Neither the meows nor the tail: this is what you have to look for when two cats approach each other to know if they get along or not

Cats have a very particular character and, although they are very independent and each one of them shows a different way of being, the truth is that they interact a lot with both humans and other cats. In fact, whoever has only one cat at home, can be fixed on some behavioral traits when pairing your pet with another cat.

How can we know at first glance and at first contact if cats are going to get along or not? Well, although the most common thing is to look at the position of the tail or whether the cats begin to make a sound, there is another part of the body that prematurely indicates whether the cats are going to get along or not: It’s about the ears.

“When an adult cat wants to greet another in a friendly way, It approaches with its tail raised almost vertically and, sometimes, with the tip slightly inclined towards the animal it is greeting,” begins user Mary WildBehav, an expert in ethology (animal behavior).

However, it is very common that, after this first approach, the cat rubs its head, neck or body along the other cat’s body, sniffing it with its nose: “Rubbing, sniffing, and approaching with tail raised “They are affiliative behaviors in cats, that is, behaviors that help maintain cordiality and strengthen the bond between individuals,” he continues.

Look at the cats’ ears

“Now, if two cats have established a relationship of dominance and submission, it is possible that the submissive cat approaches with its tail raised, but the dominant does not. That does not mean that the dominant is looking for a fight,” he adds. So what happens in these cases?

“If two cats approach each other with their tails lowered, but their ears pricked, the probability of conflict is very low”

Well then, “In these cases, we must look at the ears. If two cats approach each other with their tails low, but their ears pricked, the likelihood of conflict is very low.

“Instead, if at least one of the two has flattened or backward ears, Regardless of the position of the tail, the probability of conflict increases,” concludes the animal behavior expert.

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