4/11/2023 0 Comments Cat tail quiver![]() ![]() Reader Helen Farmer Kowalchuk is the owner of a literal cat burglar. The rest of the time they sleep or doze, storing up energy to confuse you with. Our homes are safer but not very stimulating, or the stimulation may not be pleasant-like being chased by children.Ĭats are hunters and “speed merchants,” says Nick Dodman, author of The Cat Who Cried for Help.īoth experts agree that these bursts of speed could be pent-up energy that might have been used for catching prey in the wild.Ĭats are also crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. These bursts of energy, sometimes called “the zoomies,” are “probably outlets for accumulated arousal,” frustration, fear, or pent-up energy, says Siracusa.Ĭats “need a lot of stimulation and enrichment,” and would be climbing trees and chasing prey if they were outside. The Science of Meow: Study to Look at How Cats Talk A fearful “Halloween” cat will have an arched back and “its tail up and puffed.” On a calm cat a straight-up tail with a hooked tip is a friendly greeting, while an aggressive cat may just have its tail straight up. (Related: " Do Animals Dream?")Ī whipping tale on an alert cat can mean nervousness, potential aggression, and “Do not touch!” says Siracusa. If he really is sleeping, Siracusa adds, a moving tail could mean he’s dreaming. The napping cat with the tapping tail, for example, is “relaxed overall but paying attention to something happening around him, a sound or movement,” so he’s peaceful but hardly asleep on the job. You have to take the whole body into account when reading tail signals, says Carlo Siracusa, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. So how do you decode a cat’s tail? (Read " Surprising Things You Never Knew About Your Cat.") Tail Tips While watching our cat snooze, we noticed his tail was tapping away like he was enjoying a disco medley we couldn’t hear, sending quite a mixed signal. Just pay attention to your pet in various states and settings and you'll get a grasp on their tail language in no time.Cat owners are keenly tuned in to their pets’ body language, but once in a while the felines will throw a curve. It can help you bond with your pet, address triggers, and even let you know when they should see a vet. Knowing what your cat is feeling can help you in more ways than one. Are they gearing up to pounce on a toy, or are they getting ready to swat at another feline? Do they seem bothered or playful? Take note of what your pet does before and after their tail starts twitching. Is their face relaxed or tense? Are the whiskers pulled close against their face? ![]() ![]() Are the kids being loud and rambunctious? Is another pet on Fifi's turf? For example, tail "wagging" can be a sign of playfulness or aggression.īesides looking at tail positions, pet parents should also consider other indicators when trying to decipher their pet's tail language. Answering these questions will give you more insight into what your cat is trying to tell you. Even some scent-marking behaviors (like a cat rubbing their head on your leg) are more easily interpreted. Some tail positions have multiple meanings, which makes tail language even more challenging to decipher. Unfortunately, cat tail language isn't as easily understood as vocalizations like purring, hissing, and growling. Tail language even serves as a warning, telling others to back off or face the consequences. Unlike vocalizations, which could alert a predator and potentially put them in danger, tail language is silent. Cats use tail language to communicate with people and animals about how they feel - good, bad, or indifferent. It's believed cat tail language is an evolutionary communication method cats learned to stay under the radar. Other means of feline communication include vocalization, scent-marking, facial expressions, and spraying. Cat tail language is one of a few ways cats can communicate. Cat tail language is just what it sounds like - cats using tail positions and movement patterns to express their feelings. ![]()
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