Why does a cat wag its tail when you pet it?

Indicates that the cat is wary. Behave carefully: any noise, noise or wrong move of the person and the cat will start to act. What exactly he will do – run away to hide or go on the attack with claws out – depends entirely on the fighting qualities of the whiskered cat and its character.

5 reasons why cats wag their tails when they lie down

Some people find it hard to understand cats. Cats don't show their moods and feelings as clearly as dogs, but they also have many ways of communicating – through movement and body positioning. One of these ways is through the movement of the tail.

Unlike dogs, tail wagging in cats can mean many things, both positive and negative. Cats also convey different emotions depending on which part of their tail moves and how exactly it moves. So, you can't explain tail wagging in one word, but there are several variations. Read on, and we'll break it down to help you better understand your cat.

Disappointment

If your cat is lying down and wagging its tail in a wide arc, it could be a sign of frustration. If you try to pet the cat at this point, your attention may be met with scratching or the cat abruptly leaving the room.

Cats may feel frustrated for a variety of reasons, such as being woken up, failing to catch prey. Tail wagging is a good way to express dissatisfaction and to throw out accumulated energy, it is clearly so, especially if the wagging is combined with anxiety or a subtle grunt or groan.

if a cat wags its tail, does that mean it likes it or vice versa?

The tail of cats is an indicator of their mood. Different tail positions have different meanings. So, if a cat wags its tail from side to side it means it is angry; if it wags it in "up and down" direction it means it thinks, makes one of possible decisions from its point of view; if in the moment of your petting (if a cat stands on all its paws) it raises its tail it means that it is in good mood and your petting is pleasant for it.

If the dog wags its tail it means it is delighted. But if the cat is wagging its tail it means there is something wrong with it. And the more wagging, the more he doesn't like it.

It depends on how he wags.
If he meets you from work – the tail is curling and slightly wagging the tip – it's you he is happy to see,
If the animal was lying quietly, and then you decided to pet him thus violating his peace, the cat starts nervously tapping his tail – it's a warning that he did not like.

It means he's nervous or he's pissed off.
A cat is not a dog!
Cats can't wag their tails out of pleasure. Or they don't want to.
By the way, the position of the tail is an indicator of mood.
nervous twitching or sharp waving (as if chopping) does not portend anything good.
A "brooding" calm and infrequent sleepy wagging. it's okay!

A cat is perfectly capable of wagging his tail if he likes something. You don't have to repeat the internet nonsense that if the cat wags its tail, it is always displeased. I have a cat and 3 kittens. My kitty cat used to bite me lightly and he obviously did not like it when I stroked him, maybe he was jealous, but now I started paying more attention to him and he changed his behavior, he often meets me at the door and happily cuddles up to be petted, while wagging his tail like a dog, with a fairly wide amplitude. The person can also wave his hands for joy as well as for grief. A dog is just almost always happy with his owner, no matter how he treats him, and cats are more complicated in this sense, but that does not mean that they are always unhappy by wagging their tail, THIS IS FALSE.

What does it mean if my cat wags the tip of her tail when I pet her?

Since we've already figured out basic animal behavior, we know the reasons why tail wagging can happen.

But what happens when we pet an animal? Does the cat want to tell us it wants to play, or is it threatening us with this gesture?

These questions are legitimate and the answer is not straightforward, but something can clearly be deduced from them.

In most cases, the cat wants to be left alone when it wags the tip of its tail when it is stroked.

It also often happens that the animal makes a peculiar growl, which should clearly be interpreted as some sort of threat. This does not mean that your cat will attack you if you continue to pet it, but it should be taken seriously.

As an option, you can try to play with the animal in this situation. As mentioned, twitching the tip of the tail can also be interpreted as some kind of joyful excitement.

If this is the case, then stroking is in most cases undesirable for the animal. So it is a good idea to start playing with the animal and encouraging its natural hunting instinct.

Of course, you should also pay attention to how the animal reacts to the attempt to play. If the cat doesn't react in any special way or even moves away, that is a clear sign that you should leave it alone.

Is it dangerous if my cat wags its tail when I pet it?

