Grandma Dottie Started Dancing in the Kitchen. She Had a Partner in Seconds.
Afternoon light warms the old wooden kitchen, glinting off a glass pitcher of lemonade, a blue platter in the dish rack, and a little pot of greenery by the window. Some tune must be playing, because Dottie is dancing. She sways in her chunky cream cardigan, hands raised and fingers snapping gently, silver hair tousled and a big, joyful smile lighting up her face as she looks down at her partner. Pearl stands right at her feet with her white tail held straight up in a curl at the tip, gazing up at Dottie with bright, eager eyes, as if waiting for her turn to lead.
That upright tail is one of the clearest signs of a happy cat. Cats often greet people they like with their tails held high, sometimes with a little hook or curl at the tip, which is generally read as a friendly, confident hello. Other signs of a content cat include slow blinking, kneading, rubbing their cheeks against you, and following you from room to room. A cat that's anxious, by contrast, tends to tuck its tail low or puff it up. Learning to read these signals helps you understand when your cat wants to play and when it would rather be left alone.
Pearl's message today couldn't be clearer: she's in a great mood, and so is Dottie. A kitchen dance party for two is a fine way to spend an afternoon.
