Meaning of the cat’s tail and its different movements and positions

Meaning of the cat’s tail and its different movements and positions

Have you ever wondered why cats wag their tails? We guess you have. Admittedly, cats have an enormous capacity for communication and with their furry tails they can express a lot of things. If you want to know about cat behavior, what you should definitely look at is the tail. We have already talked on other occasions about other expressive behaviors of the cat, such as cat language.

Today we thought it would be interesting to talk a little bit about the meaning of cat tail which is a linguistic meaning of your cat’s tail wagging. Because there is nothing nicer than seeing a cat and its body language and getting to recognize it. What do the different movements and positions of its tail mean? Cats wag their tails and have a flexibility and disposition that allows them to “give off a series of signals” depending on their mood. Many times, “their owners” do not know how to interpret these signs and it is interesting to describe what each one means according to the position and movements of their elegant tail.

Of course these movements and positions of the tail are only a part of their wide body language, because we must not lose sight of the totality of their physiognomy as well as the position of their body and ears. Today we are going to understand the body language of felines: postures and movements that can provide us with a lot of information.

Basic tail postures

If we analyze this set of movements we can discover an extraordinary language full of messages that will help us to know if a cat is predisposed to approach us or it is better to wait and do it at another time.

If he has his tail up, it means that he is very happy and satisfied.

However, in case the tail is low, it means that your little one is sad, listless and maybe even sick.

If his tail is stiff, it usually means that he wants something, or may even be waiting for something.

If his tail is wide and somewhat arched, it means that your cat is afraid, he is scared and his reaction can be somewhat unpredictable, be careful with your movements and act calmly.

If his tail is between his hairy legs, it also means fear, and even that he is upset. Many times it means he is disappointed because he has not accomplished something.

His tail straight, stiff and with the tip to one side, means that he is very curious. But if he wags his tip sideways, it means he is irritated and not happy at all.

Tail wags

If you want to get to know your cats better, you need to know about tail movements, how they move and what they mean. The anatomy of the cat’s tail depends on its movements.

If it wags its tail from side to side, it doesn’t mean it is happy, it means discontent.

If he wags his tail slowly, it means that he is relaxed or that he can concentrate on something that interests him.

With these simple guidelines you will get to know the feline language a little better. It is clear that their tail is an extraordinary communication tool between cats and also with their human masters.

Apart from all that it communicates, its tail is fun, very fast, helps you to keep your balance and relaxes him when he sleeps and when he curls up. Let’s not forget that the tail is also a toy or a distraction for cats from a young age.

In fact, the mother cat often uses the tail to entertain her young, keeps them under surveillance and highly stimulated with the wagging of the tail. At first, it may not be easy to identify all the movements and positions of your cat’s tail and also to find the relevant meaning. To make it easier, gentle movements usually imply calm, contentment and a desire to play with you and more abrupt movements usually signify fear or discontent.

Meanings of the cat’s tail

The cat’s tail besides being an indispensable organ for balance is used by the michi as an element of communication.

Common cat tail gestures and their meaning.

A cat wags its tail in different positions and if you want to know them you can see them below. Here we provide you the cat tail meaning chart which can give you a clear information about cats. These cats wag tail while lying down or to the right or to the left are described below.

Vertical tail

If the cat’s tail points skyward while walking, it usually means it is happy and confident. The tail may be completely straight or with the tip bent, both of which are usually friendly signals. It may also be accompanied by a small wag that denotes curiosity.

The cat usually adopts these postures when it is interested in something, observes something it finds pleasing or a sign of greeting. To be sure it is important to watch the rest of its body language, such as how it walks, how it looks, if it bangs its head, etc.

Semi-vertical tail in upright position

When the cat has not fully raised its tail and holds it motionless, it generally denotes security. If it moves slightly from one side to the other, it means that it is looking for something. They usually do this position when they are about to make a decision such as going somewhere or playing.

Tail against the ground

If the cat has a stationary tail but occasionally wags the tip, it may be slightly irritated or also in a state of thoughtful indecision. But if its movement is more abrupt, it is a sign of anger. The more abrupt the movement, the more the tail is thrashing all over, the more it is a sign of complete anger and possible attack or flight.

Tail low and between the legs

If the cat has a low tail, it may be a sign of submission. If it is also between the legs, the cat is afraid. Some can be afraid of different things, try to find out what puts your cat in this state.

Bristly tail

When the cat bristles, something is wrong. If his tail is fully stretched and bristling, it is a position primarily of intimidation and anger. If he also arches his tail, he is ready to attack at the slightest provocation. This arching of the tail is usually accompanied by a complete arching of the body.

Tail against the side of the body and quite rigid

A gesture made by cats in heat at the time when they are ready to mate is that they put their tails on their bodies, almost completely rigid. This movement is usually accompanied by other gestures characteristic of cat estrus.

Our conclusions

With this guide you will have an idea about the meaning of the cat tail and its different positions. If you have a pet, you should also know its behavior.

We insist that the clues about the body communication of each of the parts of the cat’s body cannot be analyzed alone, but the set of signals gives more clues about the mood of the cat at that moment.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *