The secret language of cats: how to decipher the behavior of pets by their tails

The cat has always been a mysterious animal. Those animals that seem to need no one, because cats are independent and walk on their own. And at the same time, they are very attached to a person if he shows them due attention and care. After all, all living creatures, including cats, need attention, which they will appreciate.

To make it easier for a person to establish communication with a cat, you need to at least basicly know the habits that are inherent in these animals. The more time you spend studying, the better it will be for communicating with your pet and the more affectionate it will behave.

Let us now consider the question: why does a cat need a tail? Probably, few people have thought about what role a cat’s tail plays, whether it helps control the cat’s body, this or that paw, and other things that may be important. With a long tail, the cat is more active and remains a cheerful animal.

In other words, your pet cannot fully exist without a tail. Whatever breed it is, even the most expensive and rare. So why does a cat need a tail? The more you know about this, the better you will understand the importance of the tail, which helps control the body, paw, and control the importance of other parts of the cat. The presence of all parts is necessary, and the presence of a long tail in a cat is no exception.

Actually, a cat's tail can be called a real gentleman. Even the simplest cat, waving its tail, feels like a queen. Perhaps this is the answer: why does a cat need a tail? Just want to increase your own importance? But as life practice shows, the presence of a long tail plays a much more serious role in the cat world. What is a cat’s tail, how does it control the body, improve life, control the movement of the paw and all other parts so that they are in motion.

Answering the question: why does a cat need a tail, it will be much easier for a person to raise the level of communication in a cat’s understanding. First of all, it will be especially convenient for the owner when he wants to spend more time with his animal.

Features of the tail structure

The cat's tail is an extension of the spine, so it consists of vertebrae. Depending on the breed, their number reaches 27, while the length of the tail is 40-50 cm. Like the whole body, it is covered with muscle tissue and skin.

Features of the structure of a cat's tail

In tailed breeds it consists of three parts:

• Root. 4-6 fused vertebrae that start from the sacrum.
• Stem. A flexible part of 10-15 elongated vertebrae. Between them are cartilages that connect the joints, which are surrounded by jelly-like intervertebral fluid.
• The tip of the tail. The vertebrae shorten closer to the end and become thinner. The last vertebra does not have connecting cartilage, so it grows in any shape.

Why is it needed?

A cat's tail performs many vital functions:

• keeps balance;
• helps to navigate in space;
• controls the process of thermoregulation;
• as a way of communication;
• one of the health indicators;
• just for beauty and entertainment.

And now in more detail about each point why this organ is needed.

Tail and cat mood

How to determine a cat's mood?

In its natural state, when it is down or wrapped around the paws, a cat's tail signifies calmness. However, they can express a dozen more different emotions! The most common ones are described in the table below.

Position	Mood
Disheveled and drooping	Scared
Raised high	Glad to meet you
Lowered, mobile	Bad mood
Raised with curved tip	Happy, wants to be friends
Raised high, agile	Excited, glad to see
Pressed down, root raised	Feeling scared or guilty
Raised and disheveled	Feeling threatened
Curls along the body	In love
Sticks out back, tip is turned inward	Shows affection

A joyful kitten runs towards its owner

What do tail movements mean?

In addition to the position of the tail relative to the body, the cat makes various movements, which can also be used to determine its emotional state:

• a lowered, motionless tail indicates that the pet is disappointed or very tired;
• raised up, when only the tip moves, means joy;
• smooth movements at a medium level show his interest in the situation;
• small amplitude of movement - he is in thought;
• wide scope - sexual attraction;
• a large amplitude combined with the beating of the tail on the floor indicates the cat’s irritation, dissatisfaction, and anger;
• hits the sides, which means he is preparing for a fight.

The tip of the tail rises when the cat is nervous

Tailless animals are limited in emotional communication. They cannot correctly convey their feelings, mood, desire. This is comparable to having fingers for a person who does not speak sign language.

Balancing

Cats need a tail even when hunting.
The cat unconsciously uses this function, since the opportunity is gifted by nature itself. With the help of the tail, you can freely control your body, perform maneuvers during the hunt, and overcome obstacles unimaginable to humans. When a cat falls or jumps from a height, it maintains body balance and helps to take a safe position for landing. This occurs due to free rotation and twitching. It also allows you to maintain balance on turns and narrow surfaces, and acts as a rudder when swimming.

