Your cat’s tail is used for more than just balance. Cats use their tails as a sign of emotion and communication, and also to indicate the mood they are in.
Remember those trendy mood rings in the 1970s? They made a comeback not too long ago. Remember how the ring changed color when our mood changed. Well, our cat’s tail can tell us what mood she’s in. You just have to know what to look for.
In a sense, our cats talk to us with their tails. If we learn to recognize the different messages that their tails send us, we can become better communicators with our feline friends. We can better understand your thoughts and feelings.
Here is a list of various cat tail positions and what they mean. This is a general list of definitions. Remember, like everything in life, there are exceptions to what something means. Are you ready? Let us begin.
Held up– A happy and confident cat will hold its tail high. An erect tail usually signifies a happy and friendly mood. If a cat approaches you with his tail in the air and the tip of his tail trembles, it usually means that he adores you.
Almost every time my Tiger tabby cat sees me, his tail shakes. That lets me know that he really loves me.
lying low A tail set down, parallel to the legs, may indicate aggression. So when you see this, be careful when approaching the cat. Now some races are the exception to this mood indicator. Some breeds tend to carry their tails lower, such as Exotics, Persians, and Scottish Folds.
Question mark?- When the tail is folded in the shape of a question mark, your cat is in the mood to play. This is a good time to find one of his favorite toys and play with them.
My tuxedo cat Midnight has been known to show me this tail position when he wants to play. His favorite game is bally ball (remember I talked about it in another email).
hidden under– A tail that is tucked under the body between the legs, says that your cat is scared and nervous. You must be careful when approaching.
whipping motion- A tail that wags rapidly from side to side can indicate both fear and aggression. That tail is telling you to stay away!
twitcher- When your kitty’s tail twitches at the tip, that means she’s in a curious and excited mood.
hissing– A tail that moves slowly from side to side usually means that your attention is focused on a specific object. They will show this tail position just before jumping on something… like a cat toy, a bug, a moving object, etc.
all swollen– Surely you have seen that your cat’s tail gets thicker, and looks fat and furry… also called puffy or fluffy. This means that your cat is very agitated, scared, or frightened. Cats do this to appear bigger and scarier to other animals, usually other cats. It is a defense mechanism designed to confuse and detect potential attackers.
tail to tail– When a cat wraps its tail around another cat, it is showing feline friendship. It is a token of affection.
Well, there you have it. You just learned the tail tale. These are the secrets your feline friend is trying to tell you with his tail.
Learning these tail positions will help you better understand cat behavior. This will help you and your cat get closer together. Pretty cool, right?
Best wishes,
Connie Edwards
