Why Do Cats Shake Their Tails? Cat Tail Wagging Explained
Have you ever noticed your cat’s tail shaking or vibrating and wondered what it meant?
In the world of feline communication, cats use their tails as a primary way of expressing themselves.
But unlike dogs, where a wagging tail often – but not always – indicates happiness or excitement, in cats, the movement is more complex and can indicate a wide range of emotions, ranging from positive to negative.
So let’s dive in and learn more about what your cat’s tail-shaking behavior might be telling you.
The Role Of Tail Movement In Cat Communication
Contrary to popular belief, cats experience many different emotions, such as fear, anxiety, stress, rage, happiness, excitement, sadness, and frustration.
You can tell how a cat is feeling from his body language and behavior, and the position of the tail is often a key indicator of what’s going on emotionally.
However, it’s important to consider the context of the situation and take note of any other body language cues as well.
By taking all these factors into account, you can gain a better understanding of your cat’s overall emotional state and get a more accurate picture of what’s happening.
For example, if kitty is shaking his tail and has loose body language while playing with a toy, it’s likely a sign of excitement.
But if he is swishing his tail while being petted and his muscles are starting to get a bit more rigid, it could be a sign of irritation or overstimulation.
Once you recognize your cat’s signals, you can respond accordingly.
This helps enormously to reduce the chances of a situation escalating to the point of aggression.
Different Types Of Cat Tail Movements
Visual signals are important for our domestic cats to communicate their moods and intentions.
Tail position is one of the clearest visual signals of all, according to International Cat Care.
Here are some examples of the different ways cats move their tails and what they mean:
- A relaxed and loose tail indicates that your cat is calm and content.
- An upright tail with a slight curve at the tip of the tail (like a question mark) is a sign of a happy and confident cat. You often see it as a sign of a friendly greeting when approaching other cats, people, and even other animals (Atkinson, 2018).
- A tail held high and puffed up means that your cat is feeling threatened, aggressive, or excited.
- An arched tail can indicate defensive or offensive aggression. It can also be a sign of fear.
- A tail held low or tucked between the legs is usually a sign of anxiety or fear.
The Meaning Of Cat Tail ‘Wagging’ Behaviors
As you can see, the feline tail can give us all sorts of useful information about what is going on with our cat at any particular moment.
Now let’s look at the different types of tail ‘wagging’ and what they can mean:
- A softly quivering tail is often a sign your cat is feeling happy and excited. He may be purring and chirruping contentedly at the same time. You may even get a headbutt to signal his friendly intentions.
- An upright, rapidly shaking, or vibrating tail can be a sign that a cat is about to engage in a spot of urine marking. (Note: This is a different behavior to regular urination – see Spraying And Marking).
- A slow, half-hearted flick of the tail is usually a sign of contentment and a relaxed cat.
- A quicker flick of the tail can mean that your cat is annoyed or agitated.
- A slow wag from side to side can indicate that your cat is concentrating and is focused on something, like when he is playing with a toy or hunting prey.
- A twitching tail usually indicates “increased arousal or ‘interest’ rather than a specific emotional state.” (Atkinson, 2018).
- A swishing tail is normally a sign of mild irritation, “annoyance, frustration, or feeling threatened.” (Atkinson, 2018).
- A quickly thrashing tail indicates irritation, annoyance, or anger.
- A thumping tail signals definite irritation and is usually a clear message from an angry cat to “leave me alone.”
3 Common Reasons Why Cats Shake Their Tails
Now that you have a good understanding of the different types of tail movements, let’s take a look at the most common reasons why cats shake their tails.
#1. Negative Emotions
If your cat is feeling afraid, frustrated, annoyed, or aggressive, he may shake his tail as a warning sign.
This behavior is often accompanied by other signs of discomfort, such as hissing or growling.
Tail shaking can also be a sign of stress or anxiety, especially if your cat’s body is tense, and his pupils are dilated.
If you see your cat’s tail shaking in this way, it’s best to give him some space and avoid provoking him further.
#2. Positive Emotions
Happy cats may also shake their tails when they’re feeling excited or playful.
This behavior is often accompanied by frantic jumping or running around and is a sign of emotional arousal – in a good way.
A shaking tail can also indicate the thrill of anticipation, such as when your cat is stalking or hunting and is about to pounce on a toy or some unfortunate prey animal.
#3. Spraying And Marking
Spraying and marking behavior is a natural instinct for cats, especially those who are not spayed or neutered.
