Quivering, Wagging, Puffed Up: What is Your Cat's Tail Trying to Tell You?

Have you ever wondered what your cat’s tail position means? In this video, I explore the most common tail behaviors, from what I call “the backwards question mark” to the Halloween cat’s poofy bottle brush tail. Understanding your cat’s body language is crucial to understanding your cat, and the tail is one important piece of that puzzle!
0:00 Intro
0:49 What is a Tail?
4:45 Straight Up position
5:46 Backwards Question Mark
6:51 Straight Backwards
7:53 Curved Under
9:42 Flicking Side to Side
13:46 Straight Up and Vibrating I
14:23 Straight Up and Vibrating II
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#JacksonGalaxy #Cat #Advice

[@JacksonGalaxy]

What did you all think of this video? Should I make more like this? Let me know what you'd like to see next. Thanks for tuning in and have a great weekend everybody!

[@miimivikat4864]

I have been feeding my cat this. Wondering if its any good? Ingredients Beef: Meat and animal derivatives (24% of which beef 4%) Vegetable protein extracts Fish and fish derivatives Derivatives of vegetable origin Minerals Various sugars Chicken: Meat and animal derivatives (27% of which chicken 10%) Vegetable protein extracts Fish and fish derivatives Derivatives of vegetable origin Minerals Various sugars Salmon: Meat and animal derivatives Vegetable protein extracts Fish and fish derivatives (salmon 4%) Derivatives of vegetable origin Minerals Various sugars Tuna: Meat and animal derivatives Vegetable protein extracts Fish and fish derivatives (tuna 4%) Derivatives of vegetable origin Minerals Various sugars Calories 100.15kCals/80.18kCals can Nutrition & Analytical Constituents Moisture: 74.0% Protein: 17.0% Fat content: 4.0% Crude ash: 2.0% Crude fibres: 0.5% Nutritional additives IU/kg: Vit. A: 900; Vit. D3: 137. mg/kg:Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate: (Fe: 10); Calcium iodate anhydrous: (I: 0.25); Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate: (Cu: 0.9); Manganous sulphate monohydrate: (Mn: 2.0); Zinc sulphate monohydrate: (Zn: 18.6); taurine: 560. Flavourings.

[@Hermititis]

It was great. I saw many comments (live chat & now) asking about cats with stubby or missing tails (eg. Manx, Japanese Bobtail, amputation, etc). so that may make a good follow-up video or addendum, or even a short.

[@michaelamann3060]

I found this video very useful. Thank you very much. 👍🏻

[@Hermititis]

Also, you should pin your comment so people see it & reply here.

[@janehartley3029]

Have never understood how Any cat can jump up on the bed (for ex) and not make any presence known at all, then walk across you with the wt of an elephant in each foot?!? How do they control gravity? ( besides b3ing aliens)🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[@pamhopkins8339]

I just lost my Ginger cat, she was 21 and I am a mess.please pray for her and me. I'm so lost without her. I wasn't around many people but Ginger was always with me. I'm devastated and lost. 10/21/23 I want to thank everyone who has responded. The number of responses is amazing. A little orange tabby boy showed up on my doorstep recently and has adopted me. He doesn't replace Ginger, but he does have quite a personality!

[@blueshibai]

Sorry for your loss **big hugs**

[@jeanperry9527]

Oh Miss Pam, I am so sorry. If it gets too much and you need to talk, please just reply here. I think that would work. You were a great Mom, and I hope you can take comfort in that. You're not alone. Somewhere , when you're ready, some little purring ball of softness will need you, and love you, and give you back your joy. It will be her lucky day!♥️

[@pamhopkins8339]

@@jeanperry9527 thank you so much, it is very overwhelming

[@Odetojoyous]

Ginger must have been a great pal. Don't forget all of her fine qualities. They are there to cheer you.❤

[@AccountingNightmare]

I'm so sorry Pam. I'm there too - I had to say goodbye to my beautiful Calico girl a couple weeks ago. You're not alone! We'll always hold them in our hearts. 21 years old is very impressive. You must have cared for her really well. ♥

[@sarahhardy8649]

I love being greeted by the vibrating tail. It means so much from my independent minded cat. I’m her person.

[@high-bi-password]

My cat gets brontosaurus tail when she follows my boyfriend to the kitchen for food 😂

[@FoxFighter-HellBringer]

My cat's tail only vibrates like that when I'm in the kitchen because she's obsessed with food. 😆

[@kellybullard9066]

My Millie does that to us. It's so sweet ❤

[@suzannevaughan7952]

Is she not otherwise an affectionate cat? Mine loves belly rubs and her tail does lovely thing buy as I said, nothing can persuade her to sit on my lap 🤢

[@FoxFighter-HellBringer]

@@suzannevaughan7952 Mine? She definitely is. She follows me everywhere and loves to cuddle in the morning. She just happens to be food obsessed as well.

[@muzerhythm2242]

Who else LOVES it when Jackson brings out the science? 🎉😁 I volunteer at our city animal shelter and will share this video with the other volunteers. Keep educating us Jackson!😊

[@sylviekins]

I love the way our new and formerly frightened kitten now gives head bumps, and she loves to be scratches under the neck. She is blossoming before our eyes and it it due to the implementation of Jackson’s advice. So many cats and humans saved by this knowledge, thank you a million times! 🙏❤

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@amandadebeer6682]

😻

[@Spazkatt17]

Great info, I have taught my son from a very young age to watch for the warning signs that what he's doing is upsetting the cat. I tell him to watch out for "airplane" ears and a "twitchy" tail which means "back off" in cat language. Usually he's pretty good. He has gotten a couple scratches when he wasn't paying enough attention, but he's never been bitten! Our cat loves going into his room and waking him up each morning. They really do love each other

[@PrincessNinja007]

When I was about that age, I got stuck behind the couch with a cat. I learned SO MUCH about personal space that day (I didn't get bit miraculously, but I was shredded pork all day)

[@maryellenshock]

Lol! I call them radar ears

[@clicheguevara5282]

Cats are so easy when you understand them. My girls are 9 years old and they’ve never bitten, scratched, or even hissed at me.

