Cat behavior consultant Ingrid told Bored Panda that even though all cats are unique as individuals, they still share some common behavior patterns that show whether they're happy or upset. "Each cat is no doubt an individual, but there are some basic signs to help you know that your cat is content," the founder of Fundamentally Feline said and detailed how we can tell if our catto is enjoying itself.

"How your cat chooses to position themselves in the home while sleeping can illustrate that they are relaxed and feel safe. Signs of this would be sleeping stretched out in a more vulnerable position, even exposing their belly as a sign of trust," Ingrid said. However, she pointed out that this exposed belly isn't an invitation to touch, as this might "break that trust and is insulting to most cats."

Stressed-out cats that don't feel safe tend to hide and avoid playing. "So if your cat is happy to chase a feather toy all around the house, they feel pretty confident! Even just sitting in the center of the room shows you that they feel safe, content, and confident. Timid cats and cats that are stressed are going to try to not be noticed, stay hidden, and focus on only meeting their basic needs. Happy cats are full of life and a part of the family!"

"Just like with other animals, you can also see the joy in the cats' facial expressions, too, so keep an eye out as well. Plus, like most other species, you can see it in their facial expressions, you can observe joy, excitement, or fear just by looking at your cat and taking the time to know him/her."

I wanted to get Ingrid's opinion about when we should start getting worried about changes in our pets' behavior. The cat behavior consultant noted that cats are creatures of habit who thrive on consistency and routine. So any change in behavior can potentially be a sign of a medical problem. "In fact, behavior changes are often the first and only symptom that something is amiss because cats are so adept at hiding and masking pain."

Ingrid shared some of the things that we should look out for. "Are they suddenly sleeping in a new area of the home? Could be a seasonal change to chase the sunbeams, but it could also be a sign that they are not feeling well and trying to remove themselves from the household hubbub. Are they eating more or less all of a sudden? Have they suddenly become more vocal, or quieter? How about the litter box habits, are they eliminating more or less than is normal? All of this is really important information for pet parents to keep a close eye on and if they notice changes outside of what has been an established normal they should contact their veterinarian."

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing went into detail with Bored Panda about what cats do for fun and how we can tell that they’re enjoying themselves. 

“Cats are, by their nature, solitary and watchful creatures. They love to watch the world go by from high places, and they also sleep a lot and do not appreciate being disturbed! While many do love to play, it needs to be on their terms and only when they’re in the right mood!” Nina explained.

According to Nina, the types of play that cats enjoy tend to mimic their natural hunting behaviors. These include chasing, pouncing, stalking, diving, hiding, and throwing.

“You can tell when cats are having fun, their faces light up and their eyes go wide and bright as they become excited and alert; their senses heighten and their pupils can widen. Their whole body language becomes animated and light,” she explained. 

One way to know that you’re an awesome cat owner is if your cats feel confident enough to have ‘a mad half-hour' where they “suddenly become full of fun and excitement, running around, chasing imaginary mice, sometimes whizzing up curtains and being so full of fun that they can’t contain themselves.” Nina said: “If your cat is happy and confident enough to display this kind of behavior, you can congratulate yourself on being a great cat owner as your cat feels very comfortable in your company.”

The ‘What’s Wrong With Your Cat’ subreddit continues to grow. It already has over 407k members, up from 239k fans in January of 2021 and 284k members in late May.

We can only expect that the online group’s popularity will continue to grow: the content is ameowzing and resonates very much with the online community. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy cute and cuddly cats, as well as a big dollop of humor and the chance to learn more about the secret lives of felines?

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina previously told Bored Panda that cat owners are responsible for making sure that cats are able to express their natural behaviors. This is one of the five animal welfare needs, the others being health, companionship, having a suitable diet, as well as living in a suitable environment.

“Cats love to play, but they need to be able to play the games that are natural to them, like jumping, pouncing, and chasing, all of which mimic behavior that they display when playing outside,” the PDSA representative explained to Bored Panda.

“If your cat is a house cat, then you need to provide toys, climbing areas, hidey-holes, and scratch pads,” the vet nurse shared that we have to do our best to provide our pets with enough ‘infrastructure’ to stimulate them, engage them, and keep them moving.

If your cat doesn’t move enough or has an inadequate diet (or both), it can become overweight. That brings about a ton of health risks, from reducing the cat’s overall life expectancy and reducing its quality of life, to diminishing the animal’s energy levels and raising the risk of serious conditions, like diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and arthritis.

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina said that owners are responsible for helping their pets stay lean and energetic. Therefore, owners have to be “proactive and enticing” to try and convince their cats to play and get enough exercise. It might sound like a lot of effort, but it’s worth it if our goal is to help our cattos lose weight so they can live their best lives.

“As pets lose weight and they get more energy, owners are often astounded by their cats’ behavior changes, reporting that they are becoming more active and interested in life: ’He’s like a kitten again,” Nina shared what the reactions of some pet owners are after they see the positive changes in their cats’ lives.

“Their slowing down wasn’t because they were getting older at all, simply that they were unhealthy, felt rubbish, and probably couldn’t be bothered,” the vet nurse noted that lots of exercise and play, as well as a decent diet, are key to keeping cats fit and feeling like they’re young.

Which of these meowlfunctioning cats did you enjoy looking at the most, dear Pandas? Do you have a goofy cat or other pet of your own at home? What do you love the most about cats in general? We’d love to see what you have to say, so if you have a minute, write a comment or two—it’s always great to hear from you (hey, that rhymed!).