Cats have a reputation for being mysterious. Aloof. Impossible to read.

That reputation is mostly wrong. Cats communicate constantly, through their tails, their ears, their eyes, their posture, their vocalizations, and a hundred small movements that most people never learn to notice. Once you start paying attention, you realize they're actually saying quite a lot.

Here's a guide to the things your cat is telling you every single day.

The tail is the most obvious signal

A tail held straight up in the air is a happy cat. It's the cat equivalent of a confident, friendly hello. When your cat trots toward you with their tail raised high, they're genuinely glad to see you.

A tail that's low or tucked under the body means something is wrong. The cat is scared, uncomfortable, or in pain. The lower the tail, the more distressed the animal.

A tail that's flicking back and forth slowly usually means the cat is annoyed or overstimulated. This is the signal most people miss right before a cat swats at them. If you're petting your cat and the tail starts swishing, that's your cue to stop.

A puffed-up tail, the Halloween cat look, means the cat is genuinely frightened and trying to look bigger than they are. Give them space.

The ears tell you almost everything

Ears forward and relaxed means the cat is content and engaged with the world. Ears slightly back means mild irritation or uncertainty. Ears flattened all the way back against the head means fear or aggression. The cat is either about to run or about to fight, and either way you should give them room.

One of the most useful ear signals to know is what behaviorists call airplane ears, when the ears rotate to the sides like little wings. This means the cat is stressed. Something in their environment is bothering them. If you see this, try to figure out what changed.

The slow blink is the thing

If you learn nothing else from this post, learn the slow blink.

When a cat slow blinks at you, closes their eyes slowly, holds for a moment, opens slowly, they're telling you they feel safe with you. It's one of the clearest signals of trust a cat can give. In cat communication, a direct unblinking stare is a challenge. The slow blink is the opposite. It says: I see you. I'm not threatened. We're good.

You can do it back. Look at your cat, slow blink at them, then look away. Most cats will slow blink in return. Some will do it first. Either way it's a small, real exchange that builds trust over time.

The sounds and what they actually mean

Cats developed their meow almost entirely for communicating with humans. Feral cats almost never meow at each other. The meow is specifically for us, which means your cat has essentially created a language to talk to you.

A short chirp or trill usually means follow me. A mother cat uses this sound to call her kittens. When your cat chirps at you and then walks toward the food bowl, they're being very clear.

Purring is almost always contentment, but not always. Cats also purr when they're stressed or in pain. It seems to be self-soothing behavior similar to the way humans hum when they're anxious. If your cat is purring but something seems off, pay attention to the rest of their body language.

Chattering, that clicking sound cats make while watching birds through a window, is excitement and frustration at the same time. They want the bird very badly and they can't have it.

Growling, hissing, and yowling are all forms of please stop what you're doing. They're not signs of a bad cat. They're signs of a cat that has run out of quieter ways to ask for space.

The things they do with their bodies

Kneading, when your cat pushes their paws rhythmically into a soft surface or into you, is a leftover behavior from kittenhood when they kneaded their mother to stimulate milk flow. Cats do it when they're happy and relaxed. It's one of the highest compliments they can pay you.

Headbutting, or bunting, is how cats mark the things they love. When your cat headbutts you, they're claiming you as theirs. Most cat owners consider this one of the better things that has ever happened to them.

Rolling onto their back and showing you their belly is a sign of complete trust. It doesn't necessarily mean they want you to pet their belly. Many cats will swat at a hand that accepts the apparent invitation. It means they feel safe enough around you to expose their most vulnerable area.

Cats are not mysterious. They're just speaking a different language. Once you start to learn it, the relationship changes completely. You stop feeling like you're guessing and start feeling like you're actually having a conversation.

That conversation has been going on the whole time. You just needed to know what to listen for.

If you're thinking about adding a cat to your life, or helping one who needs it, go to thesecondpaw.org and find a rescue organization near you.

Second chances start here.