[@captainzork6109]

Great parenting! Hopefully that focus on being sensitive to other's internal experiences carries over to other people, other animals, and himself as well c:

[@echorobinson]

Amazing! Best thing to do is to teach children from a young age

[@KonDragon008]

Being on the autism spectrum, the overstimulation is 100% relatable. The balloon analogy was a good one.

[@lauriesmalis8043]

I recently adopted a seven month old three legged kitten! Her left rear leg was amputated. It is fascinating to watch her use her tail when playing or running or whatever as a counter balance for that missing leg. She is getting quite good at it 😊 I have a photo of her in mid air, jumping for a toy with her tail in the place where the leg should be.

[@michaelamann3060]

Last week my husband put catnip in the risotto ( obviously by mistake ) but we are all still alive and kicking. 😂

[@floydefisher]

Yes, but did you start chasing sunbeams? 😂

[@XOChristianaNicole]

This is HILARIOUS.

[@AcrylicTears3]

Catnip, surprisingly, has a calming effect for humans! It's medicine can be helpful for humans of all ages, infants included. Things like tea and tinctures. To help with sleep and even teething. I used a glycerite blend with catnip in it for my teething baby and it worked wonders. So, beneficial for humans and felines alike! 🥰

[@maryeckel9682]

Did he think it was oregano? That's hilarious.

[@michaelamann3060]

@@AcrylicTears3 Thank you, I didn't know that. My husband thought that it was dried parsley. 😂

[@melissam8939]

Thanks for the shout-out to the confused hissers of the world. There is nothing and nobody that my girl won't hiss at, but it is never a sign of anger. She's smol, confused, and Very Rude!

[@hallaloth3112]

Lol. . .I have one that SPITS when he gets super excited. . .it was the most startling thing the first time he did it.

[@lisaea]

When it’s time for food one of my fosters will run up to me with a happy tail and hiss. She grew up in a colony so I guess she never learned to talk to humans in a nice way. If I interpret it as a meow it makes much more sense!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@MidwestFarmToys]

My kitten has only ever hissed one time in 2 years. It was from a water spray bottle (I stopped doing that a long time ago)

[@saturnthegawd]

I have one like that. A ragamuffin

[@sarikathakorlal]

I'm 2 years in to the guardianship of my first cat and these videos STILL provide the best source of info on how to be the best mama I can 💘

[@kg-Whatthehelliseventhat]

I feel ya. I'm a first-time cat dad to a beautiful Ragamuffin named Ollie. Cats are so amazing, aren't they? What are your thoughts on a raw diet. I'm all for it but my wife is apprehensive. We watch Jackson together but the brainwashing from cat food companies runs deep. Do you feed your cat raw? Do you add supplements like taurine and I think ground bone? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@TheTechnofu]

I am so thankful that you did this video. I have a neutered male cat who is so cuddly and his most favorite thing is when family comes home and settles in so he can climb up in their lap and make bread. When you first sit down, he backs up to the chair and twitches his tail and it really does looks like a spray tail, but he doesn't spray, he's just looking for some attention and judging if you are settled in enough for a lap cat. There is such a different stigma put on a cat that is spraying versus being loving that more people need to know about this so that future caregivers don't scold and shut out a love bug just being excited to come in for a cuddle.

[@08brookebabe]

Our semi-feral kitty will come up to us for pets and her tail will be puffed up as big as it can go. She doesn't act terrified, and in fact, stays for several minutes for us to pet her. Its definitely interesting

[@heidia9663]

My cat puffs her tail to a bottle brush when she's very excited or wants some love from her hoomans

[@benbraceletspurple9108]

Yes it's like goosebumps, you can get them when scared, or when you are stimulated well from music or a massage.

[@jessied3210]

A cat we're fostering gets her bottle brush tail when we play. I know, it sounds like it's overwhelming or she's scared, but she genuinely runs around with delight and makes the happiest squeals! She comes up to me every day in the same way and asks for me to chase her.. I think she just loves the thrill of it. She's a stray from a farm and doesn't get anywhere near as much stimulation indoors, which is why she loves the excitement I think.

[@streep5779]

Yeah my very non-feral cat bushes her tail up for anything that gets her excited or scared/anxious. Food time? Bushy tail. Her favourite humans coming home? Bushy tail. Heard another cat outside? Bushy tail. And the one that's her specific thing? Back paws being held by a trusted human = Bushy, swishing tail, closed eyes, deep purrs. We think she loves it so much it's initially really overwhelming. She'll calm down if we hold still for a bit. And then get upset if we let go.

[@awibs57]

@@streep5779 This is really good to hear. I have had a lot of cats but the current one keeps a "swish" that should mean "i'm upset" but pairs it as you said with really happy things, like laying with belly exposed, stretched out, eyes closed, purring, while touching a favoured human. It's like a form of expression that has kept with her even when she's happy.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

When I was working rescue and trying to socialize shy or feral cats, the tail salute was one of the first signs that it was working. A cat who greets you and responds to contact with the tail salute has grown more comfortable around humans, and is showing that they trust you.

