Does your pet talk to you?

All pet owners know that pets use their body language to communicate with us. Since they live much simpler lives than us and are so dependent on us, they need to be able to convey their needs. Cats do this with their ears, bodies, and a wide range of sounds. Sometimes they just want our attention, while other times they tell us “My plate of food is empty.” A pet owner can soon tune in to facial expressions and the unspoken word the body says.

I have five domestic cats. Each of them has taken on the responsibility of telling me different things. The oldest, Pepper, (a Persian mix) keeps me posted when his food bowls are running low. She never lets them drain before alerting me. Next in age, Smokey (a Russian Blue) lets out a howl, as he walks through the pet door of his outdoor kennel, to let me know that it is raining or too cold for his liking. It does this continuously, until it stops raining or it gets hot outside. Then there’s Squeaky, (a gray Tabby) who jumps on my computer desk or onto my lap and whines to let me know that one of the other cats is picking on her. At the rear are our two-year-old siblings, Little Bit and Precious (mix of Manx and Gray Tabby). Little Bit helps Smokey with the weather reports and Precious reminds me when it’s “our” nap time. With all five, I’m never short of loud conversations.

The more we demonstrate our understanding of what they are telling us, the better our pets will be able to communicate with us and the more the conversations will expand. Try to pay close attention to what your pet is “saying” to you and you will find a companion eager to chat with you.

A recent poll conducted by GfK Roper Public with the help of the Associated Press and Petside.com found that 62% of people surveyed believed their pets understood them when they spoke to them. At least 18% believe their pet fully understands. 67% of the participants believe that they understand howls and howls and what their pet wants or needs. The survey highlighted, among other things, the high level of communication and bond between many owners and their pets. Since many households have more than one pet, 74% of pet owners have a dog, while 46% have a cat, according to the survey.

Although 15% of all owners said they had cut expenses for their pets in the past year, 48% of dog owners and 28% of cat owners said they planned to buy gifts for their pets last Christmas .