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Photo guides to cat & dog body language

Know what your pet is saying. In one look.

Lifelike photos, plain words and a simple mood light for every pose.

A happy Australian shepherd greeting its owner at the front door with squinty eyes, an open-mouth smile and a wagging tail Soft, squinty eyes Tail up, loose wag Wiggly body
I’m doing the Happy Wiggle. Relaxed & happy Greet calmly “My tail can’t keep up. The rest of me will try.” Pure joy at seeing you. A loose, wiggly body means a happy, friendly greeting.
A seal-point Ragdoll cat walking toward the camera with its tail held straight up and curled at the tip Tail up, curled tip Ears forward Soft eye contact
I’m doing the Question Mark Tail. Relaxed & happy Say hello back “I love you and I’m coming over.” Tail straight up with a little curl at the tip: one of the happiest hellos a cat can give.
  • Relaxed & happy
  • Unsure or stressed
  • Warning or pain
Chapter 01 Try it free

Three pages, straight from the guides.

One happy, one stressed, one warning sign. Exactly as they look inside the guides.

A calico cat resting in a loaf on a knitted blanket, eyes half-closed in a slow blink Slow, soft blink
I’m doing the Slow Blink. Relaxed & happy Blink back “The highest form of cat love.” A slow, relaxed blink is a sign of trust, often called a “cat smile”. Blink back with soft eyes.
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A golden retriever lying on a rug next to a chewed cushion, turning its head away and licking its nose Ears softly back Eyes glancing away Lip lick
I’m doing the Look Away. Unsure or stressed Soften your voice “Please don’t be upset with me.” That “guilty look” isn’t guilt. It’s a calming signal reacting to your tone. Soften your voice.
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A silver tabby cat sitting hunched on a wooden floor, eyes squinted and ears turned outward Ears turned out Squinting eyes Rounded, hunched back
I’m in the Hunched Loaf. Warning or pain Call your vet “I’m not okay. I just won’t say it.” A tense loaf with squinted eyes is a common way cats show pain. Hours like this? Call your vet.
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Chapter 02 Read it by body part

Five places to look. Every time.

Each one goes from relaxed to warning. Learn all five and you’ll read your pet at a glance.

Look at the…
Relaxed & happyRelaxed enjoy it Unsure or stressedStressed give space Warning or painWarning act now
01 Ears Free
Relaxed & happy: Soft, natural position
Unsure or stressed: Turning sideways, twitching
Warning or pain: Pinned flat back
02 Tail Free
Relaxed & happy: Loose wag, question mark
Unsure or stressed: Swishing or tucked
Warning or pain: Stiff and high, puffed up
03 Eyes In the guide
04 Mouth In the guide
05 Posture In the guide

Eyes, mouth and posture: where the earliest warning signs hide.

The full cheat sheet comes with every guide, plus every pose that uses it.

Chapter 03 Inside every page

Every page answers five questions.

Every page works the same way. Easy from the very first look.

A black-and-white border collie doing a play bow next to a rope toy Tail up, wagging Happy, open mouth Front end down
I’m doing the Play Bow. Relaxed & happy Bow back! “Ready? Set? PLAY WITH ME.” Front end down, bum up: a universal invitation to play.
  1. Step 1 · The moodIs it good or bad?The mood light tells you in one look. Relaxed & happy
  2. Step 2 · The signsWhere do I look?Pointers show the ears, eyes or tail that matter. Tail up, wagging Happy, open mouth Front end down
  3. Step 3 · The fun partWhat is my pet thinking?The moment, in your pet’s own words. “Ready? Set? PLAY WITH ME.”
  4. Step 4 · The meaningWhat does it mean?A clear, simple explanation of what your pet is feeling. Front end down, bum up: a universal invitation to play.
  5. Step 5 · The actionWhat do I do?A clear next step, so you never have to guess. Bow back!
See every pose in the guides
Chapter 04 Choose your guide

One payment. Yours for good.

Pay once, no subscription. Available in English and Español.

Compare the guides One-time payment. No subscription. Instant access on your phone.
Cat Talk $4.95 61 poses · 8 chapters Get Cat Talk
Best value · save $1.95 Pet Talk $7.95 Cat + Dog · instead of $9.90 Get both
Dog Talk $4.95 70 poses · 8 chapters Get Dog Talk
Cat poses
61
61
Dog poses
70
70
Chapters
See the 8 chapters
  • ChapterPoses
  • 01The Comfy Cozy Club7
  • 02The Wild & Wired Zone8
  • 03The Secret Agents9
  • 04The Love Bugs10
  • 05The Master Gymnasts6
  • 06The Sassy & Classy Club7
  • 07The Red Alert Room8
  • 08The Vet Check6
See all 16 chapters

Cat Talk

  • ChapterPoses
  • 01The Comfy Cozy Club7
  • 02The Wild & Wired Zone8
  • 03The Secret Agents9
  • 04The Love Bugs10
  • 05The Master Gymnasts6
  • 06The Sassy & Classy Club7
  • 07The Red Alert Room8
  • 08The Vet Check6

Dog Talk

  • ChapterPoses
  • 01Affection & Bonding10
  • 02Playtime & Pure Joy8
  • 03Rest & Relaxation15
  • 04Focused & Curious7
  • 05Calming Signals8
  • 06Fearful & Scared8
  • 07Warnings & Boundaries8
  • 08The Vet Check6
See the 8 chapters
  • ChapterPoses
  • 01Affection & Bonding10
  • 02Playtime & Pure Joy8
  • 03Rest & Relaxation15
  • 04Focused & Curious7
  • 05Calming Signals8
  • 06Fearful & Scared8
  • 07Warnings & Boundaries8
  • 08The Vet Check6
Mood light on every pose
Read-it-by-body-part cheat sheet
The Vet Check chapter
English & Español
Best value · save $1.95
Pet Talk$7.95Cat + Dog · instead of $9.90
  • All 131 poses
  • Cat + dog cheat sheets
  • Mood light on every pose
See all 16 chapters

