A common assumption is that purring is good and that hissing is bad. That is the case for some situations, but not all of them. Purring, while often a sign of happiness and contentment, is also a self-soothing action. When injured or anxious, a cat may purr to calm themself down. Another reason cats purr is to communicate with each other. Specifically, a mother and her kitten will communicate this way. Likewise, hissing can also be a form of communication between cats. A cat may hiss at another cat to tell them to back off, or to simply let them know who is in charge. It isn't necessarily a sign of hostility, nor should an owner always assume a fight will break out if their cat hisses at another cat.
Cats communicate mainly through body language. The ability to read body language is crucial for understanding and getting along with a cat. One way to tell how a cat is feeling is by looking at their tail. When the tail is curved at the tip, it often means a cat is feeling content and happy.
It is a positive signal. When a cat's tail and fur is fluffed up and raised, it can mean they are startled or angry. Context clues can help you determine which one. For example, if a playmate jumped around the corner, it's likely they were just startled and instinctively puffed themselves. However, if other signs like hissing, batting of the paws, and back arching are present, the cat may be upset and feel genuinely threatened by something.
Tail swishing or wagging can mean multiple things. Casual and slow side-to-side movement usually indicates contentment or curiosity, while rapid and hard tail lashing usually indicates annoyance or overstimulation. Cats can get overstimulated by multiple things, mainly petting and play. It is important to keep a look out for the signs so you know when to stop
Pinned ears, or airplane ears, can signal that a cat is annoyed, stressed, or simply very focused. When a cat tucks in its paw and lays down, often known as 'loafing,'they feel safe and content. Likewise, the act of kneading means something similar. Kneading is when a cat pushes out and pulls in their front paws against a surface. Some cats will even knead their humans. They do this when they are calm, at ease, and happy. Slow blinking is a staple of cat communication. When a cat slowly blinks at you, it signals that they trust you and feel safe around you. To strengthen the bond with your cat, you can even slow blink back. Though you must make sure to not stare unblinking, as that may be perceived as a threat.