Did you know that the position of your cat's tail is an excellent mood indicator? Learn how to decode your fur friend's tail language!

By design, a cat's tail is used to help with balance. Nimble, quick, keen hunters and climbers, cats require this ability to access some rather precarious places - including trees and rooftops.

However, tails are also helpful communication tools that can be used to help determine mood. While movements don't always appear to be consistent, you can certainly learn more about your cat and what they're feeling through regular observation.

Let's have a look below!

Your cat's tail language

- Straight up: Usually happy and content or requesting food. Sometimes angry or disappointed.

- Up and quivering: Very happy, especially if you've just got home, much like a dog's tail!

- Up and hooked: Friendly but unsure. On alert.

- Positioned horizontally: Neutral, neither here nor there.

- Low: Concentrating, probably hunting your toes.

- Low but hooked: Aggressive/defensive aggressive. Likely to be seen around other cats.

- Up and ears forward: Attentive, analysing the situation.

- Up and gently swinging: Teasing, mocking, dismissive of you.

- Low and slowly swinging: Suspicious or cautious.

- Whipping on ground: Angry, annoyed and ready to show the claws. Or excited!

- Puffed up: The cat is angry and ready to attack.

- Between the legs: Submissive, relinquishing power (especially to another cat).

Now, while these positions can be helpful in assessing your cat's mood, we all know that cats like to keep us on our toes... so you might be completely right one day and completely wrong the next. But hopefully they point you in the right direction!

What can you read from your cat's tail?

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