A cat’s tail movement will give up what a cat is thinking or feeling. Tail movement is like body language – you have to take it as a suggestion of what the cat’s going through, but not as absolute truth. A cat’s personality and situation also come into play.
For example, a hanging tail means a cat has nothing to worry about and is relaxed. Then again, you should also consider the cat’s body movement. You may think there’s a relaxed tail scenario going on, but if your cat’s body is tense, there’s something else going on entirely.
All in all, pay close attention to your cat’s tail – it’ll give up way more than what a dog’s tail would. Don’t take it for a 100% guarantee, though. Use it to help you interpret what’s going on, not to blindly follow what you think it means.
What does a cat’s tail wagging mean?
Unlike dogs, a cat’s wagging tail means interest or fear, depending on how fast the wagging is happening. A slow, relaxed wagging means something has caught the cat’s interest. A faster, twitchier tail wag means the cat is scared.
Cats are inquisitive animals. They will go out of their way to investigate something interesting. Because of that, a slow tail wag is rather common in cats.
On the other hand, cats tend to be hunters and aggressors – but they will react quickly when it comes to being cornered or afraid. That’s why you need to back off when you see a cat wagging his tail on overdrive speed. That’s when something bad is about to happen.
What does it mean when a cat wags its tail while lying down?
A cat that wags its tail while lying down could mean one of two things: either something has caught the cat’s attention (but not that much to move) or the cat is feeling a little unwell. More often than not, it doesn’t mean anything other than a little curiosity.
If you suspect your cat’s feeling under the weather, a little tail wagging every now and then could confirm that. A cat that hides or prefers to be in secluded places probably feels bad, and if you add the laying down tail wagging movement, you should try to figure out what’s wrong.
On the other hand, if your cat is moving freely, out in the sun, and suddenly laid down and wagged its tail, there’s nothing to worry about.
What does a cat’s tail up mean?
If the cat’s tail is straight up, that’s a sign of love or confidence. A cat with a tail shooting straight up wants to play or cuddle. Beware of a cat with a curved tail up, though – that’s a clear sign of aggression.
The best way to remember the difference is simple: a cat with a tail shooting up like an exclamation mark wants to play, a cat with a question mark looking tail is looking for a fight. You want to be close to the first one and far away from the second one.
What does a cat’s tail straight up mean?
A cat’s tail straight up means it’s time to play! Unlike dogs, who show happiness by quickly wagging their tail, cat’s show happiness by putting their tail up. Remember a cat’s relaxed body is happy – if the cat’s back is arched with the tail up, that’s bad news.
If you see a cat with its tail straight up, you know it’s having a great day. The cat probably wants to play, cuddle, and spend a beautiful day with those it loves.
Beware of the other type of tail shooting straight up, though. An arched back isn’t a sign of happiness in cats, but of aggression. A cat with an arched back and a straight tail is standing its ground, ready for a fight.
What does it mean when a cat’s tail quivers?
Most of the time, a quivering tail is a bad sign. A cat shows feelings of anxiety, anger, annoyance, and restlessness when they quiver their tail. That’s not to say that’s all it means, though. Sometimes it can be a way of showing extreme excitement – but oftentimes it’s not.
You have to pay attention to the cat’s body and context to figure out what’s going on. If your cat has been playing for a long time and starts to quiver its tail, then it’s starting to feel annoyed. It might be a sign that the playing time is over.
If a cat’s body is quivering alongside the tail, that cat is upset. Loud noises, too many people, and big changes can upset cats a big deal.
On the other hand, a cat might be so excited that its tail starts to quiver. If you left your cat alone for a long time and then came back home, there’s a big chance its tail will quiver from excitement.
What does a cat’s tail flick mean?
Depending on how the cat’s body is, it could be aggression or happiness. A tense body with a tail flick is the mark of an aggressive cat. A relaxed body with a tail flick is a happy cat who’s trying to figure something out.
A tail flick doesn’t say anything by itself. You need to figure out what the body says along the tail. That’s the one thing that separates aggression from happiness!
What does it mean when a cat’s tail flutters?
A fluttering tail is a wildcard. There’s no way to know for sure what’s going on in a cat’s mind unless we get to see how it’s acting and what’s going on around it. It could be excitement, interest, anxiety, aggressiveness, and anything in between!
If your cat’s tail is fluttering, you may want to give your cat some space until you figure out what’s going on. Take a moment, try to understand the situation, and don’t jump to conclusions. If the cat’s happy and relaxed, it’s time to play! If it’s tense, it might be time to stay away.