14 tail movements that will explain EXACTLY how your cat feels
Cats are communicating with us all the time, and not just by meows.
Body language is everything, and once you know these tell-tail signs, you'll know exactly what your kitty is saying.
1. The Straight Deal
"I feel happy!"
If your cat sticks their tail straight up in the air, it shows that they are a happy cat. They feel comfortable, confident, and in control of the space around them.
2. The Hair-Raiser
"I feel aggressive!"
This is a sign that your cat is either very scared and/or about to attack to defend herself.
Remember, small children especially, that approaching a cat in this state can be dangerous, The cat is treating its environment as a threat, and will do whats neccessary to be safe. It is important to calm them down when they are feeling this nervous or aggressive.
3. The Mountain
"I feel tense!"
If your cat forms their tail into the shape of a mountain, it is a sign that there is tension in the air.
They may be feeling that a fight is about to occur, or they may simply be warning anyone nearby to keep their distance.
4. The Leg Sandwich
"I feel sad!"
A tail between the legs is a signal that your cat may be feeling down in the dumps. This negativity may take the form of sadness, depression, anxiety, or even panic.
Calming them, providing attention, or reassuring them is key to pulling them out of their funk.
5. The Low Down
"I feel guilty!"
You’ll recognize the movement your cat makes when they lower their tail because it means that they are feeling guilty. If you scold your cat, this may often be their reaction.
However, if they seem to be lowering their tail for no reason at all, they may be ill and in need of a visit to the vet.
6. The Long Wave
"I feel curious!"
A large up-and-down waving of the tail shows that your cat is feeling particularly curious. They may be watching something closely or trying to figure something out. This shows that they are taking a particular interest in whatever is going on.
7. The Short Wave
"I feel restless!"
A shorter up-and-down wave of the tail is quite different than the long wave. Your cat may actually be feeling anxious or restless.
It's similar to people shaking their leg.
8. The Windshield Wiper
"I feel confident!"
When your cat keeps swinging their tail back and forth from left to right, it means they are feeling particularly confident.
This is their way of strutting their stuff and telling the world that this is their territory.
9. The Shake
"I feel mad!"
A very quick shaking of the tail might indicate that your cat is not in the best of moods.
This is probably a good time to give your cat space... or you might get a nasty scratch.
10. The Rhythmic Wave
"I feel focused!"
If your cat’s tail is waving to a very specific rhythm, it shows that they are currently “in the zone.”
They are likely deep in thought, feeling focused on something very specific. They may be concentrating so hard that they don’t even know their tail is on the move... this can lead to the butt wiggle and finally their adorable pounce!
11. The Seated Side Wave
"I feel indecisive!"
When your cat is not sure what to do, and is in the midst of making up their mind, they will sometimes sit and wave their tail to the side.
It is hard to say exactly what difficult decisions your cat might have to make, but you can be sure that they are trying to figure out their next move.
12. The Sleeper
"I feel exhausted!"
Your cat might just be too tired to wake up when you call their name, so they instead give you a little flick of the tip of their tail. You could interpret this as laziness, but it may just be your cat needing a little nap after a long, exhausting day.
Oh, the life of a cat. ;)
13. The Snuggler
"I feel nervous!"
If you are holding your cat and they are bringing their tail up towards their body, they are likely feeling nervous. The belly is a very vulnerable place, so they want to protect it in any way they can.
You can better “protect” them from their fear by repositioning them in your arms.
14. The Cuckoo Clock
"I feel annoyed!"
If there’s one thing you know about cats, it’s that they will let you know when they don’t want to be held.
This quick shaking of the tail shows that they are tired of being held and would really like to be put down right away. They'll soon wiggle and squirm, and if that fails, claws come out.
So, next time you're with your kitty, look at their tail, and see if you can read how they're feeling!
via Little Things
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