This piece was originally published in 2018. A cat tail curled at the top. Watch out.

My cats rest their tails against me when we walk side by side. University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana-Champaign, 10 Common Cat Noises — and What They Mean, “Good” excited or “fearful” excited (the ears and eyes can help determine which). You may notice that sometimes your cat’s tail looks like a question mark—it stands upright and curls at the end. A lower tail is a very … If you are new to cat tail signs, you can be confused by what various tail movements and positions indicate and inadvertently upset or confound your cat. Cookie Consent Tool, Dominican Republic - República Dominicana, Greater China - Hong Kong SAR – (English). Although you should look at more than just their tail movements, to fully understand your cat’s emotional state, the tail may be the most expressive part of a cat’s body language. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. Kittens especially target their own (or other cats') tails during play. Once we know their body language, we can read their emotions, identify situations that cause them distress or pleasure and even identify an illness sooner.”. “It is important that all cat owners take the time to learn because understanding how cats communicate helps us to understand them better. If your cat is sitting or lying down with their tail wrapped around their body, then they are frightened, defensive, in pain, or feeling unwell. A tail positioned straight down can signal aggression. Ellyce Rothrock spent half her life with Flea, a Maine Coon who lived to be 21 and is missed every single day. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Further, if during a petting session your cat’s tail starts twitching or lashing, her ears are turning back or she’s leaning away from you, these all are signals that your companion is done with this interaction, Ballantyne explains. Learn about why you cat is in heat and how to prevent a cat from being, in heat from your friends at Hills Pet Nutrition. It conveys friendship. A tail positioned straight down can signal aggression. Sniffing your face: Cats rely heavily on their strong sense of smell to give them information about … If you don’t, then the thrashing tail may be a prelude to hissing, growling, swatting, or biting. Sometimes, when a cat quivers his tail while holding it straight up and backing up against a vertical surface, they may be urine marking. Engaging in predatory behavior like stalking and pouncing is good enrichment for your cat, so let them continue to engage in whatever is captivating their attention.

When a cat’s tail is upright, they are feeling social and confident, and approaching in a friendly manner. “Since cats are such different animals from us, understanding how they communicate isn’t something that comes naturally to humans,” says Kelly C. Ballantyne, D.V.M., D.A.C.V.B., clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana-Champaign. Learn why cats waking up owners is a long-standing tradition between pet and pet parent. Just starting to allow herself to be picked up for a few seconds. Once you take the time to learn and understand cat tail language and realize that careful study of cat tail signs is vital to both your and your pet’s happiness in the home, you’ll be amazed at the myriad — and very clear — signals and emotions your feline companion shares with you.  |  This is a distance-increasing behavior. Thankfully, animal behaviorists like Dr. Ballantyne have done exhaustive research to help guide pet owners to understand the finer points of cat tail language. She’s lucky enough to live her passion for pets as a 25-year member of the pet media industry. A lower tail is a very serious mood. A research study by Cameron-Beaumont in 1997 found that cats were willing to readily approach a cat-shaped silhouette if it had a raised tail but were reluctant to approach the silhouette if it had a lowered tail.1.
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Take a little time to observe your cat's behavior and you will start to get a feel of the tales the tail tells. Photography by Casey Elise Photography. When your cat holds her tail high in the air as she moves about her territory, she's expressing confidence and contentment.
In this case, read the scene and look for other clues to their mood. Your email address will not be published. “ A flicking or lashing tail signals that the cat is agitated, while a slowly waving tail indicates … All rights reserved. Tails are good indicators of mood. When your cat thrashes their tail, or is thumping it on the ground, they are irritated, annoyed, or angry. “The tail-up posture — tail straight up with a slight curve at the end — is a signal that the cat is approaching amicably,” Ballantyne continues.

This is called an affiliative behavior.”, “Cats tuck their tails under or next to their body when they are feeling frightened. Oct 21st 2019.

This tells you that something is bothering your cat. A cat with a curved tail. No lap sitting. Your cat may quiver their tail when they are especially excited to see you or another cat. A tail that slaps back and forth rapidly indicates both fear and aggression. Rather, focus all petting and scratching around the chin and ears, she adds. But learning cat tail language is like learning any foreign language: It takes time. This tail position is often triggered by feeling threatened by other animals in the yard, dogs approaching, visitors in the home, or sudden noises. When you see this, end your interaction with your cat and ensure that your cat’s environment is free of stressors. Visual and tactile communication in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) and undomesticated small felids (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southampton, United Kingdom). Photography by ©sakinder | Thinkstock. What does the tail position mean. Your cat’s hair stands on end (piloerection) so that they can appear to be larger. This cat tail language indicates that your cat is happy and approaching amicably. Photography ©Ekaterina Cherkashina | Thinkstock. If you try to interact with your cat when their hair is standing up, they may perceive your approach as a threat and become aggressive. Thrashing Tail Movements. You might see this tail position right before your cat pounces on a toy or a kibble, of cat food that's tumbled outside the food bowl. Consider it a warning to stay away. A cat with a swaying tail. Cat owners are definitely no strangers to hissing, and if your cat is hissing at you, it is time to back off. You might consider taking a break from your daily business to play with your cat if you notice a curve in her tail. Photography ©Cynoclub | Thinkstock. While learning cat tail language is a must for cat owners, actually petting the cat around the area of the tail (the base of the tail or the tail itself) is not appreciated by most cats, Ballantyne says. Trademarks owned by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U.S. only; registration status in other geographies may be different. Understanding cat tail language will help you to better understand your cat. © 2020 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. If they’re not playing or stalking something, then the twitching tail movement probably means that they are annoyed. Stay informed! Photography ©GlobalP | Thinkstock.

ISNI: 0000 0001 3514 9313. https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-communication/. About our Ads. When your cat slowly swishes their tail from side to side, they may be intently focused on something like a toy, another animal in the home, or something outside.