Why do cats thump their tails

Once again, this can confuse dogs and owners , who misinterpret rolling over as a sign of submission. Cats tell us how they feel and what they want, and they must think humans are incredibly dense not to understand. If you are an equal opportunity pet lover who shares your home with both dogs and cats, you may need to act as an interpreter. It can take a while for dogs to understand what Kitty tells them and vice versa.

Becoming multilingual solves or prevents a host of potential pet problems. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Understanding cat tail language will help you to better understand your cat. Reading the tail language of a cat can also help you identify illness and pain more readily.

These tips for understanding cat tail language will empower you to build a more loving, trusting, and fulfilling relationship with your cat. Just like dogs, cats move their tails to express their emotions. So what does it mean when a cat wags its tail? When your cat thrashes their tail, or is thumping it on the ground, they are irritated, annoyed, or angry. This tells you that something is bothering your cat.

This is a distance-increasing behavior. In other words, if you are petting your cat and they start thrashing their tail, they are trying to tell you to stop.

Cats twitch the end of their tails when they are hunting and playing, as well as when they are mildly irritated and frustrated. In this case, read the scene and look for other clues to their mood. When your cat slowly swishes their tail from side to side, they may be intently focused on something like a toy, another animal in the home, or something outside.

They may be about to pounce! Engaging in predatory behavior like stalking and pouncing is good enrichment for your cat, so let them continue to engage in whatever is captivating their attention.

Your cat may quiver their tail when they are especially excited to see you or another cat. Sometimes, when a cat quivers his tail while holding it straight up and backing up against a vertical surface, they may be urine marking. Just as we greet one another with handshakes or hugs , cats may greet by curling their tails around people and by intertwining their tails with other cats.

Or, just like your muscles might twitch a little while you're asleep, his tail might twitch too. But other times, he might not be sleeping as deeply as you think. His gentle tail swish lets you know he hears you and knows you're there. Cats also wag their tails when they're hunting. Sometimes this looks more like an energetic swish or even a persistent thump. This often happens when she's watching birds out the window and becomes very focused on her prey.

Your cat might swish her tail in a similar manner if she's hunting a bug in your house and about to channel her inner tiger as she dashes to her prize. The tail can help your cat with balance and agility, so swishing it while hunting helps her stay ready to pounce. When a cat feels threatened or is unexpectedly startled, he will puff up his tail until it's twice its normal width or even larger. He may also puff up the rest of his fur in an attempt to make himself look bigger and more threatening.

Often, he'll do this when he sees a strange cat and is getting ready for a fight. But he also might do this when he hears a sound that startles him, and he's not sure what's happening. Dogs are known for wagging their tails when they're happy, but do cats ever wag their tails for the same reason?

Although cats do not have the same enthusiastically happy tail wag dogs are known for, they certainly can wag their tails when they're happy. When your cat is feeling happy and confident, she'll walk around your home with her tail held high, pointing straight to the sky.

Sometimes she'll also slightly curve the tip of her tail and even twitch or wag it softly. This isn't the same exuberant tail wag dogs use, but it's a subtle way to let you know she's happy and content. Cats might also wag their tail more energetically when they're playing, swishing their tails from side to side.