Why Do Cats Raise Their Tails – Meaning & Things To Consider

Cats are fascinating creatures. Since, unfortunately, we haven’t found a way to read our pet’s minds just yet, we are left to try and decipher their actions to determine what they are feeling at any given time. Cats have their own personalities, and their actions can differ from cat to cat. However, there are some general things they do that are pretty standard for all cats. Things like purring and kneading are great examples of this. But what about their tails?why do cats raise their tails?

Cats raise their tails to express emotions. The way they move their tail will typically determine their emotions. Cats can raise their tails from various positions to send specific messages.

So now that you are aware that your cat is expressing their feelings when they move their tails, you may be wondering what feelings they are expressing. Again, this can all vary from cat to cat and be based on personality, but typically there are four tail movements that cats do to express how they are feeling in a certain situation.

1. Tail Raised Up
2. Tail Wrapped Closely To Body
3. Bushy Tail
4. Wagging Tail While Lying Down

What does it mean when cats lift up their tails

Cats lift up their tails quite often, which is likely the tail movement they use the most. This is a good sign because most cats lift their tails up when they feel happy. 

It can also mean that your cat is feeling confident and in control. You should see your cat do this regularly in your house once they have become used to their surroundings. This ensures they are comfortable in their home and can relax fully in their living space.

Why do cats curl their tail around themselves

The next movement you’re likely to see in your cat is when they wrap their tails around themselves or pull it in close to their body. When they do this, it means they are unsure or sometimes scared of their current surroundings. 

This can happen if they are in a new place or near someone they are unfamiliar with. This is not a worrisome act; it is entirely normal for a cat to act this way for a bit of time. However, if your cat is continuing this for an extended period of time, like several hours or more, you may want to try to make them feel more comfortable. You could do something like taking them to a place they are more familiar with or giving them some attention if they are willing.

Why do cats bush their tails

The third movement is one you shouldn’t see very often. It is when a cat bushes their tail. When this happens, their tail will seem larger and more fluffed up. Cats do this because they are feeling angry. Do not try to comfort them when they do this, as they are not interested in attention when they are in this mood. 

This can happen for a variety of reasons. It could be something like you putting them in their carrier or even if you’re petting for what they think is too long or in a way they do not like. You should get into the practice of keeping an eye on your cat’s tail even when you’re petting them to ensure that you are respecting their space and letting them go off and do their own thing once they indicate that they have had enough.

Why do cats wag their tails while lying down

The last common cat tail movement you may see is if your cat is lying down and wagging its tail. Now this one is up for a lot of interpretation. There are many reasons why your cat may do this. Most emotions can be present during this act since lying down can be a comfortable position for your cat. 

You can usually determine what they feel when you stop and focus on their surroundings. For instance, a cat that is in its home and is laying on a couch moving its tail and nothing is around to bother it is most likely happy and content. Now, take that same scenario, and instead of nothing bothering it, add a dog that’s trying to get your cat to play. The cat may wag their tail because they are feeling frustrated as they want to be left alone.

This tail movement can be the most frustrating for cat owners since it can be difficult for them to know what their cat is feeling immediately. This is understandable, but knowing that you can scan the situation and get context will help you take the guesswork out of it.

Conclusion

Cats are not easy to read. People often have the misconception that they don’t have personalities because they are hard to read. We know this couldn’t be further from the truth as cat owners. We know that our cats each have their own personalities and that there are ways to detect their feelings. You may have to zero in on what is happening around them, but it is possible to understand a cat’s emotions.

Through the years, experts have learned that tails are a good view of how a cat is feeling in the present moment. Learning and understanding the different movements they make with their tails can help us learn more about our furry friends.

If a cat lifts its tail up, they are most likely happy and perfectly content. If they are in an unfamiliar environment with people they are familiar with, you can be pretty confident that they are in a good mood.

If the tail is wrapped tightly around their body, this can mean they are not confident in their current surroundings and are slightly on edge. This is something to note, but not necessarily worrisome.

If you see your cat bush their tail, you can be sure that they are unhappy. This is a surefire signal that they are angry. When you see this, be sure to give them some space and come back to you when they’re ready. Trying to apologize to them in the state will not do any good for you or them.

Lastly, if you find that your cat is wagging their tail a lot while lying on the ground, you may have to do some more digging to determine what they are feeling. Use the surroundings as context clues to determine how they feel as emotions can range from content to annoyed during this act.

Hopefully, after reading this, you will be able to understand your cat and its specific needs better. Now the next time you see them moving their tail around, you’ll know exactly what they are feeling.