[@tristamorgan9344]

My cat likes to lay on my lap while I'm working.... for a limited time anyway. I watch her tail! When it starts flicking and then whipping, it's time to put her down.... she's done. I learned that from Jackson! Thanks for teaching me what my baby is telling me! 😊

[@jansantarini4936]

I too lost a 23 yr old cat and absolutely devastated. It was extremely difficult but time really does heal all wounds. Just takes time. Try to think of all the happy moments you shared with your baby.

[@nerdycatlover8627]

I've lost cats before too and it never gets any easier. I'll be praying for both of you. I don't know what you believe, but I believe you will meet again in the next life.

[@noolscorner1287]

When my 4 months old kitten and I play sometimes he’ll puff up (Halloween kitty style) and gallop sideways at me like he’s trying scare me 😂

[@maryeckel9682]

That's the cutest thing

[@davinasquirrel7672]

A lot of kittens will do that in play mode. Just super energetic and excited, possibly some role play.

[@galaxyshifter5760]

My 8 year old kitten will do this to me when I walk into a room and she's in play mode!

[@cindyshirreffs2099]

Ohh, the sideways camel!

[@taraellis8279]

@@cindyshirreffs2099 THE SIDE WAYS CAMEL! IS THAT WHAT ITS CALLED! I LOVE IT!

[@SA-Bean-Bean]

Clubby always does the vibrating tail thing when she's super excited and she has never squirted pee on anything. She does it ALL the time and you can easily tell she's excited and happy. 😊❤i love it when she does it even though i do get nervous sometimes 😂

[@bananamittens]

I'm glad you mentioned mock spraying! One of my cats does that every morning and I got the impression that it was a positive thing but could never figure it out. Every time I googled it I would get "your cat is spraying!!" and I knew she wasn't. Thank you JG!!

[@awibs57]

Almost all my cats do this in the morning over their food dish. It's because I feed them in meals and I won't entertain screaming for food or parading in circles on my face to wake me up. I'll shut them out of the bedroom if they jump on my face for breakfast, and if they scream over the food dish I'll wait with the can a minute until they quiet down. They all learn (even ones i've catsit for a few days) to beg in other ways that I call the "charm offensive" - they'll come gently curl up and purr on me in bed to wake me gradually, then run straight to the breakfast dish and stand there silently with their tails vibrating in excitement. Sounds like you have a very polite kitty who is REALLY excited to see you and for breakfast!

[@greenarrow219]

This will be extremely helpful. My 6yo son needs visual aids to help him understand things. This will be great for me to show him, and hopefully, he will understand our kittens' moods/behavior easier.

[@j.b.9581]

Hi @greenarrow219, How cool it is that you want to raise your son to understand cats!! Jackson Galaxy is a GREAT place to find out the HOW about cats!!

[@greenarrow219]

@j.b.9581 My boy doesn't tend to believe much you say unless you can show him visually. It can be difficult. So if I say to him, the cat is getting grumpy, he might scratch you. He will reply with "No, he won't," so he continues on until he gets scratches. So if I can show him Jackson's videos, he will see cat body language and what it means. Might help😬

[@high-bi-password]

Might be helpful to have him watch some My Cat From Hell!

[@phyllisrussell3185]

We LOOOOve Cats. That's why you're at 2 million subscribers. We love you too Cat Daddy. Thank you for the video.I know a little more now than I did before.

[@valariebrown3768]

A fair number of your audience may have recently adopted a cat from Maui that was airlifted to the mainland to free up resources for Lahaina survivors, as we did about two days after the plane landed at PDX in August. Our Fruity cat was quite traumatized by her ordeal, but is slowly coming out of her shell and behaving more normally. Your advice and Intel have been very helpful for us in our quest to give Fruity a secure and happy home. Thank you. ❤❤❤

[@taraellis8279]

You are an angel! Thank you for taking In such a sweet baby!

[@eveenala]

Thank you for having the love and patience to take her on!! Hope her healing process goes well!!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@chrisyacoback6320]

I had, worked with bonded with and loved dogs my entire life...got old and was adopted by a cat. Jackson I love learning from you how to be a better human for my tuxedo companion. He's awesome and so are you. Thanks from both of us 😁❤️😎

[@karooblue7634]

blessings Chris, enjoy your "new love" ❤

[@susanbaker3078]

Similar experience here. Never thought I'd have a cat, but she had a different idea. Jackson's videos have helped!!🐈‍⬛💜🐾

[@jennfursketeer2323]

My girl kitty gently swishes her tail back and forth when she’s happy and being affectionate (and also when she’s asking for her dinner lol), it’s super cute 🥰 It’s definitely different from the stimulated swishing/flicking and the annoyed flicking, it’s more like a graceful cat-style happy tail wag. 😸

[@lisakaz35]

Sounds like Maru.

[@sarimlein]

Mine too! 😍I have never met a cat like her before, with such body language. Wonderful to see there is others like her out there 😃

[@FairbrookWingates]

Same with my Maine coon kitty! She loves to sweep her duster of a tail back and forth over the floor, over a shelf, over my face...:)

[@awibs57]