For those of you readers who are worried about misinterpreting your cat's signals or not at all, of course, there may be a question about "danger."

We can only say that there is no direct danger as such. If your cat knows you well and loves you, it is unlikely that it will attack you right away.

It is not for nothing that the animal warns you in advance to show you that it needs peace now. A clear sign of estrangement is that the animal is wagging its tail more and more.

You can assume that the cat looks very annoyed and stressed and should be left alone now.

Especially if you have children, it is important to let them know when the cat wants and does not want to be stroked. Since children often have a hard time respecting or recognizing boundaries, of course "accidents" can happen.

But, of course, serious injuries are unlikely. However, warning cat bites can also be quite bloody and painful.

It is important to rinse the injured area well with clean water and then disinfect it.

Why cats shake their tails

When observing a cat, breeders wonder why the cat has new behavioral features – a shaky tail. To give an accurate answer, it is necessary to understand the details of such a phenomenon.

Restless cat holds its tail horizontally. If the cat's tail shakes once in a while and he looks around frightened, with his ears pressed against his head, this indicates that the animal is wary. If there is an object of irritation in the room, it should be removed from the cat's sight, otherwise the animal may panic, and the further course of action of a frightened animal is unpredictable.

Note! But in the case of swinging the tail from side to side, you need to be prepared for a sudden attack of the pet, but not always this behavior of the pet portends a threat. Similar behavior can be observed while playing with an inanimate object. Cats, parading their ancestors, attack their toy.

Kittens, like humans, can express doubt when they need to make a choice. Living side by side with humans for several thousand years, the descendants of tigers began to adopt some of the habits of the higher being. When in contemplation, humans may rhythmically tap their fingers on the table or swing their legs. Similarly, a cat, which is put before a choice, begins to involuntarily twitch the tip of its tail, the base of the tail pussy keeps straight. And in this situation only the tail is involved, that is, no other peculiarities in the cat's behavior are observed. To stop flinching, you just need to help the cat to make a choice.

Also, the cat jerks its tail, expressing a feeling of satisfaction. When the cat is calm, fed, happy, he slowly lifts the tip of his tail up and down. Also this behavior indicates reciprocal feelings on affection of the owner, so the representative of the cat family expresses gratitude to the person, and the cat purrs and, probably, rubs hands with the owner, walks around the owner. Besides, by twitching its tail, the cat informs the people around it that what is going on in the room is completely satisfactory for it.

The tail is an indicator of a cat's emotions

Most often a cat twitches its tail to tell its mood. Depending on how and how actively it starts to move its tail, the owner can guess what emotions his pet is experiencing:

Excess of feelings. Often the cat's tail twitches when a person petting the animal. Combined with a purr, this means the cat is perfectly happy

He is satisfied with his owner's attention and rushes to tell him so. Interest in something. The cat's tail stands upright when the cat is feeling joy, waiting for something pleasant (for example, it's feeding time).

But when he starts to move it smoothly up and down, it is a sign that the cat is interested in some thing or object. He will walk around it, sniffing it, trying to catch it. It can be anything: a fly that has flown by, a new toy, a bag of groceries Irritation. Experiencing these emotions, the cat will start rhythmically twitching its tail to the right and to the left. This way she shows that the situation is unpleasant to her. For example, the pet may think that the time for petting is not right. Fear, panic. It is not difficult for a human to determine that a cat is very afraid – the animal twitches its tail, banging it against the floor with all its might. His whole body shakes, his pupils dilate, and the cat may make pitiful sounds. At such times, the cat should not be touched. The best thing an owner can do is to remove the situation or object that frightened the animal.

A small kitten often twitches its tail up when it wants to play, run, catch "mice". Twitching is accompanied by the baby jumping at the feet of the owner and various objects in the house. This is the most active age of the cat, and it urges the owner not to forget its needs.

What it means when a cat wags its tail

Everyone knows that tail – is not only a cat's ornament. It helps to land successfully on the ground or the floor during a jump from a height, to balance fearlessly on fences and tree branches, coordinating the animal's balance. Also, the whiskered pets' tails are a real indicator of mood. Unable to express their emotions with words, our little brothers use body language. And, perhaps, the movements of the cat's tail can more eloquently than any meow demonstrate to the owner what the animal is feeling.