Maintaining balance is the main function of a cat's tail.

And the fan and the blanket

Many people know about this from folk superstitions: a cat curls up into a ball and covers its nose with its tail when cold weather is approaching, and fans itself like a fan when the air temperature is high. Such actions help the animal control its body temperature, raising or lowering it, while the tail is a tool for thermoregulation.

One of the functions of a cat's tail is thermoregulation.

Intimidating enemies

When a cat is seriously frightened, the fur all over the body stands on end, and the tail is fluffed to the maximum, raised high and arched. This pose makes the animal appear larger and scarier than it actually is, which is why many representatives of the animal kingdom resort to such an effective trick to intimidate their enemies.

Even among closely related species, there are rituals that make it possible to determine who is in charge without a fight. So cats will prefer to howl for a long time and terribly, spinning around each other before starting a fight. And a large fluffy tail will help its owner gain the necessary superiority in this matter.

Entertainment

In addition to the important functions described above, the tail can be useful for games. If your pet has few toys nearby or wants to exercise and have fun, he can easily focus on his own tail. Its constant active movements perfectly imitate a potential prey that can be hunted.

What does the tail look like when the kitten is in a playful state?

It is important to understand that the cat knows that the tail is part of its body, and not an enemy or prey. She will never harm herself, so there is no need to worry about it, much less deliberately interfere with play. After playing, as a rule, the animal begins to intensively care for its tail in order to bring it into proper shape.

Functions

The entire tail of a cat is permeated with thin nerve endings that are directly connected to the central nervous system and allow the animal to better navigate the surrounding space. Pets actively use it throughout their lives, using it as a balancer, thermostat, a means of intimidating enemies, a health indicator, and even a toy.

Steering wheel and balancer

The cat's tail functions as a rudder. With its help, she stays on narrow ledges, jumps, climbs trees and avoids skidding. With any movements of the animal, it actively rotates, giving the body the desired direction.

When falling from a height, it acts as a balancer. Thanks to the intense twitching and spinning of the cat's tail, it maintains its balance and lands calmly on its paws.

Thermoregulation

In the summer heat, the cat uses its tail as a fan. She fans herself with it, like a fan, and lowers her body temperature, saving herself from possible overheating.

In cold weather, the cat curls up into a compact ball and covers its eyes, nose and paws with its tail. This body position helps her warm up and minimize heat loss.

A means of communication and intimidation of enemies

A cat interacts with other animals and people using gestures. She uses a ponytail as one of the ways to help express her feelings. If the pet is irritated, it begins to shake its tail and swing it from side to side.

On a note. Animals learn nonverbal communication from an early age. Thus, kittens rubbing their tails against their mother express joy.

Seriously frightened, the cat takes a characteristic pose in order to appear larger and avoid a possible collision with an opponent. She arches and fluffs the fur as much as possible, trying to intimidate the enemy. This ritual helps to gain the necessary superiority in strength and find out who is in charge without a fight.

Hunting

When hunting, a cat's tail drops as low as possible. The animal tries to keep it parallel to the ground. If its tip twitches, it means the cat is trying to contain its excitement.

Health indicator

By the condition of the hair that grows on the cat's tail, you can determine whether the pet has any diseases. If an animal loses hair in the rump area, it lacks vitamins and microelements. This deficiency can be filled with the help of a balanced diet and special supplements.

Also, hair loss at the base of a cat's tail can be a sign of allergies, parasitic infestations, fungi, or lichen.

Comfort and fun

If your cat wants to exercise or play and there is nothing suitable within her reach, she can use her own tail. It constantly moves and perfectly imitates potential prey that can be hunted.

Having caught the tail, the cat understands that this is not a victim or an enemy, but just a part of its body. Realizing this fact, she begins to put it in order. During play, a cat will never harm itself, so there is no need to prohibit it from playing with its tail.

The influence of cat age and breed on tail length

The length is measured from the sacrum to the extreme point of the last vertebra. In long-tailed cats it ranges from 20–28 cm to 40 cm, which depends on the individual characteristics of the cat and its breed. For example, Persians have a shorter average length than Oriental cats, while Maine Coons have a longer tail than both.

How does a cat's age affect tail length?

The length also depends on the age of the animal, because kittens have the same number of vertebrae in their tail as adults. However, during growth, the width and length of the caudal vertebrae increase, so it becomes longer.

