The Secret Language of Cats ~ Review

The Secret Language of Cats
By Susanne Schotz

How to understand your cat for 

a better, happier relationship

Many people have cats and think of them as a valued member of their family or their best friend. Do you have a cat or cats? But do you truly understand just what your cat is trying to communicate with you?  In The Secret Language of Cats, Susanne Schotz uses her knowledge of phonetics to help us learn just what our kitties are saying.

Each has a unique way of communicating based on their individual situation. The audible sounds that they produce are adjusted so that they are able to obtain their desired results in the fastest way possible (be it for their humans or fellow cat-mates). The question is can we learn their language and communicate with ease?

Most researchers feel that when compared to human communication that of animals is so simple and limited that it cannot be described as a language. If this is truly the case we should all be able to understand what our pets are saying with ease and little thought. But when one gets into this book it easy to see that our cats have a complex and layered style of communication. Communication is not only done through audible means but also touch, body posture, movement, and scent marking.

According to Susanne Schotz, meow is the most common word in cat-speak. But depending on how meow is used it can very different meanings. Just as each person has a unique flavor to their speech so to do our cats and if we take the time to listen we can tell which of our cats is speaking. Our cats' communications are largely based on us and how often we interact and speak to them, after all, most don't like carrying on a one-sided conversation. 

I really like how there is an appendix in the back which describes the various sounds which cats produce (the author also has a website on which one can hear examples of these sounds). There are also phonetic tables and a glossary to aid the reader. This is not light reading as one will want to be able to read and study undistracted to fully appreciate all that this book has to offer. Purrfect for the cat-lover in your life or anyone interested in the communications of animals.

I was provided a complimentary proof of this book through TLC Book Tours with no expectations other than that I offer my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Have you ever wondered what your cat is saying?

Cats do not meow randomly, nor do they growl or hiss because they have nothing better to do. Cat sounds have a purpose, and they can carry important messages, whether for us or other cats.

Susanne Schotz is hard at work on breaking the cat code. She is a professor at Lund University in Sweden, where a long-standing research program is proving that cats do actually use vocal communication—with each other and with their human caretakers. Understanding the vocal strategies used in human-cat communication will have profound implications for how we communicate with our pets, and has the potential to improve the relationship between animals and humans within several fields, including animal therapy, veterinary medicine and animal sheltering.

In The Secret Language of Cats, Schštz offers a crash course in the phonetic study of cat sounds. She introduces us to the full range of feline vocalizations and explains what they can mean in different situations, and she gives practical tips to help us understand our cats better.

Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

Tour Schedule:

Instagram Tour Stops

Tuesday, November 6th: @brokenteepee

Wednesday, November 7th: @read.write.coffee

Thursday, November 8th: @shereadswithcats

Thursday, November 8th: @hotcocoareads

Friday, November 9th: @love.books.and.coffee

Saturday, November 10th: @dropandgivemenerdy

Monday, November 12th: @_ebl_inc_

Tuesday, November 13th: @booksbeforebedtime

Thursday, November 15th: @sarahs_reads

Saturday, November 17th: @girlsinbooks #caturday

TBD: @bookncatsncoffee

TBD: @artbookscoffee

Review Tour Stops

Monday, November 5th: Bewitched Bookworms

Tuesday, November 6th: Broken Teepee

Wednesday, November 7th: Books a la Mode – excerpt

Thursday, November 8th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Friday, November 9th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, November 12th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Tuesday, November 13th: Books Before Bedtime

Wednesday, November 14th: @sarahandherbookshelves

Thursday, November 15th: Musings of a Bookish Kitty 

Friday, November 16th: What is That Book About – excerpt

Monday, November 19th: Palmer’s Page Turners

Tuesday, November 20th: A Chick Who Reads

Wednesday, November 21st: Blooming with Books

Monday, November 26th: Splashes of Joy

Tuesday, November 27th: West Metro Mommy Reads

Wednesday, November 28th: Kahakai Kitchen

Thursday, November 29th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Friday, November 30th: View from the Birdhouse