The mood of the animal during the day changes many times, as well as with any person. To determine the mood of a cat by its tail, you just have to observe it:

• The tail of the cat is pointed upwards, its hair stands on end, its back is arched, its eyes are dilated – the animal is in a state of extreme anger (perhaps, the object of the pet's dislike is nearby: another person's cat or dog);
• When standing or sitting the cat wags its tail chaotically, violently striking the floor or its sides – the pet is extremely unfriendly and can even attack. Such tail "behavior" can be observed, for example, after the cat meets its rival or after unpleasant games for the animal (throwing the cat to the ceiling, active stroking of its belly and so on);
• A cat shaking its tail rapidly and finely and pointing it upward is a sign of arousal, including sexual arousal. Such behavior can be noticed in a cat when it sees a member of the opposite sex or is in anticipation of a favorite treat;
• The cat presses down on the ground or on the floor, dropping its tail, the tip of which nervously twitches – a signal that the cat awakens its hunting instinct (there is a rodent, bird or insect nearby);
• A cat wags its tail not too actively – a sign that the cat is thinking over its actions, for example, whether it wants to have a snack or go for a walk;
• The pet's tail pointing upwards, perpendicular to his back – a good sign that means the animal is in a good mood. With their tail up and purring, friendly cats greet their owner returning from work;
• In sitting position the pet wags the tail end actively and looks intently at one point, which is a sign that the animal is in a playful mood. Such cat behavior can be seen while following a toy mouse on a string;
• The cat is sitting looking into the eyes of the owner, and its tail is wagging on the floor at a medium speed – it is an attempt to attract attention to itself ("master, look at me");
• its tail is loose and drooping down, legs slightly tucked up, that means the cat is frightened (say, by a suddenly turned on vacuum cleaner or unknown person who has come into the house);
• A cat sitting, standing or lying with its tail relaxed – a sign of peace and good humor;
• The cat wags its tail, raising it horizontally – an action that means the animal is wary and distrustful. This happens if the pet has not definitively decided that he is safe (for example, if he came into someone else's yard or found himself in a veterinary clinic);
• A pet's tail is upright and the tip is slightly bent, a good sign that the pet is in a calm mood;
• The cat has gone to a resting place and even dozes off, but its tail nevertheless moves slowly from side to side – a signal that the animal is worried about something, is nervous and does not feel safe. This sight can be seen, for example, if the pet is annoyed because of loud noises in the room or in the street;
• The head of the pet in standing position is dropped down, the tail hangs indifferently and relaxed between the paws – the pet Murzyk gives to understand that he is sad or bored;
• The pet almost falls down on the owner's legs, wrapping its tail around them – a clear sign of flattery. It may be asking for food or calling for affection;
• A cat with its tail slightly bent at the tip approaches the master and lightly bites his leg – an attempt to attract attention ("Boss, do not forget to play with me" or "feed me");
• A pet pokes its head at the owner with its tail upright as a sign of love and friendship. Usually cats behave this way only with the most pleasant people and never with strangers.

How you can tell how a cat feels from its tail

By the movement of the tail you can not only understand the mood of the cat, but also learn something about its health and behavior, even to predict the weather:

• If the cat came to the wall (door, furniture), raised its tail horizontally and quickly shook it, it can mean that the animal "marked" the territory. This behavior can occur not only in males, but also in females;
• When the cat is quietly dozing or just resting sitting, its tail is usually at peace. But if you call its owner's name, the cat instantly responds to the voice of its owner by wagging its tail. It was as if the cat was saying, "Boss, I can hear you;
• Usually the sharp, chaotic tail movements symbolize the anger of the animal. But not always. Sometimes the tail shakes vigorously in a pet that is not feeling well;
• A cat sometimes wags its tail due to stress (change of residence, rearrangement of furniture, a new pet in the house, etc.);
• The pet may twitch its tail and periodically chew on it due to the presence of fleas or other bloodsuckers;
• If the pet tucks its tail under itself when sitting or lying down, it means that it is cold. There is even a popular belief: the cat curled up and hid its tail between her paws, then soon will come frost. By the way, this is not the only folk omen about the tail of cats. It is believed that an animal can fluff up the tail before the snowstorm, and thoroughly lick it – before the rain;
• When the fluffy pet lies on the floor with its tail parallel to the back, it means that it is hot.

