Telltale Signs of Your Cat's Tail

January 26, 2017

Cats are really good at communicating their feelings with their tails. While it might take you some time to get to know your cat’s personality and what he or she is trying to tell you, watching their tail for telltale signs is a great way of anticipating what’s going to happen next.

Standing Tall

Curious by nature, most cats will greet guests into your home with a welcome at the door and an upright tail. This is a sign of confidence and tells you that your cat is happy and comfortable in their home. It’s also their way of saying, “I like you!”

Puffed-Up Tail

Even confident cats can be scaredy cats sometimes, if they’re feeling threatened or frightened. The tail can go from bristly and upright to straight down and menacing, meaning a shift from a defensive stance to an offensive one. A puffed-up tail is an attempt to look bigger and more intimidating to would-be troublemakers and your cat will follow it up with an arched back and some side shuffle.

Wrapped Tail

If your cat is feeling unsure of themselves or uncomfortable in their surroundings, their tail will almost disappear as they wrap it close to their bodies. It’s a submissive stance and means your cat needs some reassurance.

Swishing Tails and Tail Flicks

Cats love to flick and swish their tails, but these all have different meanings. It usually starts with a tremor and a slight movement in the tip of your cat’s tail, something like a rattle snake. This is a sign that something is bothering him and can quickly escalate from a flick to a swish, which is when the claws come out. To avoid this from getting ugly, try to figure out what’s causing such aggravation so you can try to calm your cat. After all, you want your cat to be happy.

You know your cat better than anyone and will recognize when your cat is content and when they’re not. But if you’re in doubt, just take a look at their tails for any of these telltale signs.

Photo credit: Torne - Steps by Steps