Research overview: ear position in feline visual communication

Beyond their auditory role, the highly mobile feline ears are an important channel of visual communication. This overview surveys how ear position signals emotional state, with upright forward ears indicating interest or confidence, flattened ears signaling fear or defensive aggression, and intermediate positions conveying uncertainty. Because cats can move their ears so expressively, the pinnae form part of a rich repertoire of body-language signals used between cats and toward humans. The survey relates these displays to the same musculature that enables acoustic aiming, noting that one structure serves dual sensory and communicative functions. It discusses how reading ear position helps interpret feline mood and predict behavior. Recognizing the communicative role of ear posture complements the acoustic view of the pinna, showing that the cat's ears are simultaneously instruments of hearing and visible flags of intention, both rooted in the same flexible muscular control.