Cat Talk

  • ChapterPoses
  • 01The Comfy Cozy Club7
  • 02The Wild & Wired Zone8
  • 03The Secret Agents9
  • 04The Love Bugs10
  • 05The Master Gymnasts6
  • 06The Sassy & Classy Club7
  • 07The Red Alert Room8
  • 08The Vet Check6

Dog Talk

  • ChapterPoses
  • 01Affection & Bonding10
  • 02Playtime & Pure Joy8
  • 03Rest & Relaxation15
  • 04Focused & Curious7
  • 05Calming Signals8
  • 06Fearful & Scared8
  • 07Warnings & Boundaries8
  • 08The Vet Check6
Get both
Cat Talk$4.95one-time
  • 61 poses · 8 chapters
  • Includes The Vet Check
See the 8 chapters
  • ChapterPoses
  • 01The Comfy Cozy Club7
  • 02The Wild & Wired Zone8
  • 03The Secret Agents9
  • 04The Love Bugs10
  • 05The Master Gymnasts6
  • 06The Sassy & Classy Club7
  • 07The Red Alert Room8
  • 08The Vet Check6
Get Cat Talk
Dog Talk$4.95one-time
  • 70 poses · 8 chapters
  • Includes The Vet Check
See the 8 chapters
  • ChapterPoses
  • 01Affection & Bonding10
  • 02Playtime & Pure Joy8
  • 03Rest & Relaxation15
  • 04Focused & Curious7
  • 05Calming Signals8
  • 06Fearful & Scared8
  • 07Warnings & Boundaries8
  • 08The Vet Check6
Get Dog Talk
  • A lifelike photo for every pose
  • Green, amber or red mood light
  • “Could also mean” + a practical tip
  • Search by tail, ears, eyes…
  • English & Español
How it works
  1. 1Pay securely
  2. 2Get your login by email
  3. 3Start reading right away
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Chapter 05 Contents

What’s inside.

131 real poses, each one explained at a glance.

Cat Talk · 61 poses 61 poses · 8 chapters
  1. 01 The Comfy Cozy Club 7 poses Croissant · Side Sleeper · Cinnamon Roll…
  2. 02 The Wild & Wired Zone 8 poses Zoomie Formula · Zoomie Drift · Air-Catch…
  3. 03 The Secret Agents 9 poses Prowl · Low Rider · Counter-Surfer…
  4. 04 The Love Bugs 10 poses Slow Blink Free · Question Mark Tail Free · Head Bunt…
  5. 05 The Master Gymnasts 6 poses Shrimp · Leg-as-a-Snorkel · Monorail…
  6. 06 The Sassy & Classy Club 7 poses Elegant Wrap · Blep · Judgment Stare…
  7. 07 The Red Alert Room 8 poses Airplane Ears · Halloween Arch · Bottle Brush…
  8. 08 The Vet Check 6 poses Hunched Loaf Free · Pain Squint · Over-Groomer…
Dog Talk · 70 poses 70 poses · 8 chapters
  1. 01 Affection & Bonding 10 poses Happy Wiggle Free · Friendly Lean · Cuddle Point…
  2. 02 Playtime & Pure Joy 8 poses Play Bow Free · Zoomie Sprint · Play Bounce…
  3. 03 Rest & Relaxation 15 poses Loose Body Language · Happy Smile · Big Stretch…
  4. 04 Focused & Curious 7 poses Head Tilt · Alert Stance · Target Locked…
  5. 05 Calming Signals 8 poses Look Away Free · Lip Lick · Yawn…
  6. 06 Fearful & Scared 8 poses Whale Eyes · Ears Pinned Back · Tucked Tail…
  7. 07 Warnings & Boundaries 8 poses Freeze · Hard Stare · Close Tense Mouth…
  8. 08 The Vet Check 6 poses Prayer Position · Scoot · Endless Paw Licking…
Choose your guide
Chapter 06 Questions

Good to know.

Quick answers, so you can start reading today.

Is it a PDF or an app?

Neither. It’s a private web guide in your Pawmess account. It opens instantly on any phone, tablet or computer, and you can add it to your home screen.

Is it a subscription?

No. You pay once and keep access for good.

What’s the difference between Cat Talk and Pet Talk?

Cat Talk has the 61 cat poses and Dog Talk the 70 dog poses. Pet Talk is both together for $7.95, instead of $9.90.

How do I get it after paying?

Right after you pay, we email your login. Open the guide on any device and start reading.

Is it in Spanish?

Yes. Every guide comes in English and Español, written for Spain and Latin America. You can switch languages anytime.

Does it work for my breed?

Yes. Body language is shared across breeds. Where a breed is different, like greyhounds carrying their tail low, the guide tells you.

What if my pet does something that isn’t in the guide?

Send us a photo. We’ll do our best to tell you what your pet is saying.

Can my family use it too?

Yes. Log in on all your devices and show it to everyone at home. Your account is personal, so please don’t share the login outside your home.

Can I get a refund?

Because you get instant access to the full guide, purchases are final. You’ll confirm this at checkout. If anything isn’t working, write to [email protected] and we’ll fix it.

Is this veterinary advice?

No. It’s general information to help you read your pet. The Vet Check chapter tells you when it’s time to call a professional.

Your pet is talking right now. Start listening.

From $4.95 · Pet Talk for both, $7.95 · One-time payment · Instant access

Choose your guide