Can a cat live without a tail?

If a cat has lost its control organ during an injury, it will be difficult for him to cope with balance, emotions, and orientation in space for some time. However, they are able to adapt to a new life quite quickly: they maintain balance due to better developed joints, they become more flexible and bend better, and they convey their mood with their mustache, ears and behavior.

Can a cat live without a tail?

The second case when a cat may find itself without a tail is an innate property.

But does she really need him?

In fact, not very much, the cat can do without it, and without much damage. For example, cats that have lost their tail as a result of injury continue to jump, climb trees, and walk on roofs and fences no worse than their tailed counterparts. When falling from a height during the process of self-leveling, a cat, in addition to balancing with its tail, uses other possibilities, so it is ready to land on its paws without the participation of its tail. And to express emotions, you can give signals by moving your head and whiskers, using your eyes, ears, claws and paws. All owners of tailless cats understand their pets very well.

Tailless breeds

There are completely tailless breeds: Manx. Kymrik. The complete absence of a tail is a genetic damage for which the M gene is responsible. Because of this genetic feature, the breed is not allowed to be bred with other species in order to avoid unhealthy offspring.

The Manx taillessness gene is dominant, that is, if at least one of these is present, it a priori causes the absence of a tail. If the kittens are homozygous (with two copies of the tailless gene), the pregnancy spontaneously aborts, so they are bred from different parents: one tailed and one tailless. However, kittens with one gene also have an increased risk of Manx syndrome, which is characterized by spina bifida, fused vertebrae, and bowel and bladder problems.

There are cat breeds that have a tail, but it is shortened. Bobtails (Kurilian, Japanese, Karelian, American, Mekong) have only 5-7 vertebrae. They are heavily pubescent and resemble a pompom in appearance. The gene that causes the broken tail is recessive—you need to have two copies of it for it to work. In addition, the Bobtail gene does not cause health problems like the Manx gene.

How tailless cat breeds are born

Beauty and charm

For most owners, these are the qualities that are decisive when choosing a pet cat. Animals are used less and less to fight rodents and are increasingly perceived as living toys. But even if a kitten was born and raised in ideal conditions, has not seen the street in the third generation and has never needed anything, the instincts of a wild animal will still awaken in it, at least occasionally.

It is for this reason that pet fluffies sometimes upset their owners with little pranks, tearing soft toys to pieces, scratching wallpaper or jumping on curtains. This happens even to the most thoroughbred individuals. After all, no matter how cute, affectionate and good-natured a kitten may be, it is first and foremost a predator. And only then - everyone’s favorite, a living toy or decoration of the sofa in the living room.

The tail is an indicator of health

This organ is not only a natural extension of the spine, but also has many nerve endings, which is important in determining the health of the cat:

• When the tail is dislocated, it maintains an unnatural position or bend. In this case, the help of a veterinarian, x-rays and further dressings for recovery are necessary.
• It looks like beads, which means the animal lacks calcium. The vertebrae become thinner, and the cartilage tissue grows.
• Clicking noises when moving are often caused by problems with interosseous and cartilage tissue.
• The cat walks with his tail raised, the tip of which twitches, while he slightly spreads his paws. Most likely the behavior is caused by urolithiasis.

What to do if your cat's tail is going bald

If there is severe hair loss from the tail, stress, dermatitis, or allergies can be assumed. In order to avoid complications (bacterial, fungal infection), you need to consult a doctor to monitor the condition. Common health indicators that can be determined by tail hair include:

• prolapse at the base (on the sacrum) is a sign of a lack of vitamins;
• the appearance of dandruff - an allergic reaction or fungus;
• Oily hair is a symptom of improper metabolism, hormonal disorders or diseases of the excretory system.

Symptoms of the disease

Fat tails are much more common in male cats than in male cats. As noted above, animals with short fur are at risk, which complicates the diagnostic process. Let's try to find out what signs clearly demonstrate this disease:

1. The epithelium at the base of the fur becomes lumpy, it flakes off and becomes covered with a thin crust of pus.
2. The tail, most often at the junction with the body, is thickly covered with fat, which makes the fur begin to shine. The discharge cannot be washed off with shampoo or soap.
3. If the disease progresses, the skin at the site of localization will be combed and covered with red pimples. This is how the animal tries to relieve the itching, but only spreads the infection through the skin.
4. The area of ​​“greasy” fur becomes exposed over time. This is due to the fact that the hairs gradually break off at their base.
5. A symptom that the anus is inflamed may be uncharacteristic behavior when the cat crawls with its butt on the carpet, trying to release excess contents.
6. Over time, brown spots may appear on your pet's tail; if left untreated, they will develop into a hard crust, tearing which the cat will injure itself.

