Why do cats wag their tail? It doesn’t work exactly like it does with dogs

Have you noticed that your cat often moves her tail as if they are wagging it? There are many explanations for this body language.

As an owner, it is very important to understand exactly what your pet is trying to communicate to you.
When your cat wags their tail back and forth, they are sending you a message depending on the situation.
Let’s take a look, when and what!

When a cat wags their tail like a dog

One of the important things to remember about our pets is that you can draw parallels between dogs and cats, as they have similar characteristics but function differently in many areas of life. This is also the case when it comes to communicating with their tails: there are similar motivations, but certain things are unique to cats.

1.) When a cat wags their tail in satisfaction

Just as tail wagging can be an expression of happiness in dogs, it can also move a cat to contentment. It’s not uncommon for purring pets to be waiting for us at the door after work, not only rubbing up to us while passionately meowing with their paws at our feet but also wagging their tails. In this case, you can rest assured that your pet is delighted to see you. But don’t despair if they don’t do it exactly like this, because not all cats communicate in the same way. Your cat may purr, ask to sit on your lap, or even make eye contact with you. These are all signs of affection and affection.

2.) While hunting

You may even find that the cat wags their tail while hunting if it is an indoor cat. The prey is not a mouse, but their toy or even just a duster dropped on the ground. When the animal is about to strike, their body is flat on the ground and its whole back tract, including their tail, can move quickly and rhythmically back and forth, showing that they are concentrating with every muscle in their body. As long as they are not aiming at your ankle or another kitten, let them act on their instincts!

3.) Marking

Cats also use their urine to mark territory. Male cats in particular are known to squirt (females do it too) when they raise their tails and then vibrate them to urinate on the object to be marked. The movement of their tails is less like wagging and more like rapid vibration faster.

4.) Tension

Sometimes a cat wags their tail because they are nervous or stressed about something. The movement of the tail is slower and more vigorous than when the animal is happy. It can be caused by someone stroking your pet against their will (it’s common for guests to try to make friends inappropriately), but you can also annoy them by not letting them jump up on the table.

In this case, it’s usually enough to leave the cat alone, and they will soon calm down. But if your pet is showing signs of stress frequently, you should talk to your vet about it. Constant stress over time can cause physical problems.

5.) Anger

An angry cat also warns you with their tail that they are about to attack. This is not the aforementioned hunting narrative, but rather self-defence. For example, if someone doesn’t take the animal’s signals seriously and continues to pet them. A warning sign is when the tail sweeps back and forth across the floor in large swishes, usually close to the floor. Tail movements are usually accompanied by dilated pupils and ears flicked back. The cat should be left alone.