My current one does this too! We have been trying to figure out if it's an unusual expression of positivity or a hangover from her previous situation. I have rescued and fostered many cats and am largely familiar with the "bad" swish, but this is the first one who just does it constantly, all the time, including when she's happy and affectionate. She is a very traumatized rescue who when we got her in 2020 used to attack everything. No flight, all fight. After about a year on prozac and gabepentin and with the feliway going at all times, and in a solo-cat household with no dogs or children, she gradually reduced her angst to "normal" cat levels. It took her almost a year to purr for the first time while not on gabepentin. Her original meow volume was only a full-throated "is this cat going to attack me?" shriek. I was able to gradually train her out of that by treating it like it was a warning scream every time and backing off... and she gradually learned to make normal-volume meps and cute little squarks to get positive interaction and affection. I felt like she'd been raised in a negative environment where the only way she could get noticed was by screaming, and this was the first time she'd learned she could communicate with sane-volume noises. Several years after weaning her off the prozac and gabepentin, she's now full on affectionate and relaxed with us - lots of showing us her belly, big face-first dives down our legs to flop at our feet, purring, sleeping on us, very clingy lovey, etc, never ever screams any more, etc. She's even getting pretty okay with other people. But she still does the tail swish, and I kind of thought it's was like the excessively loud scream meows - what leftover anxiety is still part and parcel in her body from her original trauma. It isn't a fast, oh-f*ck-oh-f*ck type lash, just what I'd interpret as idle anxity lowkey swish. But what you and others are saying gives me hope - maybe it's just a thing some cats do, and it means nothing bad at all!

[@staceyknight9250]

Mine too. Also when she is excited / v happy to see you the base of her tail puffs up.

[@XOChristianaNicole]

Only minutes ago, I fed my girl, Raven, some smoked salmon - where I saw her do one of the biggest fake-spray shimmies, I have ever seen her do. And, now, thanks to you, Jackson - I know it means that she is super excited and extra happy. Which, makes me feel good, because I think she has a little throat infection, and isn’t feeling too great, ‘cause she can’t meow, currently. Though, she just wolfed down a ton of salmon and her own food, so, I think she’s doin’ alright, despite so.

[@dahyimi2185]

My boy always vibrates his tail when I offer him his favourite food or treats. ❤

[@libbyedwards7242]

Such a great name I have cats called Raven and Ghost 😊

[@Clarrisani]

I have a cat with "happy tail wiggles". Whenever she is happy she gets the tail wiggle. We love it.

[@mlorencetti1]

My husband had never interacted with cats before and he learned really fast (thanks, Mr Galaxy!) to watch out for what our cat is telling him with her tail. She positively loves him right now and he knows very well how to avoid turning our princess into Deathclaws The Ripper. Complete besties.

[@mialotusmusic]

My cat is so happy and energised that often his tail goes so high that it almost touches his head from backwards!😂 also he hiss only when he's playing, happy and excited. 😂And he purr only when he suckle his blanket. I've got a weird one 😂

[@yvonnelanese-coppola4999]

That’s so cute 😻 Our weird one is a cat 🐈 dog that follows you everywhere you go, his tail is so high you see that before him. He is orange, so he is our strange on. The youngest out of 4, we get a kick out of him though.

[@mialotusmusic]

@@yvonnelanese-coppola4999 aww so adorable! Cats are so cool 😻

[@Ash-fo3ii]

One of my cats has a curly tail that he was apparently born with according to the shelter. It is a gentle curl, but definately a spiral and not broken. He still communicates as much as he can with it, but it used to mess with his balance until he really learned how it affected him. He's a three yr old bengal, so he's a spitfire regardless:)

[@joyjackman6017]

Thanks for that Jason, at last I know why the “pee” doesn’t hit me - she’s just really happy to see me!! Yay!! 🐾🐾

[@oraclegenesis1366]

I'm getting 2 6 month old kitties the day that I'm commenting this, I've been watching damn near every one of your videos and I'm learning so much invaluable information!! Thank you for everything you've posted to help make my cat's lives better :)

[@tundrawomansays694]

Hope you and your new fur babies are doing well! Congratulations!

[@lisa-gayle9939]

I’m watching even though my sweet baby girl doesn’t even have a tail 😊 she just turned 17 ❤

[@AcrylicTears3]

Same. I have 2 tail-less, one knubby, and then one tail. Haha

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@j.b.9581]

Hi JG, We have the distinct privilege of adopting and socializing ourselves WITH a former feral cat. She is a tortiseshell and has taught us SO MUCH about cat-dom (or cat-ness?). One special thing that our former feral does is that when she is playing, especially when she might be just a tad between curiosity, puzzling something out, and happy excitement, she will 'bottle brush' her tail. It's not because of fright, it's a thrill more like. Do you know of any other cats that do this? It's an endearing feature of her many cool aspects. She is SUPER quiet. In her first few months in the house if she accidently knocked something over, she was PETRIFIED!! (OOPS, I made a noise . . something out there will come and GET ME now, it KNOWS I am here . . .).

[@FeelTheBeauty93]

I was wondering the same thing, my kitten will also "bottle brush" her tail when playing, but I never felt like she was scared, just being super playful and excited, but now I'm thinking maybe I should worry about it...

[@dahyimi2185]

My Tabby's tail often gets puffed when he gets excited playing. You know when they get the zoomies? Well, it's as if, sometimes, running full speed around the house wasn't enough to channel all that sudden burst of energy, so some of it goes through the tail and puffs it - that's the impression it gives. None of my previous cats did that. I'd always thought puffy tail meant frightened or upset, but it turns out it's quite common for kittens to do it when they're playing.

[@gabriellahansson-boe7123]

I rescued my cat as she was running across the road in a wonky manner as a kitten with traffic coming both ways. It turned out she had been injured falling off the roof of a 2 story building when she was a kitten. because of her weak back her tail became a stabilizer and she uses it to balance when she is on the back legs, like a kangaroo very cute but also another relevant story of how tails help cats use their agile and magnificent bodies...Love them!!! Thank you Jackson Galaxy for being awesome ...Miew... 😺😺😺

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@maryallan3982]

I have shared what I've learned with my cat-sitting clients, and had one completely change their cats diet and litter, with excellent results! THANK YOU CAT DADDY!!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@JessicaCantlope]

Can you include manxes with stubby, nubby tails? 😂 Basically I need to know what it means when my cat is wiggling hers around. She even does it when I call her name.

