In my opinion, there are two distinct ways a cat wags their tail. Truth be told, I would only call one form of movement “wagging” strictly speaking, but the other has to be mentioned, and since it has no other good name there’s no way to really talk about it without calling it wagging tentatively. I like “flicking,” but maybe it could also be called swiping or something? I don’t know… Please come up with something better if you can, because I know you who have enough experience with cats know there is a difference right off the bat and can tell with a split second which one your cat is doing and whether it’s a good sign or bad sign. Because yes, one of these “wags” is good and one of them is bad.
Let’s get into describing the difference between the two. Two Types of Cat Tail Wagging: Calm, Smooth Wagging VS Quick, Anxious Flicking. If you’re not super into cats, you might think a wag is a wag. Absolutely not so! Cats are not like dogs – dogs only wag their tails (to my knowledge) when they are happy, calm, excited (in a good way!) – basically one dimensional wagging going on here and to my knowledge not a lot of confusion to be had. With cats there are two types of wags that mean literally polar opposite things and you should react to them in completely opposite ways, so let me try to describe them so that you can really wrap your head around which you’re dealing with. Tail Wagging 1: The Happy Calm, Smooth Wag. This type of tail wag doesn’t happen in a jerky sort of motion. It’s slow and steady, and can vary in rhythm, but not all that much and it’s more like tapping a beat while listening to smooth, calming, slow tempo jazz music than anything else. To be honest, it can sometimes look like your cat is beating a rhythm out with their tail. My cat Avery used to do this on the window sill before bed, there would be a thud to quite a consistent beat for a while while he was hanging out, decompressing before bed, right before he joined me to sleep through the night. This tail wag means your cat’s happy, content with what’s going on, and wants it to keep happening. If your cat wags his tail in this manner when you pet him, keep petting because he’s having a great time. He’s chill, down for the cuddle session and doesn’t want it to stop. Tail Wagging 2: The Flicking Quick, Frantic, & Sometimes Hostile, Anxiety Wag. This second form of wagging is one I haven’t seen all my cats do, and what cats I have that have done it typically only do it when they are really frazzled. It’s like a tail whip. A quick whoosh that smacks the floor often or just looks erratic and frazzled and a hot mess. If you took a look at a cat doing this versus the other form of tail wag you absolutely could see the difference between the two. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re not paying attention, but it’s basically a super aggressive, on edge, anxious little swipe of a tail and it’s not good news for any fingers that come near kitty. Check out Cleo’s glare for a lesson on when not to touch the belly… This tail wag means, stop what you’re doing and leave that cat alone, they are not having a good time.Or, if they were playing or being petted by you and enjoying it before, the cat is saying ‘I’m overstimulated and I need to calm down or I will get hyper/aggressive and this is my warning to stop.’ The cat may escalate with biting or scratching if you don’t understand the warning.
Cleo is an anxious cat who doesn’t like human interaction she doesn’t initiate. She shows the most ‘Don’t F with me!’ tail wag. It’s accompanied by a stare that no human could mistake. If you don’t pay attention to the face or tail and think the wag is friendly, you might be met with a smack, scratch, or bite from Cleo. Cats can change from one type of tail wag to another within minutes. Start with a calm wag and morph into a different one while being petted. Make sure to assess if petting is too much for the cat. Too much of a good thing can become bad for a cat. Just like scratching an itch or listening to loud music. Your cat can love being petted but switch to an anxious tail wag if it’s too much. What to do? Stop petting or pet more gently. Stop completely if they’re not interested.Cats may exhibit stress wagging while still wanting to stay close to their owners. When my cats have had enough cuddles or need a break, they typically move away. However, there are times when they prefer to remain next to you, signaling with their tails that the petting is excessive. This allows them to rest peacefully beside you without having to move away.
Your Thoughts on Cat Tail Wagging While Petting? Now, it’s time to gather your insights and experiences. Have you ever noticed cats wagging their tails while being petted? Can you easily discern the different meanings behind tail wagging? Do you have any alternative explanations for why cats might wag their tails, besides the ones mentioned here? Do you own a cat that frequently exhibits one or both types of tail wags? I would love to hear your thoughts and learn about your experiences in the comments section below!
