Kitty Communication Question

[thistlechaser]

For all you cat folks, can you confirm something for me? I've always taken tail flicking to mean 'go away'. The last quarter of the tail, maybe an inch and a half of it, flicking repeatedly. That's an annoyed, 'I need space' sort of thing, right?

Ellie New Cat sends me such mixed signals that I'm starting to question myself. She wants loves, she wants pats, but OH NOS YOU ARE SCARY. So I pat her when she wants it (basically every waking minute), but as soon as her tail flick (often after just a couple pats) I stop. Then she looks longingly at me like WHY NO MORE PATS?

Comments

[penwyn.livejournal.com]

My cat is always flicking her tail. I think it can be a wide range of things, and I know it can mean contentment.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Huh! Well, good to know! (And now I can adjust how Grace's tail acts, too! :P )

[socksofjello.livejournal.com]

Tail flicking can mean a lot of things. The whole tail thrashing from side to side is a clear sign of aggression or agitation, but just the tip might mean she's curious, excited, playful, or irritated; it depends on her body posture on a whole and the cat's personality.

[zicora.livejournal.com]

It does really depend. Having had cats forever, you have to see how they respond to you. If you go near the car and it backs away, hisses, etc. It means go away. If it keeps meowing (as my cat does) it probably means PAY ATTENTION TO ME!! (Or feed me...)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess that was my mistake, trying to use body language from my previous cat on this one!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Huh! I guess it varies from cat to cat. Well good! More pats for Ellie in the future. :)

[priestpluswolf.livejournal.com]

to quote from a cat body language website;

The tail swishing from side to side indicates that the cat is at the least irritated and with a violently swishing tail signifies anger, be wary. If the end of the tail is just twitching however, the cat body language denotes that your cat is interested in something, perhaps a bird outside the window.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Huh, interesting! Well, good to know and more pats for her!

[donnaimmaculata.livejournal.com]

I find that with many cats, when you pat them and hit some triggering spot on their spine, they will flick their tail in an automatic, purely physical reaction. I'd say, as long as she doesn't run or slash your hands - go for it!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Her spine is a really interesting place, her whole body reacts depending on what part of it I touch. It almost seems overly sensitive for her!

[giftofarthas.livejournal.com]

When I'm petting Boo, she often rolls over and her tail flicks constantly while I give her belly rubs. She's also purring to beat the band. So really it's hard to say.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hm, I guess it varies by cats! I'm glad to know it's not a negative signal in her, since she does it so much.

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

I find generally cats use their entire body for their body language. If one part (like the tail or a leg or something) is giving mixed signals it's probably an unconscious or physical response instead of a sign of "fuck off". Cats are pretty good at letting you know what they are after and you can pretty much always see the claws coming from a few miles away in their attitude.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Good point! I'll watch her as a whole instead of focusing on one part.

[piratewiccy.livejournal.com]

tail swishing like others here have said means a lot of things. I know with my littlest cat when she swishes her whole tail she is very irritated and does not want you to mess with her. If her ears are back at the same time she is pissed and you might lose a finger if you touch her lol. She is a semi wild cat that I rescued as a kitten. She is now 2yrs old and has gotten so much better with spending time with me, but she still hates to be picked up. She rather you pet her when she wants to be pet.
Now our big cat (and I mean big! he puts Garfield to shame lol) is more lovable. He usually only swishes half his tale. This always means he is content. He only swishes his whole tail when he is aggravated at the little cat lol. She likes to pounce on him lol.
I have found for me that male cats tend to be more lovable than females. But that is just my experience with having both in the past.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Your cat sounds just like mine! Ellie was feral as well, and she's still really bad about being picked up (though we're working on that).

I have found for me that male cats tend to be more lovable than females. But that is just my experience with having both in the past.

That's interesting! Both of my cats have been female, so I can't judge the difference.

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I have never even noticed tail twitching! I just pat my girls until they are like LOVE OVER BITEY HAND TIME, and then I figure OKAY DONE WITH PATTINGS NOW.

Perhaps not the best way to handle it on my part!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Rather rude on your cats' parts to have biting be the first line of communication! Sort of like meeting random people and opening by punching them. :P

[veloxe.livejournal.com]

The world would be a much better place...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*snerks* Maybe...