[@susiedbc]

Wondering about my Manx (mix) also. Also, oddly, she loves when we play with her little bunny tail.

[@rachelschwartz8114]

Not only manx cats, but as far as wild cats, lynx and bobcats have little to no tail, so what about them? We may not be able to be watching for their emotional cues on said wild cats, but if the tail is so important for balance, why is it that they have balance that is just as good as a long tailed domestic cat?

[@benjaminrobinson3842]

@@rachelschwartz8114 I wondering about Manxes, too. Do they move through their world differently from a "standard" cat? Their lack of tail must be doing *something* for them, because my understanding is that they evolved spontaneously, as opposed to being specifically bred.

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@InkyRemy]

Thanks for reinforcing my thoughts,😹 My spayed Miss Molly always meets me in the mornings with the vibrating tail😊

[@annaryan4803]

Jackson, it's a good thing you talk to yourself! That way you get free advice!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from

[@DT_1605]

When my kitten was practicing hunt skills, she would run sideways towards me with her tail puffed and her back curved. It was the cutest thing ever 😍

[@syberskiwolfmoon9807]

My cat often 'wags' her tail when demanding my attention- she's a weird cat, so I'm not sure what exactly she's trying to convey- although it seems to be more of a greeting for her than anything.

[@irimac1806]

maybe she is annoyed bc you arent paying her attention 24/7 XD But cats will be cats ^^

[@aria.muscaria]

One of my friend's cats does this too- specifically wagging it gently against the ground, when he's meowing to be picked up. Probably just an odd quirk for them both ^^

[@NeneLyonz]

My cat wags her tail like a dog a lot, she's not upset just a thing she does too!

[@syberskiwolfmoon9807]

Yeah- me family theorizes that she was raised with dogs (she's was adopted from a center) since she likes having her stomach rubbed (Mom found that out, I tend to avoid touching cat stomachs), NEVER gets tired of petting (you'll be tired long before she is), will often come when called, used to play fetch, and lastly does indeed wag her tail when greeting. She'll thump her tail when nobody pets her, so there is a difference between her happy wagging and the pouting wagging.@@NeneLyonz

[@seventeendeer]

When I adopted my cat a few years ago, I was so confused about the "mock spray" tail vibration. I'd watched tons and tons of your videos front to back multiple times, along with lots of other in-depth research, and I thought I was prepared for anything. First day I brought my kitty home, she was SO excited to explore her new home (she'd been absolutely miserable at the shelter) that her little tail vibrated multiple times throughout the day! I had no idea what it meant and was a bit concerned, but since she seemed super happy and at ease, I decided to wait and see. So funny to only learn now all these years later why it happens! Unable to find any info on it online, I simply chalked it up to a weird little happy tic. Thank you for everything you do, Jackson, your videos are always fun and informative! :)

[@awibs57]

It is a great little happy tic! I've commented this for one or two people so I apologize if you're seeing this twice, but I have often gotten this vibration out of cats I've had (even ones I've catsit) because I refuse to encourage them to scream for breakfast. I don't enjoy all the chaos yowling over the dish, so I'll wait with the can for a minute and reward them as soon as they quiet down. They almost all quickly replace yowling for food with this vibrating tail, which I call the "begging tail" - they run over to the dish silently and just vibrate and purr in happy excitement. Sounds like your kitty is happy as can be!

[@jaylynn8630]

I'm so happy you covered the quivering tail. My cat does that a lot, and I've always wondered what it meant.

[@nataliecarrington2550]

I think your videos might be my cat's favourites - she's currently sitting on her window seat (i.e. a cheap upholstered bar stool next to the living room window), in a sunbeam, watching your video over my shoulder, and purring her guts out. Thanks for making such good content!

[@blueshibai]

My cats tail shows his affection for me. Love him oh so dearly 😍

[@ashleyhouse752]

I love cats so much❤ after watching this Channel I have increased my understanding and affection for my cat 10 fold.❤ I even slow blink at him when I tell him I love him❤

[@lisabethfrits3491]

Jackson will ALWAYS be "The Cat Whisperer" & the Best Kitty Dude! Love & Respect Animals ALWAYS!!!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@lisabethfrits3491]

​@jamespatrick20906 I live in Washington, but came from Vegas & Mich. How about you? Love & Respect Animals ALWAYS!!!

[@jamespatrick20906]

@@lisabethfrits3491 okay that’s good to know about you Washington is a nice place, how is life with you over there? I’m originally from Paris France 🇫🇷 but live in San Jose California

[@evaquick8676]

yay this is so awesome! I’ve been wondering my kitty vibrates her tail and the only things I’ve ever found are that it means they’re nervous or spraying which definitely wasn’t the case for her. I’m so happy to know she’s just happy to see me followed by the head bunts 🥰

[@awibs57]

I call it the "begging" tail as well, as I have had many cats do this in front of the food dish for me. This may be because I feed wet food in meals, so there is the excitement with knowing it is mealtime - but they also do it pre-emptively to "ask" for meals. I sometimes will jokingly voice-over them doing it: "Snack? SNACK!" I also always discourage annoying forms of begging for food in cats I rescue or catsit such as yowling, jumping on your face in the morning to parade in circles, etc. A cat that runs to their dish and screams will have me stand there holding the can and waiting a few minutes until they shut up - and within days of being rewarded the moment they *stop* screaming, almost all cats will replace screaming over the breakfast dish with silent, excited tail vibrating over the breakfast dish.

