Other Behavior Issues

Q.: How can I tell if my cat is cross or happy?...
My cat often wags its tail. Is that because it is cross or happy?

A.: This is not so easy to answer as if it had been a dog: if they wag their tails, they're happy (they are even capable of clearing a whole coffee table if they're happy enough!). If a cat wags its tail, it means that it's excited. This may be in both a positive and a negative way. Many cats wag their tails if something interesting has drawn their attention, for example if they have spotted a bird outside the window etc.
This is why one has to read other signals as well in order to know what tail-wagging is about:

• Is the cat lying in your lap with no signs of wanting to leave? (good sign)
• Has it laid its ear back? (bad sign)
• Is it trying to get away? (bad sign)

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