Unlikedogs,catsdon'tgreettheirownerswithwaggingtailsandsloppykisses,butthatdoesn'tmeantheydon'thavegenuineaffectionfortheirhumancompanions.猫咪不会像狗狗一样向主人摇尾巴或用舌头舔主人,但这并不代表它们对人类伙伴没有感情。
Catssimplyexpresstheiraffectioninmoresubtleways,andallyouneedisabasicunderstandingoffelinebehaviorandbodylanguagetoseeallthelittlewaysyourkittysays,“Iloveyou.”猫咪只会通过更隐晦的方式来表达它们的情感。你只要对它们的行为和肢体语言有基本了解,就会发现它们表达“我爱你”的种种方式。
1.Headbumpsandlegrubs贴脸蹭腿
2.Groomingsessions梳理毛毛
3.Slowblinks缓慢眨眼
Whenyourkittylooksatyouandslowlycloseshiseyes,he’sshowingthathe’scontentandcomfortablearoundyou.Infact,thisslow-blinkingbehaviorhasevenearnedthenickname“kittykisses.”当你的猫咪看着你并慢慢闭上眼睛时,它在表示自己在你身边很满足,很舒适。事实上,这种缓慢眨眼的行为甚至有一个昵称——“猫咪之吻”。
“Theconceptofclosingtheireyestoyouinaslowwayisnotsomethingthattheywoulddo,”sayscatbehavioristJacksonGalaxy.“They’relettingyouknowthattheyarevulnerabletoyou.”“猫咪通常情况下不会缓慢眨眼,”猫行为学家杰克森·盖勒克西说。“它们之所以在你面前这样做,是想让你知道:在主人面前它们是多么脆弱。”
4.Exposingthebelly露出肚皮
Anotherwaycatscanshowthatvulnerabilityisbyrollingoverandexposingtheirbellies.Thisisasuresignoftrustandshowsthatyourcatiscomfortablearoundyou.猫咪表现脆弱的另一个方式是:翻滚身子,露出肚皮。这绝对是信任你的信号,也表明猫咪觉得在你身边十分惬意。
5.Kneading温柔轻抚
Whenkittieskneadyourlaporasurfacenearyou,itmeansthey’rerelaxedandcontent.Askittens,thebehaviorisusedtostimulateamother’smilkflow,butcontinuingtheactionintoadulthoodcanexpresscomfort.当猫咪轻抚你的大腿或者你身边某个物品的表面时,这意味着它很放松、满足。对于幼猫来说,这种行为是用来刺激母亲分泌乳汁的,但当猫咪长大,这种行为就变成表达舒适的方式了。
6.Kittyunderfoot喵影不离
7.Tailposition翘起尾巴
Howyourcatholdshertailcantellyoualotabouthowshe’sfeeling.Atailheldstraightintheairisoftenusedasagreeting,soyouknowyourkittyishappytoseeyou.Infact,Dr.JohnBradshaw,authorofthebook,"CatSense,"saysthisis"probablytheclearestwaycatsshowtheiraffectionforus."猫咪尾巴的不同状态表明它的不同心情。直直地翘起来的尾巴通常表示欢迎,这时你就知道猫咪是乐于与你相见的。事实上,《猫的感觉》一书的作者约翰·布拉德肖表示,这“或许是猫咪向人类表达感情最直白的方式了。”
Atailhelduprightwithacurveatthetiplikeaquestionmarkalsoindicatesfamiliarity,friendlinessandaffection.尾巴翘起但尾巴稍儿略微弯曲(整个尾巴呈问号状)也能表现出猫咪对你的亲密、友好和喜爱。
8.Purring咕噜咕噜
Whileacat'spurrisn'tanalwaysindicationofloveandhappiness—catsalsopurrwhenthey'rescaredorinjured—ahappycatmayexpressaffectionbypurringwhenhe'scurledupinyourlaporrubbingagainstyourleg.虽然猫咪的咕噜咕噜叫并不总代表爱慕和愉悦——猫咪也会在害怕和受伤的时候发出这样的声音——但通常情况下一只快乐的猫咪,会在蜷缩在你大腿上或者蹭你的腿时,发出咕噜咕噜的声音,以此来表达对你的喜爱之情。
Vocabularygrooming:修饰,美容kneading:揉捏,按摩,推拿underfoot:在脚下的;挡路的;碍事的purr:(猫的)呜呜声,咕噜咕噜