Do you know what your cat is thinking, feeling, or conveying when her tail tips up, curves like a question mark, or quivers a bit? What about when it jerks violently or gently sways?

The tips in this article can help you understand your cat’s tail language and create a stronger, more enduring relationship with your cat.

Your Cat’s Tail: The Stories It Tells

Humans are unable to discern the complex variety of olfactory, verbal, and even body language clues that cats use to interact with one another. One of the most expressive features of feline body language is the cat’s tail. Undoubtedly, as you learn to interpret your cat’s tail language, your bond with it will become stronger as you become more aware of its feelings and behaviors.

What appears to be friendly and welcoming behavior can instead be a warning to keep 15 feet away. The wag of your dog’s tail may indicate that your dog is joyful and eager to meet you. But this means back off gradually in cat language. A wagging tail indicates that your cat is unhappy about something. When you’re caressing them and you notice their tail twitching, you should definitely stop. We’ll discuss various cat tail postures in this article, along with what your cat is attempting to tell you.

An upright tail

Cats who keep their tails straight up are content and self-assured. You will usually observe this position when you get home from work or when a kitten greets its mother. Intriguingly, Cameron-1997 Beaumont’s study revealed that cats would approach the shadow of a cat with ease if the tail was elevated, but they would be highly reluctant if the tail was lowered.

This tail position indicates that the cat is sociable and appears to want to engage with you or other cats. Your cats are attempting to express love, calm, and affection when they wrap their tails around you or someone else. Similar to how individuals wrap their arms around loved ones for a comforting hug, this tail position basically represents love and affection.

Additionally, a cat may encircle another cat’s tail. This indicates the two cats’ close friendship and cordial relationship.

A quivering tail

A “quiver” is a quick, small cat tail wag. Cats typically tremble their tails when they are really enthusiastic, such as when you open a fresh can of cat food. It’s a kind greeting that shows your cat is content. But keep in mind that a cat is marking its territory if its tail quivers when it is held straight up and is backing up against a vertical surface. Although both female and male cats spray a concentrated urine mixture, unneutered males are more likely to leave their mark to signal the other sex that they are available.

Tail kept low

Lower tails frequently signal that your cat is scared, worried, apprehensive, or defensive. Something about the cat’s surroundings makes them feel insecure. When a cat tucks its tail all the way under its body and between its legs, it’s an apparent sign that the cat is timid, submissive, or scared.

Twitching the end of the tail

The act of flicking the tail’s tip repeatedly is known as tail twitching, which is comparable to tail wagging. When a cat is actively playing with a toy, hunting, or when they are moderately upset or irritated, they will twitch their tails.

A puffy tail

A puffed-up tail does not signal hostility, contrary to popular belief. A scared or threatened cat may puff up their tail. Your cat is trying to seem larger and more intimidating to its opponent by puffing up.

Slowly tossing its tail

This cat’s tail language refers to the gentle side-to-side wagging of the whole tail. Cats’ lazily swaying tails are frequently an indication of deep concentration or predatory behavior.

A question mark tail

Your cat’s tail occasionally stands erect and curls at the tip, giving the appearance of a question mark, as you have undoubtedly already seen. This tail posture frequently reflects your cat’s happiness and friendliness. This stance might also indicate that your cat is interested in something.

Tail angle of 45 degrees up

Your cat may be feeling conflicted right now if its tail is held out behind it yet pointed upward. They are neither friendly nor dangerous.

Curved tail that hangs downward

Your cat may be feeling a bit protective or moderately fearful if its tail is hanging down with a dip towards the base. Keep in mind that a cat’s tail indicates how worried or terrified they are. Overall, a tail that is lower than the level of its back denotes certain unfavorable emotions.

Tail wrapped around its body

Your cat may be afraid, defensive, frightened, or feeling uneasy if they are sitting or lying down with its tail tightly coiled around its body.

Even though a cat’s tail is its most expressive feature, you should pay attention to more than that like cat sounds, overall body posture, expressions through eyes to completely comprehend how the cat is feeling. Read here about what your cat is trying to tell you through the different sounds it makes.

Your relationship with your cat will undoubtedly get better if you can read your cat’s body language.