Have you ever noticed that your fuzzy feline friend seems to speak a language all her own by the subtle movements of her tail? It’s true – most cats actually do this. Cat tail language is a common form of communication for all cats, and if you pay attention, you’ll notice the trends in these habits and be able to identify how cats are feeling when no one else can.
Happy Cat
Whenever a cat owner arrives home after a long day of work, a cat who has missed them will get excited and show her affection by walking quickly to the door with her tail straight up in the air. When cats are happy, they stretch their tails straight to the sky with little bend. For cats, nothing says, “Welcome” or “Hi, friend” like an invitation to sniff their rears; it’s true. So, the next time your kitty friend runs to you with her tail in the air, consider it a warm and friendly gesture of love.
Sad Cat
Just like dogs, cats will stick their tails right between their legs (almost in shame) whenever they are sad. Their tails become lifeless little growths that sag and stay put down below whenever they lose their sweet happy spirits in favor of some anxiety or stress. Sad cats have sad tails that sit low.
Attentive Cat
So, you think your cat is sleeping, but every now and then you see the tip of her tail twitching. You think, “Oh, she must be dreaming.” Think again; your cat is actually not sleeping, she just wants you to think she is. Whenever you see a cat with an otherwise still body, but a tail end that twitches, what you have is a cat who’s interested in inconspicuously taking in her surroundings for her own personal motives. You’ll notice this when cats are hunting or stalking prey, or when they’re “sleeping” but taking a quick account of a changing environment.
Irritated Cat
Have you ever seen a cat’s tail flail aggressively? This is common when cats are very obviously annoyed by the presence of someone or some thing. You may have a cat that is pretty laid back, and maybe you’re unsure if your cat even gets annoyed. Try this: one day, while she’s sleeping, just start patting her. Pat her until she wakes up, and give her an annoying and playful little shove. Chances are she won’t want to play with you, she’ll want to continue sleeping. Your playful pats will be unwelcome, and slowly you’ll see her tail start to make some erratic jumps in the air. Her tail will become more and more active until she’s tired of dealing with you and walks away to find another spot to sleep.
Cats may not wear their feelings on their faces in the way that some other animals do, but they certainly communicate with us very clearly with their tails.
Does your kitty have a special cat tail language? For more posts on cats, click the links below!
Keeping Your Cat Calm At Night
