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Sheryl Barber
August 3rd 03, 02:23 AM
My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
means?

Cathy Friedmann
August 3rd 03, 02:25 AM
"Sheryl Barber" > wrote in message
...
> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
> slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
> raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
> exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
> means?

Yes. As long as it's not associated w/ spraying (backing up to something,
tail quivering, & marking w/ urine), then it just means they're all excited
&/or happy. One of my cats does the quivering tail a lot ("Oh, hello, I'm
so happy to see you!" sort of deal), & my first cat used to do it when I
opened her favorite kind of food as a treat.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

Cathy Friedmann
August 3rd 03, 02:25 AM
"Sheryl Barber" > wrote in message
...
> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
> slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
> raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
> exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
> means?

Yes. As long as it's not associated w/ spraying (backing up to something,
tail quivering, & marking w/ urine), then it just means they're all excited
&/or happy. One of my cats does the quivering tail a lot ("Oh, hello, I'm
so happy to see you!" sort of deal), & my first cat used to do it when I
opened her favorite kind of food as a treat.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

Karen Chuplis
August 3rd 03, 03:48 AM
in article , Sheryl Barber at
wrote on 8/2/03 8:23 PM:

> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
> slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
> raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
> exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
> means?
>
>
>
We call it "happy tail".

Karen

Karen Chuplis
August 3rd 03, 03:48 AM
in article , Sheryl Barber at
wrote on 8/2/03 8:23 PM:

> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
> slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
> raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
> exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
> means?
>
>
>
We call it "happy tail".

Karen

Rachel
August 3rd 03, 02:17 PM
Cathy Friedmann wrote:
> "Sheryl Barber" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch
>> or tail slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very
>> rapidly while it is raised straight in the air. I have never
>> noticed any of my other cats exhibiting this behavior. Anyone
>> familiar with this behavior and what it means?
>
> Yes. As long as it's not associated w/ spraying (backing up to
> something, tail quivering, & marking w/ urine), then it just means
> they're all excited &/or happy. One of my cats does the quivering
> tail a lot ("Oh, hello, I'm so happy to see you!" sort of deal), & my
> first cat used to do it when I opened her favorite kind of food as a
> treat.
>
> Cathy

My 3 1/2 month old male kitten does it, I've assumed that it is the instinct
to "mark" but that he's not mature enough to actually "do" it. He varies
between turning his back end to something or just doing it anywhere. Is he
likely to be "happy" or "marking"?

Rachel
August 3rd 03, 02:17 PM
Cathy Friedmann wrote:
> "Sheryl Barber" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch
>> or tail slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very
>> rapidly while it is raised straight in the air. I have never
>> noticed any of my other cats exhibiting this behavior. Anyone
>> familiar with this behavior and what it means?
>
> Yes. As long as it's not associated w/ spraying (backing up to
> something, tail quivering, & marking w/ urine), then it just means
> they're all excited &/or happy. One of my cats does the quivering
> tail a lot ("Oh, hello, I'm so happy to see you!" sort of deal), & my
> first cat used to do it when I opened her favorite kind of food as a
> treat.
>
> Cathy

My 3 1/2 month old male kitten does it, I've assumed that it is the instinct
to "mark" but that he's not mature enough to actually "do" it. He varies
between turning his back end to something or just doing it anywhere. Is he
likely to be "happy" or "marking"?

Cathy Friedmann
August 3rd 03, 03:09 PM
"Rachel" > wrote in message
...
> Cathy Friedmann wrote:
> > "Sheryl Barber" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch
> >> or tail slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very
> >> rapidly while it is raised straight in the air. I have never
> >> noticed any of my other cats exhibiting this behavior. Anyone
> >> familiar with this behavior and what it means?
> >
> > Yes. As long as it's not associated w/ spraying (backing up to
> > something, tail quivering, & marking w/ urine), then it just means
> > they're all excited &/or happy. One of my cats does the quivering
> > tail a lot ("Oh, hello, I'm so happy to see you!" sort of deal), & my
> > first cat used to do it when I opened her favorite kind of food as a
> > treat.
> >
> > Cathy
>
> My 3 1/2 month old male kitten does it, I've assumed that it is the
instinct
> to "mark" but that he's not mature enough to actually "do" it. He varies
> between turning his back end to something or just doing it anywhere. Is he
> likely to be "happy" or "marking"?

Sounds like it may be both types of quivering actions.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

Cathy Friedmann
August 3rd 03, 03:09 PM
"Rachel" > wrote in message
...
> Cathy Friedmann wrote:
> > "Sheryl Barber" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch
> >> or tail slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very
> >> rapidly while it is raised straight in the air. I have never
> >> noticed any of my other cats exhibiting this behavior. Anyone
> >> familiar with this behavior and what it means?
> >
> > Yes. As long as it's not associated w/ spraying (backing up to
> > something, tail quivering, & marking w/ urine), then it just means
> > they're all excited &/or happy. One of my cats does the quivering
> > tail a lot ("Oh, hello, I'm so happy to see you!" sort of deal), & my
> > first cat used to do it when I opened her favorite kind of food as a
> > treat.
> >
> > Cathy
>
> My 3 1/2 month old male kitten does it, I've assumed that it is the
instinct
> to "mark" but that he's not mature enough to actually "do" it. He varies
> between turning his back end to something or just doing it anywhere. Is he
> likely to be "happy" or "marking"?

Sounds like it may be both types of quivering actions.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

Jim Vecchiola
August 3rd 03, 04:56 PM
One of my cats also has this tail quiver. I thought at first it was
based on urine-spraying behavior, but she is a SHE - not known for
spraying, and she's also been spayed, so I dropped this idea. After a
few times, I began to think that this was a form of intense excitement
or pleasure - she used it when I got back home after a few hours away,
she used it when I was offering some tasty treats or food, she used it
when we were involved in a petting/scratching session. Probably the same
thing in your case.

Jim

Sheryl Barber wrote:
>
> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
> slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
> raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
> exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
> means?

Jim Vecchiola
August 3rd 03, 04:56 PM
One of my cats also has this tail quiver. I thought at first it was
based on urine-spraying behavior, but she is a SHE - not known for
spraying, and she's also been spayed, so I dropped this idea. After a
few times, I began to think that this was a form of intense excitement
or pleasure - she used it when I got back home after a few hours away,
she used it when I was offering some tasty treats or food, she used it
when we were involved in a petting/scratching session. Probably the same
thing in your case.

Jim

Sheryl Barber wrote:
>
> My cat has an interesting tail quiver. It is not the usual twitch or tail
> slap on the floor. She actually makes it quiver very rapidly while it is
> raised straight in the air. I have never noticed any of my other cats
> exhibiting this behavior. Anyone familiar with this behavior and what it
> means?

Liz
August 4th 03, 02:13 AM
Most of my cats do it too (including females). There's one male and
one female who do it all the time. Sometimes I'm sitting in front of
the computer and they come to me and quiver their tail against my
legs. I guess it's also a way they ask for attention. One of them (the
male) will insist to the point of climbing on the table and throughing
his body over the mouse. I need to stop what I'm doing and hold him
for a few minutes or he won't let me work.

Liz
August 4th 03, 02:13 AM
Most of my cats do it too (including females). There's one male and
one female who do it all the time. Sometimes I'm sitting in front of
the computer and they come to me and quiver their tail against my
legs. I guess it's also a way they ask for attention. One of them (the
male) will insist to the point of climbing on the table and throughing
his body over the mouse. I need to stop what I'm doing and hold him
for a few minutes or he won't let me work.