Why Do Cats Have Tails?

A dog’s wagging tail is understood to be a sophisticated tool for communication, but at first glance, cat tails don’t seem so expressive. So, why do cats have tails?  

The reasons, just like our feline friends, are complicated. 

What Are Cat Tails Used For?

Cat tails serve three main purposes: They help cats sense their environment, navigate with movement and balance, and communicate with one another. 

Sensing Their Environment

A cat’s eyes are pointed forward to help them focus on prey, and this means they can’t see behind themselves very well. Having a long tail allows cats to better sense what is happening near their hind end.  

Tails can even provide protection. From a survival point of view, it’s much easier for a cat to recover from a tail injury than a hind leg injury if they’re attacked from behind.  

Movement and Balance

Cats are extremely flexible. Whether they’re navigating a sharp corner along the top of a kitchen cabinet or accidentally falling off a favorite perch, their bodies can make amazing twists and turns. Cats use their tails as a counterbalance to help control their bodies.  

In other words, if a cat is standing on a narrow ledge and moves their head to the left to look at a potential danger, they can move their tail to the right to help keep their balance.  

Communication

But why do cats move their tails when they have all four paws firmly planted on the ground—or are even sitting or lying down? In these cases, they’re probably trying to communicate their state of mind to nearby people or animals. 

Deciphering cat tail meanings can take a little practice, but here’s a simple guide to help you figure out what your cat’s tail position might be telling you: 

• Tail held straight up: friendly and confident 

• Tail shaped like a hook or question mark: a happy invitation to interact 

• Tail held low to the ground: fear, anxiety, or pain 

• Puffed tail: threatened 

• Tail curled around own body: cold or self-protective 

• Wrapped around a favorite person or animal: the kitty version of a hug 

Why Do Cats Wag Their Tails?

Cat tail movements also hold meaning. Just as a dog’s wagging tail doesn’t always show they’re happy, the subtleties behind how a cat moves their tail are important: 

• Thumping or thrashing: irritated or angry 

• Twitching the end of the tail: hunting, playing, or a little annoyed 

• Slow swishes from side to side: focused and maybe about to pounce 

• Quivering tail: excitement or urine marking 

Of course, cats use more than just their tails to communicate. Paying attention to all forms of cat body language and any vocalizations they make will give you the best insight into their state of mind. 

Do Cats Control Their Tails?

Sometimes it might look as if your cat’s tail has a life of its own, but cats can control their tails just like they control their legs, ears, and other appendages. 

The bones in a cat’s tail are vertebrae, similar to those that make up their spine. There are also muscles, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues along the length of a cat’s tail. These structures combine to give cats the ability to make intentional, finely tuned tail movements. 

Do All Cats Have Tails?

Tails play such important roles in a cat’s life, but not every cat has one.  

Some cats may lose some or most of their tail because of illness or injury. Thankfully, cats are adaptable. While their balance and ability to communicate may be temporarily diminished, they’ll quickly find ways to compensate without a tail. 

Some cats (such as a Manx) are born with very short tails or no tail at all. If a short tail is present, the cat is usually healthy and can lead a normal life.  

A lack of tail, however, can lead to a condition called Manx syndrome, which is so common in this breed that the disorder was named after it. The abnormal development associated with severe Manx syndrome can lead to serious health complications. 

If you want to adopt or purchase a Manx or any other tailless cat, look for kitties who have at least a short tail stump rather than one with no tail at all.