World Animal Day
What a dog's smile and a cat's wink are actually telling us
Vienna, 1 October 2026
- Animals experience pain, fear, stress and excitement – to understand their emotions we must read their facial expressions, body language and behaviour.
- FOUR PAWS provides a brief guide to better read the body language of cats, dogs, cows and pigs.
- To strengthen animal protection, FOUR PAWS is calling on governments to recognise and translate the sentience of animals into national and international law.
Ahead of World Animal Day on 4 October, FOUR PAWS is shining a light on the fascinating world of animals. The global animal welfare organisation is encouraging people to better understand the signals cats, dogs, cows and pigs use to express their emotions and needs. Especially, as some signals can be easily misunderstood, such as for example a purring cat, which could be signaling pain or a “smiling” dog, which might actually be stressed. To truly understand what animals are trying to tell us, it is important to look at the whole body, the posture, ears, face and tail of animals.
Understanding cats’ body language
Contrary to popular belief, cats do not primarily meow to communicate with one another but use their body language instead. While kittens still meow to interact with their mother, adult cats mainly use meows to attract human attention. Purring is also often misunderstood, as it not only can signal contentment but also that cats are in pain.
Three signs to look out for in a calm or comfortable cat:
- Relaxed whiskers
- Partly or fully closed eyes, slow blinking (aka “cat kiss”) – returning it helps promote positive communication and can strengthen the bond with the cat
- Relaxed posture, or lying on the back with an exposed belly
Three signs that a cat is stressed, or afraid:
- Crouching close to the ground
- Ears flattened back
- Whiskers pulled back and tight to the face
Three warning signs that a cat feels threatened and may attack:
- Arched back, puffed fur
- Splayed whiskers
- Rapidly whipping tail
Clues to dogs’ emotions
A dog’s tail can reveal important information about its emotional state but not every wag tells a happy tale. Another common misunderstanding is that dogs who are “smiling” are happy, when in reality they are stressed.
Three signs that a dog feels calm or comfortable:
- Broad, relaxed side-to-side tail wagging
- Soft, almond-shaped eyes
- Ears resting naturally to the side or down (depends on the ear shape, e.g. pricked or droopy ears)
Three signs that a dog is stressed, or afraid:
- Tense mouth (can look like “smiling”) and ears pulled back
- Squinted eyes or “whale eye”, which is when a large portion of the white is showing
- Crouched posture with a tucked tail, as dogs often try to make themselves appear smaller when they feel threatened
Three warning signs that a dog feels threatened and may attack:
- Growling, snarling with baring teeth
- Highly tensed body and raised hackles
- A high, rigid tail
Smiles by humans are a different story, which was confirmed by a recent study of the University of Vienna, showing that dogs even appreciate smiles from strangers.
Reading cows
Cows express how they feel through much more than mooing. Like dogs, they express affection through social licking, which helps strengthen their relationships and even can help resolve minor conflicts in the herd.
Signs that a cow feels relaxed:
- Grazing calmly
- Lying down and ruminating
- Half-closed eyes and ears hung down or backwards
Signs that a cow is stressed, or afraid:
- Raised head (which can also indicate alertness or curiosity)
- Freezing or moving away
- Increased urination or defecation
Warning signs that a cow feels threatened and may attack:
- Lowering the head
- Pawing
- Head shaking
As cows are highly protective of their calves, hikers should pay close attention to their body language when passing a herd and keep a safe distance, especially when bringing a dog.
Signals of pigs
As highly social animals, pigs form strong relationships, enjoy resting in close contact, and communicate through a wide range of sounds.
Three signs that a pig feels relaxed:
- Relaxed posture, loose muscles
- Half-curled tail: tail is hanging and relaxed, wagging loosely
- Resting in groups or exploring surroundings
Three signs that a pig is stressed, or afraid:
- Freezing
- High-pitched screams
- Frequent urination
Three warning signs that a pig feels threatened and may attack:
- Stiff posture
- Raised bristles along the neck and back
- Chasing
FOUR PAWS on Social Media
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as 13 wild animal sanctuaries and cooperation projects across the globe, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org