Cat & dog body language, one signal at a time
Every guide reads the same four cues — ears, eyes, tail, posture — and says plainly when a reading stops being about mood and becomes a vet visit.
- How do I read my dog's body language?Read a dog in four cues: ears, eyes, tail and posture. What each one looks like, what it means together, and the signs that mean stop and call a vet.
- Is my dog depressed?Lying around is not the signal — change is. How to tell a resting dog from a withdrawn one using ears, eyes, tail and posture, and when low mood is a vet visit instead.
- Is my cat depressed, or does she just hate me?Not sitting on your lap is temperament. Hiding more than she used to is the signal. How to tell them apart from ears, eyes, tail and posture — and when to call a vet.
- What does it mean when a cat slow blinks at you?A slow blink is a cat lowering its guard around you. What it means, how to answer it, and the ear and tail readings that tell you whether it is contentment or appeasement.
- What does it mean when a cat's ears go back?Ears back is not one signal. Four readings — irritated, frightened, content, or an ear problem — and the eye and tail cues that tell them apart.
- Is my cat in pain, or just sitting like that?A comfortable loaf and a pain crouch look alike at a glance. Four differences — front paws, back, eyes and head height — and when to stop guessing and call a vet.
Made with 💛 and many head scratches. Hachimo is for fun and curiosity — it's not veterinary advice. If your pet seems unwell, please talk to a real-life vet. 🩺