My female cat thats 4-5 months saw a male cat on the lawn and started waving her tail and her tail got puffy?

Question

wat does that mean when her tail gets puffy and waving her tail

Answer 1

She's territorial, like any cat really, and she wants to rid the intruder from her turf.

Answer 2

Generally it means they're pissed off or upset about something.  They'll do it any time another cat or a dog or some other perceived threat or annoyance is around.

**ADD**

I have to say this in response to another answer posted here -- you cannot tell if a female is in heat by scratching at the base of her spine near her tail to see if she gets excited.  ALL cats will go into a frenzy when you do this, they will arch their tail and then usually lay down to the side if it gets to be too much for them. I have male cats who do this and I know for sure they're not in heat, so that cannot be a good judge of whether the cat is in heat or not.  

As for getting it spayed, if you haven't yet, you should.  She is getting to the proper age for going into heat.  Once a female does go into heat, she will be just as anxious to get to a male as a male is to get to her and she may run out an open door before you can catch her.

I don't think she was showing off (because of being in heat)  when she saw the other cat on your lawn.  I think she was mad that he was there and she was puffing her tail to show her agitation and anger.

Answer 3

They puff up... it's to make them appear bigger than they really are and to scare off the cat.

YOUR CAT IS NOW OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE HER SPAYED... please do it soon so she won't breed.

If you do it while she is young she will always act young...  

Answer 4

Your cat is one angry son of *****

Answer 5

Waving her tail around usually means she's annoyed or possibly just thinking.  Probably annoyed in this case though.

She puffed her tail up to make herself look bigger and more imposing.  He's straying too close to her territory and she wants him to back off.

Apparently she still thinks boys have cooties. :)

Answer 6

means "GET OFF MY PAD YOU SMELLY TOM!!!...I'M A LADY NOT INTO TRAMPS!!!!...I do the same to a female...lol...

Answer 7

The tail in the air could also have been a signal that she is entering her "heat", if she is not yet spayed.

A female will raise her tail stiffly, shake it, and puff it to show a male she is willing to mate. Her tail end will be displayed to him and she will "linger".

One way to check is to vigorously scratch just at the base of the tail, this can set her into a minor frenzy of tail quivering and meowing. She may also lower her tail to the side and lay down.

Usually a cat will puff more than just the tail and face off with an intruder, not turn its back, so depending on the body language you saw... and whether you have spayed your cat yet... your cat has told you she is of age... 4-6 months is the average window of sexual maturity.

Please be a responsible pet owner and considerate human Guardian and spay your cat if you have not already. Pets can be sterilized as early as 2 months now and they are happier and healthier for it.

There is a severe pet over population problem in America now, so it is everyone's civic duty to help rectify this sad issue... "Love" is not enough. The funding is out there if you think you need financial assistance.

Answer 8

A fluffy tail means a cat feels threatened.  It's her way of making herself look bigger to scare away her "enemy!"  

I think it's so cute when they do that!