time to him to strengthen your bond with him.
Be understanding during his "crazy moments" when he plays, and never raise a hand at him. If he does something stupid or goes too far in the game, it is better to "punish" him intelligently, in the act, but never with violence. Prefer an indirect method: noise, water jet,
Respect his sleep and let him rest when he needs it; cats have a very different rhythm from ours, and they spend a lot of time sleeping.
At this stage, you can recognize the main signals indicating that you have a happy cat at home, and you can, if necessary, change your habits to improve its daily well-being.
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