Understanding nonverbal communication in animals

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I am fairly poor at understanding nonverbal communication in humans, but I am excellent at it with non-humans. The majority of communication that occurs betweens cats, for example, is nonverbal, and I have no problem understanding them. Subtle changes between their ear or tail positions, the way they look at myself or each other - the meaning to me is obvious. But it's not this way with people.

Does anyone else find it easier to understand nonverbal communication in other species?

Yes, particularly with my cat. There are many nuances that I can understand but couldn't translate into words. Do you ever wonder why it's easier with animals? Is it because the animal doesn't expect you to perform socially so the pressure is off?

I wonder about that. I'm better at reading cats than any human I know, though not, I think, better than some other autistic humans or a few cat-loving NTs. My first kitten, when I was about eight or nine, pretty much taught me how to read her. She was a very even-tempered sort of cat, who would squirm but not bite or scratch if I held her too tight; and eventually I learned to interact with her properly... Then when I watched her, I learned that certain movements meant certain things.

I have no doubt that I am much worse at reading a cat than another cat would be; but there's something about a cat's patterns that's so much easier to read than a human's; maybe it's because a cat isn't talking at you at the same time, nor does a cat seek to make annoying and overwhelming eye contact; nor does a cat want to control where you direct your attention. With a cat, social contact just isn't all that demanding. You just kind of coexist, and are aware of each other, and you're not ever forced to interact. There's something about cats that is just... safe.

I have noticed that I naturally pick up on nonverbals from non-human animals and others on the spectrum. I am beginning to wonder if, due to the fact that whatever portions of the brain that interpret NT nonverbals did not develop in us, we naturally use the same basic cues found in other mammals (particularly the quasi-asocial ones like cats). Caviat: I haven't put much time into researching this hypothesis in depth... it is more of a hunch than anything.

I find interacting with cats incredibly restful, and as Callista said, safe. I also like interacting non verbally with horses, when ever I can. Dogs are more noisy, and presumptuous, and attention seeking; much like extroverted NTs.

Cats are good at making people understand what they want, often using behaviors out of the norm in cat/cat interactions. If they could actually say "give me a bite of that delicious tuna sandwich", they would. I guess we will have to settle for rubbing on our ankles, reaching of paws, and "meowmeowmeowmeow...." instead.

I guess my point is that quite a bit of it is manufactured just to get us to understand, or more specifically to achieve the results that the cat "wants" at the time. But aren't they so cute and fluffy?

My wife and I have a 7-year-old "wild" cat my son-in-law found as a kitten either lost or abandoned in a pile of sawdust where he used to work and shortly after her birth, and her interactions are almost exclusively with me. I know a little about her tail and ear movements, and I have learned some of the "boxing" moves she likes, but I mostly just "follow suit" when playing with her since I do not know much at all about cats.

She often lays and even sleeps on my chest at night (as long as my chest is covered with a blanket, and she sometimes snuggles against my beard), but sometimes she only stays for a little while before she hisses and slaps me and runs away ... and I am almost afraid to ask why she might be angry!

She has only ever been inside the house and never had a mama to teach her how to act or behave and so on, and she has only ever been around two other cats at a place where she stayed a couple of times while my wife and I were away for a few days.

I suspect she thinks I am her mate, and someone who knows cats has told me she definitely means to dominate. I sometimes feel bad about her having a boring life, but I do not know anything to do about that. Any thoughts or suggestions from anyone here would be greatly appreciated!

Cats like to watch things moving... some cats like a TV, others like to watch out the window. Then, toys. If she's the smart sort, she might like one of those toys where she can stick her paw into holes and look to see where the little ball inside has gone. Or one of the fishing-rod type toys (actually, I make my own, as the commercial ones get easily shredded) that you hold and dangle for her to chase. Some cats like jingly balls or crinkle toys. A home-made cat tree for her to climb on (like a scratching post but with perches) might be nice; you can buy them but they're expensive. Lots of cats like to be talked to. And if your cat is sensitive to catnip, there's no harm in getting her high sometimes (and catnip is a great way to attract sharp little claws to scratching posts instead of furniture!).

