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What can the position of my cat’s tail tell me about his state of mind?

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What can the position of my cat’s tail tell me about his state of mind?

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Cats may seem aloof and hard to read when compared to dogs, but if you pay close attention to your feline’s tail, you’ll find that it’s not too hard to make heads or tails of their body language.

For example, a relaxed or prowling cat will keep its tail horizontal. A happy or excited cat, on the other hand, generally holds its tail high in the air. When excited, this erect tail might wiggle back and forth slightly – it’s like a cat’s version of a wagging tail.

A cautious kitty will have a hook at the top of its tail, so it looks almost like a question mark – this is an easy tail posture to remember – just think that the cat is questioning what’s going on around it.

And of course you know that a cat with a twitching tail is a little ticked off.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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