Behavior Indicative of Positive Affect

Alert-relaxed: Cat may be calmly displaying maintenance or self-care behaviors (e.g., grooming, eating, scratching, etc.), lying ventrally or laterally belly may be partially exposed, sitting, or standing, tail is up, loosely downward, or loosely wrapped, the head may or may not be resting on a surface, the pupils are not dilated.

Rest: The cat is in a lateral or curled position with the eyes closed and head hanging below the line of the body, resting on the paws or surface. Respiration rate is decreased, the tail is loosely wrapped or extended. The eyes are closed or half closed and possibly blinking slowly. The belly is often exposed.

Eat: The cat consumes food. Drink: The cat laps water or other liquid.

Groom: The cat licks its body or its paw and pass the paw over its head.

Approach: Cat comes toward the observer.

Rub: Cat rubs its body, head, or tail along the ground or object.

Tail up: Cat raises its tail to a vertical position.

Other Behaviors: Exploratory behavior: The cat may be sniffing, rearing, playing with objects. Stretch: The cat extends itself or its limbs to full length. Yawn: To open the mouth wide with a deep inhalation, usually involuntarily from drowsiness, fatigue, or boredom. Play: Cat manipulates an object with its paws in an apparently playful manner. The cat may pat, throw, pounce or wrestle with the object. Self—Cat plays with its own body, usually the tail. Social—Cat directs play at another cat or the observer. Climb: Cat ascends an object. Knead: Cat presses and stretches its paws on a surface, alternating feet. Scratch: Object—Cat repeatedly scrapes its extended claws against a rough surface. Self—Cat scratches itself as if it has an itch.

Behavior indicative of negative affect

Alert/tense Cat remains generally inactive with eyes fully open, muscles are tensed ready to react. Cat may be in a crouched or flattened body posture, displaying quick, frequent eye, ear and/or head movement scanning the environment. Cats frequently display fully dilated pupils, erect ears, and have an increased respiratory rate. Tail may be twitching, held low, or wrapped tight around the body. The belly is not exposed.

Freeze: Cat doesn’t move from its position. May be feigning sleep. Respiratory rate is increased, muscles are tensed ready to react. The cat is lying ventrally or crouching without moving from the position. The tail is tightly wrapped around the body. The legs are held tight and the belly is not visible. The head has little or no movement and is held in the same plane of the body. If eyes are open, the pupils are fully dilated. If the eyes are closed they may be slits or occasionally quickly flick open. The ears may be erect and twitch occasionally.

Crouch: The cat is positioned with all four feet in contact with the ground with its legs bent. The tail may be flicking or wrapped tightly around the body.

Lip lick: Cat licks its lips briefly. This is a non-appetitive behavior.

Attempt to hide: The cat tries to conceal itself in a location other than the hide box. This may be: in the litter box, crouched behind the litter box, behind a disrupted towel, or behind the hide box.

Turned away: The cat has its entire body or head and neck positioned away from the observer, camera, or front of the cage.

Other Behaviors: Agonistic: Cat reacts to another cat in a nearby cage by hissing, growling, withdrawing to rear of cage, or displaying other aggressive behaviors. Startle: Cat starts or jumps involuntarily, as by surprise or alarm. Attempt to escape (<5%): Cat tries to get out of the cage; may scratch at the door, wall, and floor, with or without vocalizing. May be rearing Lunge (<5%): Cat makes a sudden movement forward. Flattened body (<5%): This is an extreme version of crouch. Cat often is behind something, has flattened ears, and is hiding its head and/or averting its gaze. Avert gaze (<5%): The cat stops looking in the direction it was and quickly glances away from the observer, cat, room, etc.

Vocalizations

None: Cat makes no sound. Meow: Cat makes a distinct sound, usually when it is trying to obtain something from another cat, but it is often directed toward human caretakers. Growl: Cat makes a low-pitched rumbling noise. Hiss: Cat makes a drawn-out SSSS sound, which is unvoiced.

Position in cage

Front: Cat is in the front half of the cage. Rear: Cat is in the rear half of the cage. In litter pan: Cat is positioned in the litter pan but is not urinating or defecating. Hide: Cat is positioned in a hiding box. Perch: Cat is positioned on an elevated structure.