All that is true Arbie but cats communicate much more than that. It's very subtle sometimes.

leejosepho I made my cat a little cave of her own out of one of those boxes with a lid that copier paper comes in. I've got a pad covered with a crinkly fabric inside and she freaking loves it. I just cut a hole big enough for her to enter. Cats have a instinct for burrowing I think, which is why you'll often find the cat asleep in the closet.

Oooh! Yes, they do love hiding spots! And boxes. Little boxes, big boxes, boxes with holes in the sides... I have these cloth cubes with holes in the sides, that are pretty cheap to buy; and they serve as hiding spots for my cats, or a place to play. Many cats are very fond of watching the world from a hiding spot. You'll know if yours is one of them because she will already have found hiding spots of her own.

All very good advice. Sometimes a cat might like to have another cat to interact with, though some cats will always hate any new cats that are introduced. I have lived with quite a few different cats in my time and some are social butterflies, and some... well they are little aspies. You never know which cats will be which based on how they get along with humans either. My parents cat George is very sociable to humans, even strangers, but he does not like other cats at all. Their other cat Smokey is shy to new people, but gets along well with new cats, if not super enthusiastically. Still another cat they had (passed away) loved new people and new cats. So if you want another cat that could be an option. They will never be bored with their little cat to cat dramas, and neither will you.

I thank each of you for the comments!

Yes, she has a cardboard box with loose flaps she likes to run and dive into to "hide" or whatever, and she really likes playing with a shoestring if you dangle it in front of her or drag it across the floor. She has other toys she will bat around and chase across the floor, and I sometimes shine a flashlight on the wall for her ... I try to keep her brain stimulated! I would like to make a scratching post and perch for her, but we do not have a lot of room here. So, we definitely do let her lay on the back of the sofa and so on.

So true! And yes they do have very different communications they use with other cats vs. humans. They observe us and do whatever it takes to get us to feed them, pet them, etc. when they want. They have to, because most humans are pretty bad at reading cat signals. I can now understand them pretty well, but that's because 1) we've had cats for almost 12 years and 2) I read and study about their behaviour, it's become a special interest. When we got the first one, I would wonder why he did stuff, and say "crazy cat!" But now, I find them much easier to read than people.

yes me too...I love my cat and find him really easy to interperet. Not so much humans though. My favorite thing is when he's stalking something. His pupils get really dialated, his ears flatten and he'll move his mouth really fast to make this kind of clicking noise. Then he starts to duck and slowly move forward. I'm pretty sure when he does this, he thinks I can't see him, it's so cute.

Animals are fascinating! I love watching their mannerisms. We have 3 cows , many goats, a few chooks, a dog and a cat. Watching them relate to their own species is really instructive but when they relate to the animals of another species it is really amazing how much they seem to comprehend.

Also affection, play and curiosity seem to exist between the animals. Cows running to watch my partner dig the veggie garden, or to check on the new arrivals... the hens.... those cows really get a buzz from just standing at the chook pen for ages watching.

Recently when I was alone in the car the cows had a glint in their eyes and decided to run across the disconnected electric tape, whilst I drove my car through, before I could secure the recharged tape. They had a wonderful romp...... a great game......running up to the goats in the top paddock to say "hello". It is their posture, swish of the tail and that "look" they give as they Kick up their heels. The dog will join in and the cat come out to watch.
There are times when the body language between the animals displays disapproval, concern and I swear even jest.
I know some might say I'm being anthropomorphic but I reckon that I do tune in to the animals much more than to humans. Possibly some humans are unable to tune into subtle animal behavious and dispositions.

Dancyclancy, your post gave me lovely visuals. I'm no expert on the brain, but as I understand it, Mammals have Limbic systems so it makes sense to me they would have some level of emotion even if it wasn't as complicated as a Human. BTW what is a chook?