How to understand the behavior of a cat by its tail? For example: I pet her, and she purrs and wags her tail.

Calm: the tail hangs in its natural position, relaxed. The cat sits or lies with its tail wrapped around itself – it is in good spirits and trusts those around it.

Friendliness: Why does a cat have its tail curled up when it approaches a person? The tail's position means that the cat is happy to meet you and does not mind to be petted by your pet's silky coat. In the same way she meets a familiar tribesman.

Caution: if a cat does not know if it is a friend or foe, it keeps its tail elevated at the angle of 45 degrees. Why do cats wag their tails even when they sit next to their beloved person and seem to be completely satisfied with life? It's simple – the pet is checking to see if there is an enemy behind who wants to treacherously attack.

Curiosity: why does the cat twitch its tail, moving the very tip from side to side? Most likely, she sees or hears something that interests her and awakens one of the most striking traits of her character: curiosity. It can be a fly, the sound of rain or even the smell of pilaf from the neighbor's apartment, but be careful: the cat may be interested in the hand stroking it, in which case it is wise to leave the pet alone.

Playfulness: how can you tell a cat by its tail when it is playing? A cat that is aware of its limits wags its tail in a relaxed manner, moving it smoothly and without nervousness. If the cat gets too excited, it wags its tail faster and faster, and its movements become more and more abrupt – beware, in the next moment the cat may prefer your hand to the toy. Why does the cat shake its tail pointing vertically? This, too, is a form of playfulness bordering on sexual excitement.

Irritation: The tail is the easiest way to tell if a cat is in a bad mood. An annoyed cat moves its tail from side to side sharply, not wagging it, but as if shifting its tail back and forth. The tail sticks out almost vertically, and the tip is bent, resembling a hook – I do not want to communicate, although I understand that you are not to blame for my nervousness.

Causes of tail wagging

Owners of cats the first reason why cats wag their tails, undoubtedly, will name communication. And not so much with their own kind (although it is the main direction of their communication), but with their owners.

This is partly true: the movements of a cat signal his psycho-emotional state, informs about his intentions. Nevertheless, outdoor cats, which often lose their tails in a fight, and also breeds without tails, for example, Kuril Bobtail, have no problems in communication and socialization. They resort to other means: whiskers, ears, meow, body language. Therefore, to say that the tail serves only to communicate, is not quite accurate.

Very often in hot weather we can observe the following picture: the cat wags its tail, and it is not quite clear what this means. The explanation for this behavior of felines is simple: this is how they escape the heat, using their fluffy limb as a kind of fan or fan.

Also they use it in cooler times, hiding their paws and muzzle under the tail – so they protect them from the cold.

Representatives of the feline family tend to roam the neighborhood, choosing the most unusual routes. Fences, rooftops, trees – nothing escapes their attention. They are able to walk where it is impossible according to common sense, making one envy their acrobatic ability and sense of balance. Scientists tend to attribute this to the presence of an extra limb – it helps them balance. But then again, cats deprived of a tail (whether from birth or as a result of injury) are capable of the same dizzying tricks.

Cats' dexterity is connected, first of all, to the peculiarities of joints, to which their legs are attached

Among other things, this judgment extends to the most well-known fact about cats: they always land on four paws. Experiments have been conducted in which tailless felines fell backwards from a height of about 2 meters. The absence of the tail didn't affect their abilities at all and they flipped correctly in the air during the flight.

How to understand a cat's mood by its tail

Our brain is designed in such a way that it reads emotions well by facial expressions, but fails when you need to decipher the behavior of an animal. Humans subconsciously attribute human emotions to the behavior of pets, but this is fundamentally wrong. However, there is a "translation" from the cat language to the human language.

