When we think about tail wagging, we normally associate this with a dog’s behavior. Our feline friends also wag their tails, however, the meaning behind these movements can be much more nuanced. Cats are extremely expressive, and much of what they are expressing comes from their tail. Let’s take a look at exactly why cats wag their tails and what these little movements mean.
What’s The Point Of A Tail?
A cat’s tail is one of the most important parts of their bodies. Made out of small bones called caudal vertebrae, cats typically have 18-23 of these that make up their tails. They contain many important elements such as vertebrae, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and scent glands.
Cat’s tails mainly help them with balance and agility while walking, running, playing, or even stalking prey. If you’ve ever wondered just how your cat was able to walk across a ledge so effortlessly or jump up on the counter with ease, this is all thanks to their tail. It is a counterbalance for their bodies. In addition to helping cats maneuver like circus performers, their tails serve many other purposes. They are full of nerves that connect directly to the cat’s brain, so it also helps them feel the world around them. A cat’s tail also helps them communicate with other cats and humans as well.
How Do Our Cats Speak To Us?
As mentioned before, cats are very expressive creatures. While their tails help us to determine what they want to communicate, it is not the only way to understand what they mean. Cats also use their entire bodies to help communicate with us as well as with other animals.
Cats communicate with us using their tails, eyes, ears, body positions, and even their voices!
Just as hearing one word or part of a sentence does not make sense without context, A simple tail wag could mean something entirely different when you combine it with other elements.
Tail Wags And Their Meanings
A cat’s main form of communication is going to be its tail. It can help you decipher what mood your cat is in, depending on the position and how it’s moving. With a dog, it is a lot easier to determine what they’re saying. Tail wag usually means they’re happy. Cats are a bit more sophisticated and therefore a bit more difficult to understand. Let’s look at a few of the different meanings of a cat’s tail wags.
The “Swish”
A low and slow swish back and forth generally means that a cat is mildly annoyed. They may do this movement when they are playing, too, just before they are about to pounce. It is a good idea to leave your cat alone and give them some space when you see their tails move like this.
If the slow swish turns into a quick thrash back and forth, it is best to move away, as they are starting to get very angry.
The “Twitch”
When you see your cat’s tail twitching quickly, this usually means they are concentrating. This is most commonly seen when your cat is looking at something like a bird or rodent, or moving toy. It may even be accompanied by little cat chirps and chatters. While it can sometimes be confused with the swish, it is not the same, although, when you see this movement, it generally still means “leave me alone.”
- A fuzzy tail and movement capture your cat's attention
- Avoids obstacles and flips itself over when necessary
- Kittens and cats enjoy chasing this toy
- Batteries included
- Only works on hard surfaces
The “Quiver”
This might be the most adorable of the tail movements. It is a quick shake or quiver of the top of the tail. Your cat may approach you with its tail straight up and quivering at the top, similar to a rattlesnake tail. The difference is that your cat is not warning you like a rattlesnake is. On the contrary, this is a very happy sign, and it means your cat is happy or excited to see you. This is often accompanied by purring, head rubbing, or “happy cat sounds.” When you see this, it means your cat wants some pets and cuddles.
The “Hook”
This is one of those tail movements usually only seen by those who have especially affectionate cats. They will hook or wrap their tail around someone’s arm, hand, or neck. Sometimes referred to as a “cat hug,” this is one of the ways your cat will try to show you affection. Although, don’t feel bad if your cat doesn’t do this, because a purr or a rub against you can mean the same thing.
The “Sleepy Flick”
One of the things about cats is they like to decide if something is worth their time. If you have ever called your cat’s name while they sleep, they may just give you a quick flick of their tail. This tail wag means that they hear you, but at that moment sleep is much more important.
Learning about all of these different tail positions is very important. While you may be able to get a gist of your cat’s feelings, it is best to learn to interpret everything they’re trying to tell you.
Understanding Body Language
Now you’ve begun to understand the language of your cat. When they wag their tail and how they do it is a great indicator of their feelings. While this is a great start, it’s good to understand what the rest of their body is saying. Every part of your cat’s body is used when they communicate.
Eyes and Ears
In addition to the tail, your cat’s head will tell you much about what they want to say to you. When their ears are up and forward, your cat is probably interested and engaged in something. If they are sideways or laying back and flat, your cat may be showing signs of fear. And finally, if you see your cat’s ears swiveling back and forth, it could mean your cat is trying to concentrate on a specific sound.
A cat’s eyes also will help you to interpret what they want. When your cat is comfortable, it will show wide, soft eyes. Droopy eyelids combined with slow blinks show love and trust for your cat. When they are alert or alarmed they will have a hard wide stare. If you see narrow, slit eyes, this means your cat is fearful and may show aggression.
Body
If your cat is happy and relaxed, it might roll onto its back and show you its belly as a sign of trust. A belly rub might seem like a good idea, but it’s generally a good idea to keep your hand away from a cat’s belly. If your cat is staying close to the ground, it could mean it is anxious or stressed. If your cat gets frightened, it will arch its back to make itself look bigger and scarier.
Voice
Now, you might have thought that the only animals who could speak were parrots. Well, this is not true. Your cat has many sounds it will use to communicate. You can quickly learn to interpret your cat’s many unique sounds. A “meow” is the most basic sound you will hear from your cat. They might meow when they’re happy, upset, agitated, or any other emotion. Don’t worry if your cat doesn’t meow much, it will use other ways to get your attention.
Your cat will purr when it is happy, but also when it wants to comfort itself if it’s hurt or sick. Trilling is like a mix of a purr and a meow. This means your cat is extra excited or happy to see you. Finally, the sound you don’t want to hear is a yowl. This is usually a sign that your cat is in distress or complaining about something it doesn’t like. If your cat is very vocal, it will usually make small chirps when it’s playing or concentrating.
As you can see, your cat uses many parts of its body to help communicate with you. Use these in combination with their tail wags to understand their “cat language.”
What If My Cat Has No Tail?
Some cat breeds have no tails, such as the Manx. Others may have lost them due to injuries or were simply born without one. Just because they have no tail to wag, doesn’t mean they can not communicate with you and other animals. They will use their entire body to communicate. Thanks to this article, you can quickly and easily learn your cat’s particular language.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Bachkova Natalia/Shutterstock.com
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