More Tail Tips

You might not pay attention to the tip of your cat's tail, but it's a very expressive part of the feline anatomy. A cat that lowers its tail but keeps the tip curved upward is anything but content. At the moment, it is not only nervous, but unsure and insecure of either its surroundings or an object that has caught its attention. By keeping its tail down, your cat is giving you the scoop on how it's feeling and letting you know that it isn't completely comfortable. "A cat that holds its tail in this position, accompanied by [bristling of the hair], raised hindquarters, a direct stare and curled lips, indicates that it is feeling aggressive," says Jane Bowers, a certified cat behavior consultant and president of Dogs of Distinction Canine Training Inc. in British Columbia, Canada. In this situation, talk to your cat soothingly. If its tail takes on a straight up position, things are good; if it continues holding it as before, give your cat a little space. (Cat Fancy, Nov. 2007)