Cats, dogs, and other pets aren’t just furry, scaley, or feathery animals - they are family members. Pet parents learn their animals’ behavior: their likes, dislikes, fears, anger, playfulness, and everything in between. In turn, our animals do their best to tell us what they want and how they feel.    

Dogs, cats, and other pets don’t generally like when their moms and dads aren’t home, so when parents are away, it’s up to a pet sitter to gain a fearful or nervous animal’s trust. The NAPPS article Handling different animal personalities will help you stay safe while keeping the pet happy and feeling secure.

Dog Tail Tales

Dogs know how to tell us when they’re happy; in fact, they cannot help but show their joy, right? Yes, dogs wag their tails when they’re happy or excited, but a wagging tail can also mean the animal is emotionally aroused, scared, frustrated, or disturbed.

Speed and direction of that wagging tail are indicators of what’s going on in the animal’s mind. Dogs are overly aroused when they wag their tails fast. They may be happy or excited or they could be on alert for something, like strangers or what they perceive as imminent danger. Slow, long tail sweeping side to side is a relaxed way of greeting pet parents and caregivers.  

Wagging direction indicates a dog’s feelings. A tail wagging study by Current Biology shows that when dogs feel positive, they tend to wag their tails to the right. Negative feelings have them swishing those tails to the left. “Helicopter” wagging (where the tail spins around) is a happy wag, given to the pup’s favorite people.  

Anxiety

When a dog is anxious, afraid, stressed, or in submission, you’ll probably see the tail lowered and between the legs. Slow, low-tail wagging could indicate insecurity or apprehensiveness. Raised tails often mean curiosity or a piqued interest. Dogs are assertive when their tails are raised high.

Stressed dogs may exhibit these behaviors: 

Hair stands along the back of a dog’s neck and back fur gets fluffed up when the pup is aroused, but it’s not necessarily a negative reaction. The dog may be stressed but he/she can also be excited or interested in something. Raised ”hackles” for a dog or cat are similar to goosebumps for people.

Posture

Weight distribution also gives a clue about a dog’s mood. Cowering near the ground indicates stress or fear. When dogs roll on their backs, they may be asking for a belly rub, but they also may be stressed or anxious. 

Animals that shift their weight forward are generally trying to get closer to whatever has piqued their interest.  

Dogs with their chest on the ground and butt in the air can be in a playful mood, but not always. Learn how to tell if you have fleas in your yard, because playful jumping may be caused by your pup trying to scratch an unreachable place.

Cat Tales

Reading a cat’s body language is hit or miss because felines have a variety of ways to let you know they’re happy or unhappy, and some of them are the same. For example, purring is a sign of happiness but it’s also a sign of fear or distress.

Unhappy Cats

Although it can often be a guessing game as to what’s going on in a cat’s mind, here are some “tell-tail” signs of an unhappy cat:

Cats often scrunch themselves into a ball or hide when they’re nervous. You may see dilated pupils and heads hanging low. Scared kitties may or may not hiss, howl, or growl in distress.

Happy Cats

Happy cats hold their ears in the upright position and blink their eyes slowly. Purring, nuzzling, and “petting” their human companions are some of the ways cats show us their affection.

When a cat rolls over to show his or her belly, it’s usually a sign of feeling safe and happy. If the animal likes you, it could be a request to rub softly – but maybe not. (Take note, young cats and kittens sometimes use this ploy as a way to nip and play.)

Signs of a happy cat include:

Sick Animals

Pet sitters are responsible for the wellbeing of their charges and must know when it may be necessary to seek medical attention. Some signs of distressed, hurting, or sick animals include scrunched posture with legs tucked under the body, closed or squinted eyes, hard or rapid, shallow breathing, ears held low and to the side, and tail tucked under or close to the body. These are just a few indicators of an animal in trouble. When concerned about an animal’s immediate health, contact the pet parent and their veterinarian. 

Pet sitters and pet parents know that learning an animal’s behavior and putting him or her at ease is the first step to developing a loving and trusting relationship. “Listening” to body language is the best way to get the message that cats, dogs, and other animals are sending.  

Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.