[pachyderm]

Unless she is asleep, Whitie's tail is almost always moving. I think a cat's tail tells how it is feeling, but most of the time I can't translate the language. If she is coming towards me with her tail up and curled at the top it means "Hello" I think:

[katheryn]

what a lovely looking cat

[Perna]

Yes, my little girl cat's tail is always moving too (and now she's always talking also, not a great habit :-) and she's long-haired so not great to have around one's coffee.

Great pics pachyderm!

Tails
Tails are probably one of the best communication indicators that cats have. One can almost read every cat feeling and thought by looking at his/her tail.

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Tail arched and puffed out or bristled - your cat is scared or fearful and is ready to attack or defend itself. The bristling is instinctual as it makes the cat look larger.
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Tail straight up in the air and fully puffed out or bristled - your cat is angered, aggressive and ready to attack.
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Tail straight up in the air and quivering a bit - your cat's tail moves this way when spraying urine to mark territory; however, once your cat is spayed or neutered he/she will continue to move his/her tail this way (without any spray or urine being excreted) when you greet him/her. This is your cats way of saying, 'hi, it's your loving cat!'
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Tail straight up and unmoving - an unabashed greeting. This is what a mother cat does to her kitten to tell him/her to inspect her rear.
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Tail straight up but the tip tilted to one side - your cat is very interested and intrigued by something; your cat is happy and friendly.
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Tail straight up or just slightly raised and curved like a question mark - your cat is very excited and interested in something.
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Tail curved down and then back up again near the tip - your cat is very relaxed and content.
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Tail still but tip of tail quivering or twitching - your cat is mildly irritated. Your cat may attack if the twitching becomes violent enough.
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Tail swishing from side to side rapidly or violently - your cat is about to attack something, this is seen during fights and play time. This is not the same as tail wagging in dogs.
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Tail held to one side - your cat is giving a sexual invitation (generally only females in heat do this).
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Tail held low and puffed out or bristled - your cat is intensely afraid.
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Tail held low and tucked between the hind legs - your cat is showing his submission or defeat.

[pachyderm]

> Tail arched and puffed out or bristled - your cat is scared or fearful

Actually Whitie has learned to play mock scared-y cat and we have fun pretending that I am going to attack her and she is pretend scared. She will afterwards run towards me because she knows it is pretend and that she will get lots of attention and rubbing. She often initiates this play.

[RozG]

beautiful looking cat

[SpazKatt]

My cats will do this sideways hop hop thing at each other it's pretty funny. It's especially funny when my kitten tries to act big. I laugh and tell her that she's not fooling anyone! My kitten greets me every time I come home with a nice "breeet" rubs on me and then falls over for a belly rub.

[pachyderm]

[wickedwings]

i love cats!

I love cats.....and I love how they knead on my face when I am sleeping!!!! LOL

Thanks for the tail information. Tails and eyes say so much!

I wish we had some animal smilies to put into the posts

In one picture, the kitty is looking at the camera like " Please, leave me alone, I know I am beautiful. Get me something now!"

"Dogs have masters, cats have slaves!"