Why do cats tail bush up when they die?

Question

When my mum, lost her black cat in 2004, she wondered why her tail flared up for no apparent reason... Then when i lost my black cat, at the begining of this month, His tail flared up to? What does this mean?

Answer 1

it could be that when it dies, rigormortis sets in, and contract the skin on the tail therefore pulling on the root of the hair and it makes it look like the tail flare up. I don't know for sure.