What is this cat body language?

Question

I want to know about cat's body language and their tail movements.

Answer 1

i read something about when you come into the room and they have their tail up high is like a greeting, they also do it to fellow cats.

Answer 2

well im not sure exactly but i notice when my cats ears are back and his back is a tiny bit arched and his tail moves real quick i can tell hes playful. or when hes hungry h**l meow and move his body forward.

Answer 3

Hi khushbuk

BODY LANGUAGE

Unlike dogs, cats do not generally co-operate to hunt or form cohesive packs. Cat colonies are much looser groupings than the strictly hierarchical wolf-pack. They haven't needed to evolve the social rules for pack living. They mix with other cats when mating, raising kittens and in sociable groups such as feral colonies or multi-cat households. Feline body-language is complex and subtle with ate least twenty-five different visual signals used in sixteen combinations. There are doubtless many other, more subtle, nuances which we don't notice. Most owners can learn to recognise at least some of their cats' visual signals.

The most dramatic body language occurs when rival males meet, during courtship or over fiercely protected territory (in general, cats are happy to let other cats pass through their territory or even time-share it, but the core territory may be fiercely protected). Neutered cats generally have less extreme interactions. Many visual signals are displayed when cats play, either on their own, with other cats or with humans.

The aim of body language is to convey a message and to avoid or end physical confrontation. The aggressor or challenger would prefer to win its case without resorting to teeth and claws since it could be badly injured in a fight. Many disputes are resolved by staring each other down and yelling. Sometimes it is so subtle that humans cannot tell there was potential conflict - the dominant cat, having won the confrontation, simply walks away from the loser, sits down and looks in another direction (or start grooming - a favourite feline activity).

Body language has to be read by looking at the whole body - the face, the posture and the tail position. Looking at one of these in isolation is misleading since they all combine into an overall message. For example when a cat arches its back, is it upset or is it friendly? The same basic posture means two very different things depending on the facial expression, whether the fur is bristling and the eyes and the ears

check more about this on

http://www.messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm

Answer 4

Following are some insights into "tail talk".

1.  Tail curves gently down and then up again at the tip.  Cat is relaxed and all is well in his world.

2.  Tail slightly raised with a soft curve.  Something has peaked the cat's interest.

3.  Tail is held erect but the tip is tilted over.  Cat is in a friendly mood with slight reservations.

4.  Tail fully erect with the tip stiffly vertical.  This is a wholehearted greeting with no reservations. This is a carry-over from the kitten stage when greeting mom and inviting her to inspect the kitten's rear end.

5.  Tail fully lowered and possibly tucked between hind legs.  Cat is showing defeat and its lowly social status.

6.  Tail lowered and fluffed out.  Cat is showing active fear.

7.  Tail swishing violently from side to side. Cat is not wagging its tail in joy.  Often means that the cat is about to attack.

8.  Tail held still, but the tip is twitching.  Mild irritation.  If the twitching increases a swipe from a paw may be imminent.

9.  Tail is held erect and the whole length is quivering.  Gentle quivering may be seen after a cat has been greeted by its human companion.  Same action may be observed when urine spraying is taking place outdoors.  The gesture appears to have a meaning of personal identification...yes, this is me.

10. Tail held to one side.  Sexual invitation of a female cat in heat.  Signal to the male that he can mount without being attacked.

11. Tail held straight and fully bristled.  Signal of an aggressive cat.

12. Tail arched and bristled.  A defensive stance which may indicate cat will attack if provoked further. Bristling fur makes the cat appear bigger and may deter the enemy.

Here's an excellent pictorial guide:-

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/tailta...

And you can read more about cat's body language here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_body_la...

Answer 5

Ther tail really has nothing to do with there action it in the wild moves so its pray watchs it then gives them time to kill

Answer 6

There are a couple of things:

If it's ears are forward, he's comfortable and this is normal.

If they're held back and his tail is whipping back and forth, he's pissed.

If he's softly swaying the tail, and simply sitting, he's content.

Answer 7

Straight up is definitely a happy tail. My last cat had a curl at the top which made it look like a little question mark walking through the room. My current cat's tail is hooked directly to his ears. When I say his name, he whapps it on the couch. When we're in bed about to crash for the night, he kind of peacefully curls it up and down. Also, when you pet them and they raise their butts up in the air, it's because when their mom's groomed them as kittens, they'd l**k down the kittens back and teach it to raise it's tail so they could clean their butts. I pet my cat, and up his butt goes. I keep telling him "I am NOT cleaning that. Put your butt down."