friend_foe_main

CORRECT

FRIEND

CHASING

Tense body, ears erect and forward (tabby and white cat), high speed (can tell from curved back of black cat), tabby and white cat trying to reach and catch black cat.

INCORRECT

RESTART

FOE TOUCH is correct

GROOMING

Tail up and rubbing flanks to deposit pheromones (grey tabby cat), ears up (both cats), ginger cat looking at tabby but not staring.

Ears back (grey cat), cuff with paw (black cat) with grey cat ready to counteract with paw, eyes of grey cat tightly shut in protective stance, grey cat's body weight away from black cat.

ALMOST PUURFECT

Ears back and flat, eyes half-closed (both cats), toes splayed with claws out ready to defend itself (grey cat) highlighting tense interaction.

BITING

Ears up (both cats), relaxed face shown by half closed eyes and undilated pupils (red cat).

PLAY HIDING

Thanks to Dr Sarah Ellis (feline behavioral specialist at International Cat Care) for her contributions.

GREETING

You have great catty powers of observation.

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FELIWAY

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FRIENDLY TOUCH

FEAR HIDING

Head placed out of hiding place, ears forward and eyes open.

Ears up, closed eyes with relaxed face (both cats), licking (allogrooming) with friendly paw contact (claws retracted).

PLAY HIDING is correct

BITING is correct

FOE MEETING

PLAYING

MultiCat

Cat inside box, body withdrawn and crouched, tail held closely to the body, both cats staring at each other.

FEAR HIDING is correct

Ears back (both cats), staring at one another, keeping some distance to control the situation.

BITING

Ears back (both cats), bodies intertwined as is often the case when fighting, using their claws on each others bodies.

Rounded body, leaping into air (cat on left hand side) in no particular direction related to other cat. Movement appears upwards rather than forwards.

Reduces conflict between cats in the home

GROOMING

PLAYING is correct

FOE TOUCH

GROOMING is correct

FIGHTING

PLAYING is correct

FRIENDLY TOUCH is correct

FIGHTING

Tail up, soft paws (no claws out), ears up, all this corresponding to a relaxed attitude. Although left hand side cat standing over right hand side cat, right hand side cat shows no defensive body language.

PLAYING

CHASING

FRIEND

Ears up and forward, very close nose-to-nose contact.

FRIEND is correct

FOE MEETING is correct

BLOCKING

BLOCKING is correct

The cat being blocked, on the left, has ears back, body lowered and tail lower than back shows discomfort with distance to cat blocking.

FRIEND is correct

FIGHTING is correct

FOE CONTACT?

FOE CONTACT

Ears back and eyes half-closed to protect from potential injury, black cat (offensive cat) staring down at grey and white cat (defensive cat).who lift paws ready for defensive swipe if black cat attacks.

Signs are grey cat's tail and ears are up and facing forwards, close contact, with lots of sniffing.

FOE CONTACT is correct

GREETING is correct

Signs of cat conflict can be very subtle.

Test your powers of cat observation.

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CHASING is correct