Stress cues
- Flattened or sideways ears
- Dilated pupils outside low light
- Tail puffing or hard tail flicking
- Crouching with tight body
Comfort cues
- Slow blink
- Loose side rest
- Tail held gently upright
- Soft face and normal grooming
Warning cues
- Hiding more than usual
- Sudden aggression
- Not eating
- Repeated litter box changes
Quick signal check flow
1
Check ears and tail
Cats show stress early through ear angle, tail tension, and body compression.
2
Compare to baseline
A shy cat and an outgoing cat can show different normal patterns.
3
Look for health overlap
Hiding, appetite change, and reduced grooming can be behavior signals or illness signals.
Risk levels
Relax
Soft body, normal grooming, comfortable rest, and predictable movement.
Monitor
Mild hiding, ear changes, or tension that improves when the trigger is removed.
Call a professional
Not eating, sudden severe hiding, pain signs, repeated litter box changes, or aggressive escalation.
Get a visual signal report
PetSignalAI reviews the actual photo or short video, identifies visible cues, and summarizes whether the situation looks like relax, monitor, or call-a-professional territory.