Owners who notice that their animal has developed “greasy tail” syndrome should under no circumstances dismiss this problem, attributing it to seasonality or simply the cat’s untidiness. Most often, the true cause lies precisely in a serious illness that has just begun to manifest itself. If you react promptly, it will save a lot of hassle for both the owners and the cat.

Treating a cat's fatty tail is a long and tedious process. You need to start with a trip to the veterinarian, who will determine exactly what caused the disease and how to eliminate it as quickly as possible. Treatment, as a rule, is based on the fact that the pet begins to take baths more often. To do this, you need to buy special shampoos containing lactic acid. This will perfectly exfoliate harmful keratin accumulations and cleanse the skin, which will create the basis for subsequent therapy.

If the veterinarian determines that the greasy tail is caused by a hormonal disorder, then castration of the pet or medication to stop the production of sex hormones will be required. Excessive production of anal secretions is treated with rinsing. The specialist will clearly explain to the owners how this is done. If the disease recurs regularly, the anal glands can be completely removed surgically.

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If the causes are caused by external irritants, then a complex of vitamins and a special diet are prescribed to strengthen the immune system. All this will help the cat become beautiful again, and its owner - calmer. If you ignore the fact that your pet’s tail becomes fat, then in the future this can lead to complete baldness, which will make the animal completely unsightly.

Fat tail on a cat treatment

Tailed diseases

To promptly notice if your pet is sick, you need to know the basic parameters of the cat’s body:

1. body temperature from 37.5 to 39 °C (the younger the cat, the hotter it is).
2. respiratory rate: the norm for adults is 17-23 breaths per minute, for young animals - 22-24, for kittens - up to 60.
3. The pulse of a healthy cat is up to 130 beats per minute.
4. The norm is also a vertical position of the tail, then we can say with confidence that the cat feels good and is happy with everything.

The most common diseases that affect the condition of the tail are fractures, parasites, fungal diseases and allergies.

Fractures

What does a broken tail look like in a cat?

There are several types of deformation of the caudal vertebrae:

• hall - the elevation of one vertebra above another like a step upward (they can be the same in length, but the edges are necessarily rounded);
• kink - step down;
• bending - the elevation of one or more vertebrae above an imaginary straight line;
• nodulation - several vertebrae have fused into one.

If the deformation is not noticed in time and the cat is not helped, the vertebrae may not heal properly. This may not greatly affect the pet’s health, but it will cause some discomfort in the cat’s daily activities.

Parasites

More often than fractures, problems occur with the skin and hair. Scratching, gnawing and other nervous behavioral reactions are symptoms of parasites. You can get caught by fleas, ticks, and lice eaters on the street while walking or from other animals. When your pet begins to violently attack its tail, you should carefully examine it for small black dots that parasites leave behind. Ticks are easier to identify; they are visible to the naked eye. To do this, you just need to move the fur near the bitten area.

To prevent parasites, experienced owners buy a treated collar or drops. It is also necessary to observe hygiene standards: combing, bathing, and caring for your pet’s fur. If the parasites do get there, be sure to contact your veterinarian, because in addition to anti-flea medications, you may need antiseptics.

Be attentive to your pet and be sure to treat wounds for parasites. If this is not done, constant gnawing of the skin will lead to the appearance of ulcers along the entire length of the tail, which can cause further damage to the animal’s skeletal system.

Fungal diseases

Itching is also caused by fungal diseases, some of which are contagious to humans, like lichen. You can recognize it by bald spots and light spots on the skin. They treat an infectious animal with antifungal agents, and additionally limit head movements with an Elizabethan collar (a cone on the head) so that the pet does not tear the affected areas. When contacting a veterinarian, you can get additional advice on health-supporting medications with a vitamin complex, and to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible, they recommend giving an injection.

Allergy

What diseases can be identified by a cat's tail?

Common sources of allergies: toilet litter, plastic toys, inexpensive food. At the same time, the cat scratches the entire body up to the tail, which is why redness and peeling appear in some areas of the skin. Only a veterinarian can recognize an allergy and prescribe the correct treatment (steroids and ointments for wound healing).