[@djannello]

I've had cats all my life, but the kitty my wife and I got about two years ago is hilarious. She will walk in front of us with her tail straight up in the air and mew to have us stroke the length of her tail, almost pulling it. She also likes to have her tail pulled like that while she's eating, almost like pull-starting a lawn mower.

[@mspears_bobobuddytheseniorcat]

I absolutely love how my senior calico Pickles vibrates her tall tail every time she sees me since she was able to walk! 😻🥰❤️

[@gaflene]

When one of the shy shelter cats where I volunteer ran up to me with her tail up I was so happy and proud of her. When we first met she wouldn't let anyone get close to her without hissing.

[@barbarakakoyannis6381]

Hahaha...so funny...the sprinkling part! Well...here's something I would like to add... When our, ginger long haired cat, Mickey is relaxed and laying on the floor, he reacts to our voices with the back end of his tail. As if he's talking back and is at that point just too lazy to use his voice. Thanks again Jackson for the useful information!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@mariacoleman339]

I didn't ever really see the "low tail" thing until it was in the emergency mode of tucked tail with a new toddler! I was the kitty whisperer in that moment and now the kid and kitty are besties each time she visits.

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@joyfulmornings]

My cat Mouse is always gently wagging his tail at me and his tail is always shaped like a question mark. He’s a friendly boy! He trusts me. ❤

[@elizabethoneill8612]

Yeah when you first started talking about the cat being afraid of the toddler you had a smile on your face!

[@Pickles-ri3yq]

Don't worry Jackson. I wrapped my tail around this video. 😸

[@oooanikiooo]

VIDEO IDEA: how to play with more than one cat. Just adopted a bonded pair, 1 year, but playing with them in parallel is so difficult. Closing one out is no option as they get concerned, but it is very hard to keep the balance that not one is taking over play and when trying to simmer one he gets into the others play. Video needed! ❤

[@ppleeatpple]

Is 2 toys an option for you? I'm sure there's also some cat toys that would work for both cats at the same time, like the wack a mole ones so both cats can have their attention on it and go for it

[@shendisackett]

I've always used fishing rod toys in that situation, if you get one with a nice long string then you can make it go to the cat that is getting less play time. When you have 2 cats there will always be one that is a bit more dominant.

[@rebeccabirch6130]

We call our cat Miss Twitchy Tail, because she moves her tail ALL the time. She goes really nuts every time she sees a bug on our window screen, or when she's stalking one of her little mouse toys. It also makes me feel really good to be reminded that Cecilia putting her tail up and meowing and giving me those little tail-crooks when she sees me in the morning or when she comes over for pets means that she's happy to see me. Also- some cats never learned what a hiss was is a MOOD with my girl. I think she knows it means "Hey, that's annoying me!" because she'll do it when I pet her just a bit too much, or bug her when she doesn't want to be bugged. But she ALSO just... Doesn't put the ears back. Doesn't flatten the whiskers. She doesn't have teeth anymore but even when she did, she never really flashed them too much. It's like a bored hiss. I think it's cute- but I also know that's her telling me to eff off and stop touching her.

[@phoenixdiricci6043]

My cat kept standing on my keyboard and pausing the video while I was watching 😅 Like he was saying "Stop giving away my secrets!" 😂

[@maryeckel9682]

I have a tail mover. The mostly-tip swish when she's in eyes-closed "ahhh, that's the spot" mode is the cutest thing.

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from

[@thesjkexperience]

Thanks again Jackson! My cats are living a great life thanks to your training of me on cats. Interesting about the Mock Spray. One of our cats do this and I thought it was excitement, but it's somewhat different. He's fixed so he isn't spraying. My Siberian kitten didn't seem to speak the same language as our two normal cats. But, he is intelligent and a year old now so he is learning and our micro Pride is getting along better than ever. Time to go build some cat trees for our catio.

[@cindyrissal3628]

Don't relax too much. Neutered boys & girls can spray. My boy had a range of about 3 ft!

[@suzettebriseno8566]

Many years ago I also had a neutered boy that sprayed. It is possible 😕

[@cindyshirreffs2099]

Because he's speaking Siberian?

[@KattReen]

This is such a good guide! I like that you added in the end that individual cats have their quirks, and it's true. Probably most if not all of these tails can mean different things depending on the context. My cat puffs his tail from excitement, even positive. He also does it when he's playing with his toys by himself. My dad had a regular house cat that was born with no tail a couple of decades ago, and she still managed to have a pretty expressive butt lol

[@SotDaStagan]

One of my cats is really expressive. Most of the cats will have a straight vertical exclamation mark, hers will almost touch her back! She won't just touch my leg with her tail, she will wrapped it around. Cute babe ❤

[@AveeRenee]

Jackson- I think you should make a video about grieving the loss of a cat. How it impacts the other cats in the household, tips on how we can help ourselves through it, and their cat companions through it as well. ❤

[@boobalew]

I just love all your videos! Almost as much as I love our four fur babies !!!

[@lcameron6778]

I have 7 cats and I see all kinds of tail activity. Thanks for clarifying…

[@puplife7939]

These videos have helped me so much in befriending a stray cat that I then found a home for. On to our second one now and slowly gaining trust

[@originalismisacrock166]

Had a bengal cross who would tap the last couple of inches of his tail to the beat of jazz music (including syncopated beats). He would be chilled out, eyes at half-mast, and tapping along with the beat. Never seen any other cat do that.

