What Does It Mean When Cats Wag Their Tail
Cat tails are very expressive, and the cats use them to communicate with their human owners. For example, if your cat starts wagging its tail and then stops, it means that it’s feeling threatened by something or someone. However, there are many other meanings behind a cat’s wagging tail. Let’s take a look at some of them here!
Curiosity
When your cat wags her tail, she’s showing curiosity. If you’ve ever seen a cat wagging her tail and walking forward, she’s probably curious about something and will approach it to investigate further.
Depending on how fast the wagging is, it could mean different things:
- A slow wag can mean that your cat is simply curious or interested in something new—such as a new toy you’ve just brought home or a small creature like a mouse on the floor.
- A medium-paced wag means that your kitty has spotted something familiar but wants to see it again; this could be anything from food or water bowls to toys they played with earlier in the day!
- Finally, if your feline friend’s tail is moving back and forth at full speed while she’s staring intently at something (but not moving toward), it may mean that she thinks this thing poses some sort of threat—so stay alert!
On the hunt
In the wild, a cat that is wagging its tail is usually in search of prey. This behavior can be seen when a cat stalks and pounces on an unsuspecting mouse or bird. The hunting tail does not always mean that your cat has actually caught something, but it does indicate that he is looking for food.
If you have more than one cat in your household and one of them turns his tail toward another animal, it’s likely he’s trying to assert dominance over the other feline. This shows that he thinks himself superior and wants to let everyone know about it!
Greeting
The most common reason that your cat wags their tail is to greet you. They might be sitting in a window and see you walking up the driveway, or they may be lying on the couch relaxing when suddenly—you walk in! When this happens, cats use their tails as an indicator of how excited they are about seeing you. If your cat’s tail is bent over or flicking back and forth, then it means that they are happy to see you; if their tail is held high up in the air with lots of movement, then it means that they’re even more excited than usual! This can mean one of two things: either something exciting happened recently (like playtime) or there was an absence of excitement for some time (like going outside).
If your cat greets you with a wagging tail and some purring noises but doesn’t seem interested in playing much beyond brushing up against your leg once or twice before running away again—this could mean that something stressful happened recently such as another pet getting into trouble while alone at home without supervision (which would have upset him/her greatly).
Agitation
If your cat is wagging his tail, it means he’s ready to fight. The tail-wag is a warning sign that lets other animals know that you are about to attack or flee from them. It’s also an indication of how emotionally unstable your cat is feeling at the moment, so if he begins wagging his tail out of nowhere and then lunges at you, consider seeking medical attention immediately.
Excitement
It’s important to note that a tail wag does not always mean that your cat is happy or excited. Some cats will wag their tails when they are scared, angry, or stressed out. You may also notice your cat wagging his tail when he sees you after he has been away for a while (a very common occurrence).
Friendliness
- You’re probably familiar with the way cats wag their tails.
- It’s a friendly gesture, and that can be enough of an indication for you to know that your cat is happy.
- If you see your cat’s tail moving back and forth quickly, it means they’re happy!
Cats wag their tails when they are excited or feel threatened
There are a few reasons why cats wag their tails. If you have ever seen your cat excited, you may have noticed that they are wagging their tail. It is common for cats to wag their tail when they are excited and feel threatened by something or someone around them. When your cat sees another animal outside of the house, such as a bird or a squirrel, it will often run away from it while wagging its tail in self-defense. This tells other animals “I’m scared,” prompting them to stay away from the frightened feline so that it does not get hurt.
However, there are other reasons why cats might be motivated to use this behavior instead of simply running away from what’s bothering them: Curiosity! Some cats might be curious about an object that another animal has left behind on the ground (such as food). They might also do this if they’re interested in something new happening nearby like people talking and laughing with one another during dinner time at home; so much noise could attract attention—but only if it came with some delicious treats!
Some experts believe this behavior reflects friendly intentions because when cats rub against people or objects while simultaneously moving back-and-forth in short side-to-side motions over time (like rubbing themselves against trees), they’re showing affection through touch — not unlike how humans would pet each other with affectionate strokes along our arms after meeting up after weeks apart due to traveling abroad together.”
If a cat is wagging its tail, it can mean many things. If you see your cat wag its tail and it seems to be a normal behavior, then there is nothing to worry about. However, if your feline friend is constantly wagging their tail or acting aggressively towards another pet in the house or outside of it, then it might be time to take them to the vet for a checkup.
