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Cats may not be able to speak English, but that doesn't mean they don't have a lot to say! Anybody who has lived with a cat knows that cats can communicate through feline "sign language." For example, cats lying sprawled on their backs are letting you know that they trust you enough to show you their vulnerable tummies. Cats with flattened ears and squinty eyes are saying, "Back off!" Cats' tails are especially "talkative."
Can you tell what these cats are "saying" with their tails? (Hint there may be more than one "right" answer.)
© Matt Partridge
Picture 1
a. How's it goin'?
b. Isn't it getting to be around dinnertime?
c. What's in the bag? |
Picture 2
a. How do you like my new hair-do?
b. Geez, you scared the heck out of me!
c. See how big I am? You don't want to mess with me.
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Picture 3
a. I think I'll just take a little cat nap.
b. I sure could go for a scratch behind the ears right about now.
c. Once step closer, and I'll wrap this tail around your neck. |
Picture 4
a. Hey, who's that in my yard?!
b. I tawt I taw a tweety bird.
c. Squirrels tremble at the mere mention of my name. |
ANSWERS
1. a, b, and c. A raised tail, as long as it isn't bristled, is a sign that a cat is friendly, eager, or curious.
2. b and c. Cats fluff up their tails (and sometimes arch their backs, too) when they are startled or scared. Fluffing their fur makes cats look bigger, so that whoever or whatever is threatening them will think twice. (It's the same instinct that makes the hair raise on your arms and neck when you're scared.)
3. a and b. Cats lying down with their tails thumping slowly are happy and content. But if the tail thumping gets faster and harder, they're getting annoyed and it's time to leave them alone.
4. a, b, and c. When cats are looking out the window at a bird or a squirrel, you may notice their tails twitching. This is their way of letting other cats (or you) know, "Hey, I've found something interesting here," without letting the bird know what they're up to. If the cat's tail is swishing fast and wide, it means there is an intruder and it is a warning, like a dog's bark. |
 To learn how to be
a purrfect pal to your kitty, order a copy of 250 Things You Can Do to Make Your Cat Adore You
by Ingrid Newkirk at PETACatalog.com. |
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