What Does It Mean When Cats Have Fluffy Tails?

Your cat's tail is an uncanny mood barometer. If it's fluffy and sticking straight up in the air, that almost certainly means your feline friend isn't happy. Address the source of that unhappiness, and your cat's tail likely will return to normal.

  1. Tails 101

    • Your cat's tail is a marvel of nature that allows him to perform amazing acrobatics and maintain balance at speeds up to 30 mph. It's got its own bones, muscles and nerves, and is controlled voluntarily. When it's not wagging or bobbing to correct balance, your cat's tail changes posture and orientation to reflect his mood. A fluffy tail usually signals a response to extreme agitation, be it anger or submission. That's easier to discern with domestic shorthairs -- the mutts of the cat world -- because of their lithe tails. Longhair breeds display identical behaviors, although it's just harder to tell whether their longer-haired tails are standing on end.

    Anger

    • If your cat's tail is fluffed up and held high, straight up in the air, he's probably angry. This is an acute response, often because a he's seen or smelled another animal in his territory. His fluffy, upraised tail means back off, as he's wound up and read to attack. If you try and approach your cat when he's like this, he may hiss or even scratch you. The same goes for any other pets in the immediate vicinity. Lo and behold, agitated cats can suffer from misdirected anger. Try to figure out what's bothering your cat and do something about it. Even after the issue's resolved and his tail's lowered, it may remain fluffy for some time.

    Submission

    • If your cat's tail is fluffed up, lowered and tucked between his hind legs, your he's feeling threatened, but he's not up to fighting. He's feeling submissive. This posture often means there's another cat around and, until further notice, he's the top dog. Submissive cats may run, hide or, if cornered, attack. As with angry cats, once the source of the agitation is addressed, these cats' tails can remain poofed up for a spell before they return to their former slender elegance. Some cats assert this position without a fluffy tail when they're frightened, too.

    Other Noteworthy Signals

    • If you want to be able to read your cat's tail accurately, fluffy or otherwise, it helps to know their tail-based vocabulary. When relaxed, most cats' tails are raised somewhere between half and full mast. A slight twitch or bend usually indicates interest or playfulness. Dramatic swishing means your cat is ready to fight or is in hunter mood. A small flick, twitch or poof signals slight agitation, and often is the first sign something's amiss. It could be the precursor to full-blown puffiness or, instead, a dramatic swish that means your cat is ready to fight -- for play or for real.