

The movement of the tail can tell you as much as a purr, a meow or a yowl.Ī tail can move in an almost infinite range of combinations of movements, but the following tail positions are the most common ways that a cat may use their tail to communicate. Even Manx cats (that have little to no tail) show movement at the tail base as their emotions change. What Your Cat’s Tail Can Tell You?ĭomestic cats use their tails in a range of different ways to communicate with other cats, and with humans.Ĭat tail language can tell you about a cat’s moods, their emotions, and their intentions, allowing you to understand and predict a cat’s behavior. If the tail is still, but the tip is twitching occasionally: The cat is slightly irritated or pensive. If the tail is erect with whole length or tip quivering gently: The cat is showing affection. If the tail is fully erect and tip is vertical: The cat is offering a friendly, cheerful greeting. A cat’s tail can twitch or quiver almost invisibly, or it can move like a whip to strike with strength. The cat is very interested and feeling friendly.

Cats have scent glands at the base of their tail, and so rubbing against you. A straight-up tail posture with a hook at the end of. From in the air to low and tucked, here’s what a cat’s tail has to say: Tail high in the air and relaxed (not stick-straight, may have a curl at the top). A cat’s tail says a lot about their mood. The tail has a rich supply of nerves, giving cats the ability to make their tail move in small and large ways. A cats tail acts as a mood barometer, and you can always tell if they are. If her tail is quivering, it may mean that she is is excited to see you or whomever she is encountering. Cat body language can be subtle and complex, but with practice you’ll pick up on your cat’s unique communication style Tails Tell A Lot. The bones of the tail are covered in layers of connective tissue, blood vessels, muscle, skin, and fur. The tail can be narrow (in smaller, short-haired cats) or it can be thicker (in larger, long-haired cats like Persians). The average female cat’s tail measures 25cm (10 inches), and the average male cat’s tail measures 28cm (11 inches), with larger breeds like Maine Coons having tails up to 40cm (16 inches) long.

The tail is an extension of the spine: while the human spine stops at our pelvis, in animals, including cats, the spine continues backward for another 18 to 23 small bones, or 20 to 30cm. This article aims to explain more about cats’ tails and tail movements so that you are better equipped to understand what your cat is saying to you with body language using this complex, subtle and expressive part of their anatomy. Tail signals are an important part of your cat’s communication repertoire.
