Why Do Cats Have Tails?

Cats are very expressive animals, which help cat owners pick up on their moods quickly. Understanding the language of their tails is quite helpful. Cats will regularly use their tails as a way to get our attention and alert us to things they may want or need. Read on to learn more about the importance of a cat’s tail and why they use them in the ways that they do.

Balance and Agility

Cats use their tails for a variety of purposes, including communication. However, the main purpose of their tail is to provide it with balance and agility. They use this added level of balance to help them jump, climb, and hunt down their prey. Cats are incredibly nimble creatures, and while tails aid in balance, many tailless cats, like the Manx, remain agile. Their tail serves as a counterbalance when they walk along very narrow spaces such as fences, windows, or a bookshelf. The tail also helps them keep their balance when they’re running, chasing, and jumping while hunting prey.

Spinal Extension

A cat’s tail is an extension of its spine. Tails are vertebrae, which are made of blood cells, nerves, muscles, and scent glands. The bones that make up a cat’s tail are known as caudal vertebrae. Cats will typically have from 18 to 23 of these bones in their tails.

There are, however, some breeds of cats like the Manx that do not have tails and some that only have very short ones. These cats will have fewer caudal vertebrae. Even humans, who do not have tails, have 3-5 caudal vertebrae. Our caudal vertebrae are fused together, forming one bone called the coccyx, which helps us maintain our balance when we sit down. Some ape species like gorillas and chimpanzees have this same bone as well.

Bone

Other vertebrae also help their tail to function. They have the same number of cervical vertebrae as many other mammals (seven), but cats have an additional vertebra that resides in the thoracic region. They also have two more vertebrae than humans in their lumbar region. These extra vertebrae are what give cats increased flexibility within their spines.

Nerves

Feline tails are also made up of nerves. The nerves help cats receive information around them. Essentially, cats can “feel” with their tails. Since the tail is a part of the cat’s spinal cord, it also contains nerves from both the central and sympathetic nervous systems. The nerves will send signals throughout the body to create a coordinated response to their surroundings. They will send the information gathered by their tail to their brain. This allows the cat to respond to whatever’s happening around them in a split second, hence the common term cat-like reflexes.

Muscle

Cats’ tails are composed of muscle. Muscles play an important role in the tail’s functionality, as they control movement. The primary muscle responsible for tail movement is called the sarcocaudalis muscle. So whenever you see your cat flick its tail from side to side, this is the responsible muscle.

Blood Vessels

The tail also contains blood vessels and a tail vein that is a part of the cat’s circulatory system. The tail vein is commonly used by vets and zookeepers to draw blood from cats. Some zookeepers have even trained big cats like lions and tigers to voluntarily present their tails to the keeper to have their blood drawn. This is accomplished through conditioning and positive reinforcement. Cats’ tails also contain scent glands, or caudal glands, that are used to mark their territory.

Tail Control

Cats have a muscle in their tails called the Sarcocaudalis muscle. This muscle allows them to move their tails around in a variety of ways. Cats can use their tails at will to help communicate with their humans or with other cats. The tail can also be controlled to help aid in their movements.

A cat can voluntarily hold its tail up high in the air (usually when they’re excited) or pull it down low and tuck it between its legs (when they are scared or sad). Sometimes when they are startled its tail puffs up as all of the fur stands on end. A cat can also swish its tail from side to side, as well as move only the very tip of its tail independently. These various movements add to the nuances of cat communication.

There are animals with even greater control over their tails. Tails that have an even greater level of control are referred to as prehensile tails and they act as an additional appendage. Certain types of monkeys have prehensile tails that they use to grab onto things and swing from tree to tree.

Average Length

Once a cat reaches adulthood, the tail ceases to grow and will remain the same size for the rest of its life. Cats are born with all of the vertebrae their tail will need once fully grown. So the growth of the tail as it ages has more to do with anatomical development rather than the development of any additional bones.

Cat tails vary from virtually non-existent to nearly a foot long! The longest domestic cat tails can exceed 17 inches, with the world record being over 17 inches. The length of the tail is usually related to the overall size of the cat. This ensures that their tail will stabilize them when it comes to running, jumping, and climbing.

Tail Positions

The position of a cat’s tail provides information about your cat’s moods and needs, so it’s important to know what some of the positions mean.

Tail Up

The tail-up position usually means that your cat is feeling confident and social. You may notice a bit of a hook at the tip of the tail. Cats that are anticipating being fed will oftentimes hold their tail up in this manner. Sometimes cats will even use this position when meeting new cats for the first time as a way of greeting them and showing that they are welcoming contact.

Tail Down

If you notice that your kitty’s tail is down, this can be a sign of nervousness. You might also see it put its tail between its legs. These are generally signs that your cat is nervous or afraid. The tail may be rigid or have a slight flick at the end of it. This tail position may be accompanied by your cat crouching low to the ground as it walks while trying to find a spot to hide. A normal, unafraid cat will also walk with its tail lowered, but in a more loose, relaxed position and the cat will not crouch low to the ground as it walks.

Tail Quivering or Flicking

Sometimes cats will quiver or flick their tail when greeting their owners. The tail will be in an upright position paired with a slight quivering or flicking motion. This means that the cat is feeling playful and positive around you. Sometimes in outdoor cats, you may also see this behavior as a part of territory marking. Cats will hold their tails in an upright position and it will flick as they mark their territory.

Tail Thrashing

If a cat is thrashing its tail from side to side, this typically means that the cat is angry, scared, or agitated. The tail will be held in a low and tight position with rigid, stiff body language and hard, focused eyes. If a cat is displaying this behavior it is likely on the verge of aggression. If you notice your cat is behaving in this manner, it is best to remove yourself, other animals, or whatever is causing the aggressive behavior immediately.

You can also try to keep your cat calm by providing it with something to preoccupy itself like catnip toys. Catnip is also known to have a calming effect on cats after they’ve played with it for a few minutes. You can also try other interactive cat toys that are meant to keep your kitty engaged and less likely to display signs of aggression and agitation.