A Cat's tale

Recently, I watched a movie about a Dolphin called Winter who lost a tail and was fitted with a prosthetic one. I didn't want to watch it because I have a problem with sea animals being in captivity and the rest of it.... but found myself being drawn into the story and the plight of this little dolphin and because of the care she received in captivity - is alive and well.....What a remarkable story! I even checked the webcam at http://seewinter.com/  this morning to see if she was still okay... and she appears to be doing just like she did in the movie... very well!

Two things came to mind after watching this story/movie. 1) I have to get to Clearwater, Florida to see Winter and it has made it to one of my top places to visit before I die ;-) If it was a surety that Harry Connick Jnr (who played one of the main characters in the movie - and one of my favourite big band crooners ;-)) would be there to personally show me around the complex - it would be closer to the top of my list ;-).... and 2) Tails are very important to all animals.

I don't have a dolphin - but - it appears I now have a cat. Simba, my dog who passed away had a broken tail so I never saw that thing do anything but hang down. The totally opposite applies to this cat and I'd never seen anything like it. So intrigued about this, I asked Mr Google, "Dude - what is up with this cat's tail?" and what a tale he told.

At http://user.xmission.com/~emailbox/tailtalk.htm  it gives you little pictures of cats tails and their interpretation which are helpful but can't be copied or distributed. At http://cats.about.com/ cat's tails are discussed along with heaps of issues cats and their owners face. But today I am going to refer to http://www.feednfarm.com/cattails.html which if you are an animal lover, as I am, will find this more than a tiny bit interesting...

The most common cat tail talking our cat Skinny (although since adopting us - no longer applies to her) uses:

1. Tail curves gently down and then up again at the tip. The cat is relaxed and all is well in her world.

2. Tail slightly raised with a soft curve. Something has peaked her interest. 

3. Tail is held erect but the tip is tilted over. Cat is in a friendly mood with slight reservations.

4. Tail is fully erect with the tip stiffly vertical. This is a wholehearted greeting with no reservations and

5. Tail held still, but the tip is twitching.

The cat is showing its mild irritation. If the twitching increases a swipe from a paw may be imminent. For me, this is telling me to quit annoying the cat, and stop treating it like a toy ;-) otherwise I am going to get scratched again! and,

5a. Tail is swishing violently from side to side - not like a dog - it is not wagging its tail in joy.

This often means that the cat is about to attack. For me, I now know it's a bit late once the cat gets to this stage and I pretty much deserve EVERY scratch and bite I get ;-)

Have fun matching the tail meanings with your cat and if you really want to get a pet that tells you exactly what it feels - without having to watch and interpret a tail - get a dog ;-) That's the lesson I've learnt.

Yours in friendship,

Mxo