Tail Flick

[Kattysmom]

Hi all,

My cat is pretty friendly with our family including the dog. She sleeps on our bed with us at night, she sits in our lap, and is very playful. As a new cat mom, I am wondering what emotion my cat is feeling when she flicks her tail. This tail flick (the whole tail) usually happens when we are holding her or if she is sitting in my lap and I am petting her. It doesn't seem like she stressed but I want to make sure.

Kattysmom

[Ozzy1919]

The flicking tail usually means that the cat is annoyed/upset/bothered. But let me just say that my dads cat is ALWAYS flicking his tail, so some cats are just like that.

Also you should notice that if she starts feeling annoyed the tail flicking will become more rapid or more forcefull.

If she seems comfortable i wouldnt worry about it and if she really is getting annoyed she'll let you know lol

[snowy]

Just like this video I did of ET. ET does it all the time, while combing, while he is purring, while Ii pet him. I am just as curious what that means.
Cat's flicking tail - YouTube

[spirite]

Kattysmom, when you say flick, do you mean up and down or side to side? Margaux's tail swishes sideways (like ET's in snowy's video) when she's starting to get anxious or unhappy. When she really starts to get upset (like if I'm petting her too much), her tail thumps up and down. Celia's tail, on the other hand, thumps up and down when she's sitting between my legs and I'm petting her, and it means she's happy. But it's a lazy sort of up and down thump. Margaux's is a forceful thump.

[Elvie]

Tail flicking is a really subjective behavior when it comes to cats.
Both of mine will NEVER stop flicking it, even if they are purring, eating, or even sleeping sometimes.

[Ragdoll_Joy]

Yah, Joy is the same way however her tail flick is usualy only the tip unless she is playing...the it's the whole tail! Her tail tip seems to always seems to be going!