If your cat is showing classic urine-spraying behavior, he may shake his tail as he backs up to a vertical surface, like a wall or tree, and passes a small amount of urine at cat nose height (Atkinson, 2018).
This behavior is often used as a scent signal to communicate with other cats and to mark territory.
Spraying behavior can be triggered for various reasons, including anxiety or stress.
Phantom spraying can also occur, where a cat will shake his tail as if he is spraying urine, but nothing comes out.
This can sometimes be a sign of frustration or impatience. Our Dubai street cat Curtis did it a lot, although I’ve seen both male and female cats engage in the behavior.
Causes Of Spraying And Marking Behavior
Other factors can contribute to spraying and marking behavior, such as:
- Surroundings: Cats can become stressed or anxious if their surroundings change, such as moving to a new house or rearranging furniture.
- Children: If you have children in the house, your cat may feel threatened or uncomfortable around them, which can lead to spraying and marking behavior.
- Mother Cats: If you have a mother cat and her kittens, she may spray or mark to denote her territory as a way to protect her babies.
- New Cat: If you bring a new cat into the house, your existing cat may feel threatened and start spraying or marking to make himself feel more confident in the face of an interloper.
How To Read Your Cat’s Tail Behavior
As a cat owner, having the ability to read your feline friend’s signals will help you better understand your cat’s mood and emotions.
By doing this, you can avoid potentially stressful or even aggressive situations.
Here are some tips for deciphering your cat’s tail language:
- Observe your cat’s tail movements when he is relaxed and happy. This will give you a baseline for what is normal for your cat.
- Don’t force your cat to interact with you if he is showing signs of agitation or annoyance.
- Be patient and give your cat space when he needs it.
Reading Your Cat’s Body Language
To get a complete picture of how your furry friend is feeling while he is shaking his tail, it is also important to pay attention to his whole body.
When a cat faces a threat – real or perceived – he will either try to make himself appear bigger to intimidate the threat or smaller to increase his ability to hide.
In some cases, he may stand tall, sideways on, and raise his back to deter the threat, causing his hair to stand on end and making him appear larger.
Conversely, he may lower himself as close to the ground as possible to make himself appear smaller.
Other signs include freezing in place, crouching low to the ground, cringing or cowering, growling/hissing/spitting, and/or swatting/scratching/biting.
It’s important not to approach or handle a fearful cat as he may bite or scratch in defense.
Reading Your Cat’s Facial Expressions
In addition to his body language, a cat’s facial expressions can also provide valuable information about his emotional state.
Cats have “relatively immobile and flat faces which somewhat limits facial expressions,” which can make them “hard to read,” but here are some of the most obvious ones*:
Ears: When a cat’s ears are flattened to the side, it usually means he is feeling scared.
The flatter the ears, the more fearful the cat may be.
Additionally, if a cat’s ears are rotated backward, especially if one ear is more rotated than the other, it may be a sign of frustration or irritability.
Eyes: Wide eyes with dilated pupils, except in response to reduced light, can indicate heightened arousal and may be seen in situations where the cat is frightened or excited, such as during play.
Conversely, fast blinking can signal fear, while slow, partial closing of the eyes may indicate relaxation or a “non-threatening” signal when directed towards another individual, whether it be a cat or a human.
Mouth: A flick of the tongue upwards to touch the nose may be a sign of uncertainty or trepidation.
*Sources: Atkinson, 2018; International Cat Care, 2018
Interesting Facts About Cat Tail Movement
- A cat’s tail is an extension of his spinal column and is made up of 18 to 23 caudal vertebrae.
- It serves several important functions, including balance and communication.
- Cats use their tails to communicate with other cats and with humans, and can convey a wide range of emotions through their tail movements.
- Cats can also use their tails to signal their intentions.
For example, a cat may shake and twitch his tail before pouncing on a toy or prey, indicating his focus and readiness to attack.
Similarly, a cat may wag his tail while stalking something, indicating his excitement and engagement with the activity.
Final Thoughts
Understanding your cat’s tail-shaking behavior is just one piece of the puzzle in decoding his body language and emotions.
By paying attention to all his signals, including tail movements, facial expressions, and body posture, you can gain a more complete understanding of your cat’s moods and intentions.
This will help you communicate better with him, resulting in a stronger bond and mutual trust between you and your feline companion.
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Resources
- Cat Communication – International Cat Care
- Cat Communication – Trudi Atkinson