The tail is held in a trumpet.

When a cat raises its tail vertically upward and holds it thus straight, it indicates the friendliness of its owner. With this action, the pet lets you know that it is in a friendly mood and is ready to play and cuddle.

This is usually how cats greet their owner, thus expressing the feline equivalent of human joy at the sight of a friend. Sometimes it means that the cat is going to beg a human for some treat or asks to be petted.

Keeps at a 45-degree angle

If the tail is raised at an angle to the floor, it shows that the cat is hesitating. You have to be wary, because when it makes up its mind, it can give out anything: scratch the new leather couch, poop in its shoes or ask to fondle itself.

Tail elevated and wiggling

If a fluffy limb is raised and swaying from side to side, it's a signal that the kitty is in a playful mood.

Important! Don't grab cats by the tail: they don't like it.

Besides the fact that it hurts them, such rash actions can lead to urinary incontinence, limb injuries, and in some cases even to paralysis of hind legs.

Upward thrusts and jerks

This is a variation of expressing feelings with a vertically raised tail. In this way, the cat expresses sincere joy to the object of his attention.

It can be both the owner and a guest who plays or spoils the pet with treats. Other pets also like to enjoy small treats. For example, dogs like to shake their tails.

Cat tail and back twitching

Sometimes cats have not only tail twitching, but also back twitching. There are several reasons that cause this behavior of the animal. The cat constantly twitches the tail and back of the torso in the following cases:

In addition, the cat can twitch its back and tail because of neurosis. In veterinary medicine, it is called hyperesthesia syndrome. Suffering from this disease, the animal begins to lick its paws, back, and anus for hours. His fur becomes wet from saliva and does not have time to dry before the next wash. Such actions of a pet indicate nervous exhaustion, lack of attention from the owner, severe stress.

Excessive licking of the body provokes dermatitis in the animal. Because of the constant itching, the cat will twitch its back and tail, wanting to get rid of the discomfort. If the cat's owner ignores this problem, bald spots will form in the licking area, and fungal disease may develop later.

Beware of rabies

If a cat is outdoors, its behavior must be watched particularly carefully. Outdoors there is a great risk of catching various infectious diseases, many of which are fatal.

Noticing tail and back twitching in a free-roaming cat, the owner should sound the alarm and find out why this is happening. Rabies is often identified by such symptoms. This disease is dangerous for both the pet and its owner. It can cause permanent damage to the spinal cord and brain. In addition to the animal starting to twitch its tail and spinal cord, rabies has other signs:

• The cat eats food, but refuses to drink water;
• The animal becomes aggressive or, on the contrary, tries to hide from people;
• Difficulty in swallowing food;
• The cat salivates a lot;
• The pet begins to relentlessly bite itself on the spot through which the infection entered the cat's body.

But whatever the symptoms may be, only a veterinarian can answer the question of why the cat's tail is twitching. However, if rabies is confirmed, the animal will have to be put to sleep.

Why does a cat purr and wag its tail at the same time, what does it mean?)

It is hard to believe, but in the high-tech twenty-first century, the cat's purr is still an unsolved mystery for scientists, it is not known precisely why a cat purrs. Zoologists are still arguing about the nature of this phenomenon. It is not clear with what organ cats manage to produce these iridescent roulades, not only on exhalation, but also during inhalation. There is an opinion that the reason is vibration of the thin bones located near vocal cords.

Another hypothesis explains cat purring by the increase of blood circulation during emotional outbursts, as a result of which the chest and larynx begin to vibrate. The vibrations resonate in the sinuses of the skull, and we hear a specific rattle on the output. But none of the theories has yet found indisputable confirmation. It is known for certain that not all representatives of the cat family are able to purr. Large predatory cats, such as lions, tigers and leopards, are deprived of this gift; they can only growl menacingly and fearfully, causing terror to inhabitants of surrounding forests.

Either way, the melodious and measured cat "singing" is extremely beneficial to humans – it warms the heart, helps distract from the problems of modern life, relieve stress and find peace of mind.