Why does my cat have oily fur and brown spots?

Oily hair on a cat's tail may be a symptom of malfunctioning sebaceous glands.

Its cause, in turn, can be infection, hormone release, and much more.

The most harmless reason is the play of hormones

If you are the happy owner of an unneutered cat, and you notice he has oily fur and strange spots in the tail area, then there may be no reason to worry.

During puberty, an animal's body may produce more fat than usual as hormones activate the sebaceous glands. This excess remains on the fur, giving it an unkempt appearance.

During puberty, a cat's body produces large amounts of fat.

Young cats

Usually, unpleasant symptoms disappear immediately after the animal’s hormonal levels improve, that is, upon completion of puberty.

Upon completion of puberty, unpleasant symptoms immediately disappear.

What to do?

The only thing is that you can comb your cat’s tail more often to give it the most well-groomed appearance.

But it is also important not to overdo it, otherwise, due to active combing, there may be a risk of partial baldness of the tail.

If the problem does not disappear within a year or longer, then perhaps the cat should be neutered. Usually, in the first month after castration of the pet, the activity of the sebaceous glands returns to normal, and the coat ceases to be greasy.

The cat should be neutered if the problem does not go away within a year.

Inflammation of the paraanal glands

In the tail area of ​​cats there is a pair of glands responsible for secreting a special secretion. They perform different functions, depending on the situation. For example, if an animal intends to scare away an enemy, the glands will secrete a substance with a pungent odor. When the cat is ready to get closer, they, on the contrary, secrete a secret that attracts individuals of the opposite sex.

One of the most common signs of such a malfunction can be such phenomena as greasy hair on the cat’s tail and brown spots, sometimes accompanied by peeling.

When the paraanal glands become inflamed, the cat may experience peeling.

Animal behavior

Another obvious symptom of malfunctioning paraanal glands is the behavior of the animal. The cat, experiencing discomfort in the anus, begins to rub its butt against any surface, be it the floor or the back of the sofa.

And also he can:

• lick the tail area frequently;
• experience pain when visiting the toilet.

A cat may experience pain when visiting the toilet if there is a problem with the paraanal glands.

To rid your pet of problems associated with inflammation or blockage of the glands, you need to contact a veterinarian who will carry out the necessary procedures to clean them. But the specialist will also prescribe strengthening vitamins and other medications to relieve inflammation and improve the animal’s immunity.

Oily seborrhea in a pet

This is a fairly common disease, especially among uncastrated and unsterilized animals, which is manifested by the appearance of dandruff. Yes, yes, our pets can also develop this unpleasant disease!

Oily seborrhea in a cat.

Symptoms of dandruff

Symptoms of dandruff in a cat:

• oily and unkempt fur (most often on the tail and near the tail);
• small brown or yellow spots;
• peeling of the skin;
• itching

If your cat has oily hair on his tail and brown spots, and you suspect that it is seborrhea, then it is recommended to immediately show the animal to a veterinarian. The specialist will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

To make a diagnosis, you should take your cat to a veterinarian.

Care instructions

Caring for the tail, like the entire fur of an animal, is a necessary undertaking. After all, by its condition, the owner can understand the physical and emotional health of the animal. A few simple rules will help show you care about your pet:

1. If your pet falls unsuccessfully, the tail remains in an unnatural position, and when touched it causes discomfort to the animal - you need to urgently contact a veterinarian and get an x-ray.
2. If you see that a child or another person is pulling the cat’s tail, stop him. One sudden movement and injury to this organ will lead to failure of the hind legs and a negative impact on the functioning of the kidneys or intestines.
3. Also monitor the condition of the fur on it. Dandruff, bald spots, white spots, violent gnawing are painful symptoms. For consultation, we recommend contacting a veterinarian; perhaps the kitten lacks vitamins, or there may be parasites on its body.
4. If the cat walks drooping, the tail hangs down without moving at all - this is also a sign of an unhealthy condition.

Tail up means the cat is happy!

To keep the fur shiny and the pet’s health at an excellent level, experienced owners recommend bathing it once every three months, combing it 2-3 times a month to remove all dead hair, feeding it with professional food and keeping the tray clean. This is enough for the cat to be healthy and make its owner happy with its condition!