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Orange tabby kitten play tail8/18/2023 ![]() In Photo 4, we have a complete interaction in process. Photo 3: These cats signal a lack of willingness to interact, evidenced by their tail behaviors and obvious spacing. Here, the tail has functioned in a series of signals that not only indicated a lack of willingness to interact, but may have also functioned in the spacing of the animals. While not actively fighting, none of these cats are engaged in active interaction. ![]() In Photo 3, we see a series of cats all of whom have their tails either wrapped or tucked. Photos 2: The tail wrap combined with facial and paw postures indicate this cat's desire for more distance. When all of the systems agree, there is little hesitancy in the animal's response. This photo is a terrific example of how multiple signaling systems can tell you not only what an animal is "saying" but how seriously they are communicating it. In Photo 2 we see the focus of the cat's angst: a dog who, based on her head position and facial expression, is becoming convinced that the cat really doesn't desire her attentions. Photos 1: The tail wrap combined with facial and paw postures indicate this cat's desire for more distance. Both of these are facial signals that can correlate with agonistic interactions. The cat's ears are also moving back, and he is staring. The information obtained from paw posture certainly confirms this theory judging by the tail position. The role for raised limbs and swatting in changing interactions with other animals have not been investigated in cats, but the widely held belief is that this is a distance-increasing signal that is meant to discourage interaction. The cat is resting his weight on his one forelimb while the other is raised as if to swat. In this case we have as broader context provided by the cat's facial expression and paw. Instead, this cat is closed to interactions from those that approach. ![]() Ears and bellies are places where heat loss is great. The cat in Photo 1 is upright, has ears up, and has exposed his belly to the air. Cold cats crouch down, fold their ears down, bury their nose, wrap their tail around the entire body, and become as small as possible. Cats that wrap their tail around their feet could be cold, but the rest of the body's signals would have to be in agreement for this conclusion to be reached. ![]() The easiest signal for clients to recognize is the one shown in Photo 1, the "wraparound" tail. Then, we can take these observations and look for congruence or lack of it between other signaling systems (e.g., the eyes, voice, body, etc.) The only system closed to our understanding, for now, is the olfactory. While no signaling system can be removed from the context of the entire animal and correctly interpreted, it can be very useful to look at what information can be communicated by each body part involved in signaling. The second column in this series on feline communication will focus on the information provided by cat tails. ![]()
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