What Is Your Pet Trying to Tell You?

It’s been a while since we had one of our Dr Dolittle dreams of talking to animals… wouldn’t that be great?

If social media is to be believed, some truly incredible dogs and cats out there use buttons, boards, and clever tricks to “talk” to their owners. But for most of us, chatting with our pets can feel pretty one-sided.

Luckily, they are communicating with us all the time through their behaviour. Body language, habits and routines can all give useful clues about how they are feeling.

Some behaviours are easy to understand: a wagging tail, a purr, a bark at the door, or a cat hiding under the bed. Others are more subtle. Sometimes behaviour that seems naughty, disruptive or unusual may actually be a sign of stress, pain, boredom, fear or an underlying health concern.

Learning to spot these clues can help you understand your pet better and know when they might need extra support.

Behaviour is communication

When pets behave in a way that feels difficult, it is rarely because they are being “bad”. More often, they are responding to something in their environment, body or emotional state.

A dog who suddenly starts barking more may be anxious, frustrated, under-stimulated or reacting to a change in routine. A cat who starts toileting outside the litter tray may be stressed, but they may also have a urinary problem, constipation, arthritis or another medical issue.

Looking at behaviour as communication helps us ask a more useful question: what might my pet be trying to tell me?

Changes in routine can be a clue

Small changes in daily habits are often worth noticing. These might include sleeping more, eating less, drinking more, hiding, becoming clingier, avoiding stairs, being less playful, or seeming unsettled at night.

In older pets, these changes are sometimes dismissed as “just age”, but they can be linked to pain, dental disease, arthritis, changes in vision or hearing, or other health conditions.

If your pet’s normal routine changes and you cannot explain why, it is sensible to keep a note of what you are seeing and speak to your vet.

Disruptive behaviours may have a reason

Some behaviours can be frustrating at home, but they often have an underlying cause.

A dog who chews furniture may be bored, anxious, teething, seeking attention, or struggling when left alone. A cat who scratches the sofa may not be misbehaving – scratching is a normal behaviour that helps cats stretch, care for their claws and mark their territory.

A dog who jumps up may be excited, unsure how to greet people calmly, or looking for interaction. A cat who swipes may be frightened, overstimulated, in pain, or asking for space.

The aim is not just to stop the behaviour, but to understand what need is behind it.

Watch body language

Body language can tell us a lot, especially when we look at the whole pet rather than one signal on its own.

In dogs, signs of worry may include lip licking, yawning, turning away, showing the whites of the eyes, tucking the tail, freezing, pacing or panting when they are not hot.

In cats, signs of discomfort may include flattened ears, a twitching tail, crouching, hiding, overgrooming, avoiding contact, or suddenly becoming more irritable.

These signs can be easy to miss, but spotting them early can help prevent pets becoming overwhelmed.

Pain does not always look obvious

Pets often hide pain, especially cats. They may not cry out or limp dramatically. Instead, pain can show as a change in behaviour.

A dog with joint pain may become reluctant to jump into the car, slow down on walks, lick one area repeatedly, or seem grumpier than usual. A cat with arthritis may stop using high resting spots, hesitate before jumping, sleep in different places, or miss the litter tray because climbing in has become uncomfortable.

Dental pain can also be subtle. Pets may still eat, but chew on one side, drop food, prefer softer food, paw at their mouth, or develop bad breath.

Boredom and frustration can build up

Dogs and cats both need mental stimulation, but this can look different for each pet.

Dogs often benefit from sniffing, training, chewing, puzzle feeders, scent games and calm social interaction. Cats need opportunities to climb, scratch, hide, play, stalk, pounce and rest undisturbed.

Without suitable outlets, pets may create their own entertainment. This might look like barking, digging, stealing objects, scratching furniture, chasing other pets, waking owners at night or pestering for attention.

Adding more appropriate enrichment can often make a big difference.

When should you ask your vet?

It is always worth getting advice if a behaviour appears suddenly, becomes more intense, or is accompanied by changes in appetite, thirst, weight, toileting, mobility, grooming, sleep or mood.

Behaviour changes can be emotional, environmental or medical – and sometimes all three. A vet check can help rule out pain or illness before you focus on training or behaviour support.

Need help?

If your dog or cat is behaving differently, seems unsettled, is hiding more, drinking more, toileting unusually, becoming irritable, slowing down, overgrooming, barking, scratching, chewing or not seeming quite themselves, we are happy to help.

Interpreting behaviour starts with watching and listening to what your pet is showing you. Get in touch with us today, or book an appointment online if you'd like more help understanding your dog or cat.

Quick tips

• Behaviour is communication, not “badness”.

• Look for changes in normal routines.

• Sudden behaviour changes may be linked to pain or illness.

• Dogs and cats show stress in different ways.

• Scratching, chewing, barking or hiding often has an underlying reason.

• Mental stimulation can help reduce boredom and frustration.

• Speak to your vet if something feels different