[@lisas6450]

❤ yes Jackson I have experienced the tail language! 😅 Especially with my last baby girl. If I happened to walk down the hall and she was in front of me; her tail was always straight up. If she wanted to make a point her ears would go back, more to listen, and her gait would quicken. But her tail was still the same; I called it her "I'm on a mission walk!" LOL 😅 Also when petting, grooming or playing, she would use her tail a lot to talk to me! When she was serene she liked to pet me with her tail. But as you said, when she was over it ... that pet turned into a slap!! LOL I had about 2 slaps to get my body parts out of range of her claws!! LOL Luv you Jackson!! 😊❤❤

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@encarsia9]

TOPIC FOR A VIDEO: Institutional cats, cats that are in Long Term Care homes or hospices. Some seem to have good lives but others seem stressed often. Inconsistent care, random dog visits. Should cats get to 'retire' from this life. Thanks for all your cat advocacy Jackson!

[@yakipl]

Great video! Impressed that for the first time nearly 10% of the video was presenting cats not a human ;)

[@paulinel.7393]

My cat's "tail up and happy" position that his tail is on top of his back, looking like a squirrel 😍

[@alanamanzoro01]

Love this video!!! Understanding more about their bodies is fascinating!!! You rock! 🎉

[@susanboender4598]

When we took in our stray kitten, her tail tip was burnt. We took her to a vet and he said it would soon fall off, and it did. Her tail is perfect now and since it happened when was a small kitten she adapted. She is named Sierra Brialle.❤❤❤

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@sharonmichelecrivolio4210]

Great video, as usual! I have a 9 year old "Manx" as he was born tailless. He has always moved his "stump" (about a 1 inch rudimentary tail) when he's feeling mischievous or wants to play! And, because he lacks this appendage, he has had to devise another form of body language in the form of biting, head-bumps, and a glare that unmistakably says "stay away!"

[@jojo2301197]

I love that every time I walk by my cats they always lift their tails to greet me

[@Selena1010]

My boy will do the mock spraying whenever he sees me! He also sometimes will just sit and stare at me, and if I say hi to him, he’ll swish his tail aggressively and give me slow blinks 🥰

[@suebrown3194]

I don't even have a cat (hubby is too allergic) but I appreciate being educated. Keep up the good work Cat Daddy!

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from

[@randquadrozzi5850]

Jackson you are a better ambassador for cat's than Morris.

[@janemiettinen5176]

Our Pip psychs herself up so much sometimes, her tail puffs up. This is where the context really matters! It usually happens when the treats come out or at the end of a long pet session. It looks slightly different from the scared tail, it happens very slowly, doesnt go to full glory and stays on longer. My only cat ever to do this!

[@purrpletoebeans9102]

One of my kitties was neglected by her mother and never taught how to cat properly. It has literally taken her three years of living in her colony before she learned that lifting her tail and curling the tip was a sign of friendliness. Usually when she saw me, she’d run over, squeaking, and wagging her tail until I pet her. It was the most unusual thing and for the longest time I couldn’t figure out what it meant. I think her lack of knowing cat language is sadly why none of her colonymates are very close to her, and it makes me really sad because she is a sweet little girl :(

[@Arthur5260]

I'd like to see something that is focused on Senior/Elderly cat behaviour vs signs of illness

[@niheala56]

Need this also.

[@Hermititis]

Seconding this, but you may want to put it as a reply under Jackson's comment too. [Edit: His comment is pinned now, so you should see it at the top]

[@Arthur5260]

@@Hermititis I'll do that.

[@beetothetee]

My cats constantly have the vibrating tail going when they see me- it’s the greatest compliment of my life. 🥹

[@mickih2872]

My husband and I adopted a cat a week and a half ago. I’m completely obsessed with him. Hearing “ownership = love “ made my heart swell knowing my little man loves me. I always thought it was cute how he wraps his tail around my pinky and/or wrist sometimes

[@elpis_ezechiel]

Oh the hissing comparison got me. My old Purrincess Leia almost never hissed, I mean I haven't heard the hiss for years. The little baby Venus, a rescue, just hiss all the time and for no reason. She's better now, but when I just had her she would just hiss instead of meow, especially when asking for cuddles, which was a little bit strange for me to adapt. She would come on my desk when I'm working, hiss, give me a head bump, hiss, come on my lap, hiss, and purr, rolling on my legs like I'm the best cushion that ever cushioned. It was very funny also when the two cats were getting to know each other after a few weeks. Leia looked at Venus with that very weird expression head tilted, unsure meowing. I could almost hear her say "what's that baby weirdo you got here, she's not making any sense, wtf" haha

[@Kane5Cats-ME]

I love this! I'm endlessly fascinated by the way my cats' bodies work. Their body language is so interesting and the tail says so much! Thanks for this. Much appreciated.

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@EFJoKeR]

Love these videos Jackson. Been a huge fan, since your early days in the public eye. For the past years, i've been caring for my daughter. A tiny white fur ball, who had a REALLY rough start on life... 3-4 weeks old, someone left her out in the open, in a cardboard box. All white, and pink skin. Very pink skin. She wasn't found by passersby, for hours... And what that did physically, is sunburn her scalp, to the point where it took 6+ months for her fur on her head and ears to grow back. And her ears had shriveled up like cauliflowers. When i got her, she was 9 weeks old, and her ears were starting to come back to normal, but the family that cared for her, after she was found said she was happy around other animals. But since i got her home, and the next 6 years, i've never seen her be calm around other animals. She backs up in a corner, and attacks anyone that ventures to close to her. Incl humans. I seem to be the only one shes safe with, but even i have a few "battle scars"... I talk to her every day. It's just me and her... We play an hour, or two every day... She does get hyper if i've gotten some less than optimal cat food (Only do wet food), but with sugar or other bad things... For the most part, she's very calm and relaxed, and she follows me where ever i go... It seems like a nice relationship right ? But, i do constantly see and feel her being in scared mode... The "puffy" tail reminded me of this... Promissed myself i'd ask, if i remembered and got the chance... Any suggestions on how to better calm her down ? I believe she's deaf on one ear, and may have some brain damage from childhood... !? Also, are there some natural remedies, that can help her achieve a natural calm state ?

