Why Does a Cat Wag Its Tail?

A cat's tail contains 10 percent of all its bones, up to 20 vertebrae that allow the tail to move and wag. A cat can communicate with humans, cats and other animals by using its tail. The way the cat holds, wags and carries its tail can signify happiness, anger or that it is deep in thought.

  1. Affection

    • When the cat's tail slightly quivers, the cat is attempting to show its love for someone who is petting or holding it. A cat is expressing its happiness when it is wagging only the tip of its tail back and forth. However, the tip may wag faster when it has had enough and wants to be let go.

    Anger

    • A cat does not hide its anger from other cats and its human owners. If the cat's entire tail is thrashing rapidly back and forth, this is a sign that that cat is upset and should be left alone. This is also the cat's way of warning other cats who may be entering its territory to stay away.

    Stalking Prey

    • A cat may slowly wag its tail when its is tracking down prey or getting ready to attack. For example, if there is a toy it is getting ready to pounce on, the cat may slowly wag its tail back and forth. Once it is ready to jump, it will stop wagging its tail. Similar to when it shows affection, the cat may wag only the tip of its tail when thinking and hunting prey.

    Thought

    • When a cat is deep in thought, its tail may wag back and forth. How much the cat wags its tail depends on what it is thinking about. When thinking, it may wag its entire tail or just the tip until its though process is completed. Once the cat has made a decision, its tail may stop wagging and the cat will do what it was thinking about.