How Cat’s Tails Tell Tales

My cat, Daphne Louise, is the first cat I have ever owned who has a tail that tells me everything I need to know. All of my previous cats were Siamese, and a bit more relaxed, but Daphne is an expressive former stray that lets her tail do the talking. The slightest bump or sound can make her tail go from a sleek shiny point to a huge, fluffy, bottle brush! Doing so much boarding and grooming, we have seen tons of cat’s tails, and now it’s time to tell the tale of the tails! 

​Tailless Breeds
There are some outliers, like the Japanese Bobtail and the Manx, who are born with no tails. But, unless the cat has been injured, most other breeds have a tail, whether it’s short or long. In fact, a cat's tail is usually half the length of its body! 

The Biological Makeup of a Cat Tail
The average cat has 230 bones, and the tail comprises about 10% of those bones. The tail is an extension of a cat's spine, and has those same bodily materials: discs, muscles, nerves, vertebrae, and lots of cartilage to give it that amazing flexibility. As with a human, the spine includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral areas, but felines also have a caudal vertebrae. These vertebrae get smaller towards the tip, and have up to seven sets of nerves before reaching the very end. The fur at the very end of the tail is similar to their facial whiskers, and can help a cat feel its way around its surroundings. 

How does a tail assist a cat? 
Tails are very important to cats in many ways, including:
Balance- Watch closely when a cat runs full speed, and you will see their tail is up as a guide, and to help with the agility! Or, watch a cat walk on a narrow ledge and you’ll see their tail becomes a counterweight; moving from side to side for balance. Even in water, their tail acts as a rudder, and will direct the cat where it wants to go.

Communication- We can tell a kitty is spicy when they arrive at the spa because their tail will furiously switch side to side. This is a warning to stay away! When we see their tail in an upside-down “U” shape, then we know we have a friendly kitty. Watching a cat's tail is a clear and easy way to understand how they’re feeling. It is an important part of feline body language. While cats can control their tail movement, there are some involuntary reactions as well. For example, Daphne will be sitting by a window, and if I suddenly drop something, her tail will involuntarily puff up, as a reaction to stress.

Bathroom Breaks- Since all the muscles and connective tissues join together from the body of a cat into the base of their tail, the tail has a lot to do with potty time. A tail injury can cause constipation or incontinence.

Scenting- The base of a cat’s tail has scent glands in it, which can release friendly pheromones to “chat” with other cats, or to mark their territory. Male cats are more apt to use these scent glands than females.

Understanding Their Language
To learn more about the language of the tail, there are lots of informational pictures of cats' tails with descriptions of what each position means, like the one below. 

The tail is an interesting part of any cat from an anatomy standpoint, but is also a relationship building block. Keep watching your cat's tail and you’ll understand them and their world a little bit more.

​(Today’s photo features our happy friend Elliott!)