[@michael0.770]

When l come home from work, Chester, renamed Lord Chester by my British uncle, gets fed. I never tire of his tail quivering so quickly, knowing he is so excited and happy.

[@ryath1030]

Love Jackson's glasses 🕶️ in this video.

[@ciceromeridius-decimus9641]

I can't thank you enough for your videos! My very first kitten has me wrapped around her tiny paws due to your awesome video's! I'm obsessed with her that I may need an intervention 😅

[@emzzz2370]

Amazing video again Jackson! Thanka for all the information! 😊

[@Appleloucious]

One Love! Always forward, never ever backward!! ☀☀☀ 💚💛❤ 🙏🏿🙏🙏🏼

[@Metal73Mike]

I missed the flat tail on the ground with only the tip lifted. It's a sign of a happy cat :-) Also, the tail can get puffed when cats are happy, not only when they get scared. A bit like purring, they do it when they are happy, but also when they are in a lot of pain. Love your videos, greetz from Holland !

[@jennamarynsierra]

Thanks for this video! I have a cat with feline hyperesthesia and she’s always had her tail going, even when she’s happy and affectionate. She was rescued from the streets at six weeks, and she hardly ever walks around tail upright. She will usually walk around with it kind of level in the trust but verify position. Just wanted to bring some awareness to feline hyperesthesia and tails, because it took me a while to figure out what her condition was. Now that I know, I’ve been able to treat her with medication and her quality of life has gone up a lot. 😊

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@mockeri7523]

Looking at my tailless (rescue) cat right now... so many secrets in such a little package 👀

[@teaeyedoubleguhur]

My daughter posted a video of her newly adopted kitten the other day and I just checked the position of his tail in the video. I was pleased to see that his tail was straight up.

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@ashleyjohnson1990]

i think my cat likes you. she came over for belly rubs and slow blinks when i clicked

[@theredrover3217]

Very good video Jackson! I really appreciate the differentiation between two quivering upright Tails backed up to anything. My new companion backs up beside me a lot in when I am in"my" chair. 😆 Really appreciate the situation could be something other than simply doesn't have any urine to squirt. 🤣

[@jamespatrick20906]

Hey there I’m really impressed with your comment, please if you don’t mind me asking where are you from?

[@theredrover3217]

@@jamespatrick20906 😏from when? 😁 AK, Pacific and Intermountain West, currently way way way out west. 😉

[@jamespatrick20906]

@@theredrover3217 okay how is life with you over there? I’m from San Jose California

[@kimfleury]

At 2:41 my cat landed on the floor next to me 😹 The fact that his tail works normally is a great sign, since some large unknown species of animal bit him right at the base of the tail a long time ago, and the vet said she thinks the animal shook its head and flung the cat, allowing the cat to escape. The cat was clearly a house cat, but either got lost, was evicted, or abandoned to fend for himself. He came to me begging for help, and when I picked him up, he wrapped his paws around my neck, clinging for dear life. I named him Ombre because he's grey, like a shadow (ombre is French for shadow). Plus, he's one chill hombre. Hardly anything fazes him. I've been watching his tail when different animals are around, to see if that might have been the species that got him, but he hasn't reacted to any of them so far. We were outside last night when a loose dog came running up from between buildings, and Ombre didn't even react. I scooped him up (he was on his leash), but Ombre was just curious. He didn't know that the dog had the predatory thing going on and was hunting him. Just one more sign that Ombre is a house cat, not feral. (And yes, the dog was at a crouched run with his eyes oh Ombre, and when I picked up his target, he stopped dead in his tracks and just stared at me). The bite wound had festered, causing a fistula ("tunnel of infection") in the tail, and systemic infection throughout his body that took 4 months to heal with a combination of antibiotics. He was x-rayed to check the extent of the injury and see if there was any vertebral separation in the tail, but that was all ok. The vet had brought up the possibility of amputation as one of many potential actions that might be needed, because it it would be necessary, she couldn't do that surgery, he would need a specialist, just because the injury was so close to the actual spine. I'm thankful that wasn't necessary. He's such a happy boy now. Every time I come home, he's so happy to see me. He runs to greet me at the door, and tries to get me to pick him up even before I've set my bags down 😹 So I have to drop everything right in front of the door just to pick him up. And then he wraps his paws around my neck so tightly, and kisses my cheek, with his tail whipping back and forth so hard that it hits me in the face 😹 Then he rolls around in my arms rubbing his cheeks all over me. I don't know how anyone could have intentionally booted him outside. Unless it was someone who wouldn't or couldn't get him neutered, because he was intact when he came to me, and he did spray here and there until he was neutered, which was within 2 weeks of coming to live here. I've since learned that the local humane society has a low cost SNAP program, but it fills up fast, and when it's filled, appointment scheduling closes, so you have to wait until it opens, usually within a few weeks, and hope to phone in time before the next month's appointments fill up. If you do get through, you have to drop the animal off by 7am on a Thursday, and pick it back up at a certain time, at an out of the way location that isn't easy for low income people to get to. There's no way I could do that, because of my work schedule, but thankfully I was able to get Ombre into a regular vet.

[@tiffanymarie9750]

Cats are like any other animal, humans included. Context and personality always matter.

[@cristinweekley2547]

I would like to see an episode on a cat’s body language and how they communicate with their body!👍🥰