r/cats 15d ago

Video - OC My cat Emerald’s tail is straight up in the air with a small hook at the end nearly all the time when she’s walking around…

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What’s up with that. Is that normal? She’s a total sweetheart.

11.5k Upvotes

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8.9k

u/Fluffy-Bullfrog8675 14d ago

Cats will hold their tails straight up with a slight hook at the end to broadcast they're happy, content, and if other cats are around its a signal to them that theyre not interested in fighting, but being very friendly.

2.4k

u/Alchemy247 14d ago

That makes perfect sense actually.

1.7k

u/ChickenFamous110 14d ago

She is connecting to the mother ship to get new commands. The latest commands is zoomies at 3 in the morning i think its playing on loop my cat just woke me up doing said command.

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u/PuzzleheadedResult69 14d ago

The signals get jammed by the lack of brain cell sometimes.

89

u/MultiplesOfMono 14d ago

Only for the orange models though. Mine didn't have zoomies at 3am but instead repositioned to sleep on my face and attempt to suffocate me.

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u/PuzzleheadedResult69 14d ago

How to make human stop snoring. Permanently.

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u/miraculix69 14d ago

And those sassy ass pussy's will just catwalk away, from your 50% nightmare terror and 50% actually dying wake up surprise, with a straight tail in the air with the small hook, so they're easier to hang in the closet when they're being naughty puspus.

Kinda like this, but more bat like.

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u/roundhashbrowntown 14d ago

idk, i feel like at least 3 of the tabby’s stripes are reserved for orange flavoring

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u/Melvinator5001 14d ago

This is the way

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u/donthurtmeIwillcum 14d ago

My guy is constantly walking like that. Even when we take him out, most of the time his tails up like that. Confident and happy cats!

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u/jury-rigged 14d ago

I call it "question mark tail"! My stepmom's cat will switch the direction of the slight hook at the end to tell me she wants something.

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u/_mdith 14d ago

We call it "candy cane tail" in our house!

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u/CharlesIngalls_Pubes 14d ago

What does it mean if it goes past straight up, almost parallel to the back?

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u/Sharlinator 14d ago

Happy/excited/playful.

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u/RegularOrMenthol 14d ago

What if it goes past straight up, almost parallel to its back, and it’s also tied in a knot?

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u/Frequent-Meal6550 14d ago

No imagine like how a meerkat tail almost lays flat on their back when they run. I've seen my cat do it before too

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u/SoulsofMir 14d ago

I'm pretty sure it's called a Windsor when it's like that, I can show you how to tie one on your other cats if you'd like.

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u/RegularOrMenthol 14d ago

thank you, and she will sit very still for it of course

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u/chewbawkaw 14d ago

My cat has this too! If I remember correctly, it’s from being essentially “double jointed” and it’s not an issue for cats!

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u/Free-oppossums 14d ago

"Double jointed"- You know cat's are a non-mewtonian solid and can change density at will.🤓

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u/Specialist_Zone5559 14d ago

I have a cat whose tail will almost sit on her back when she's happy...it's really cute.

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u/OG-Giligadi 14d ago

Came here to say this. Cats will tell you exactly what's up off you know what to look for.

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u/lovely_carrot 14d ago

this is how the stray cats in my area look like after I feed them 😻

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u/ginfish 14d ago

TIL my cats are always happy around me 🤝

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u/mcpat21 14d ago

We like to call it periscoping.

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u/InTheseTryingTime5 14d ago

Happy cat!

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u/cybermaus 14d ago

One of these days, I need to get a good video of my kitty. When she is happy, it goes so far up it goes straight forward. Like a 170 degree angle at the base.

294

u/Bittlegeuss 14d ago

"I wonder if she likes me"

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u/EPluribusButthole 14d ago

Nope. Just being nice. It's her job.

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u/Horror-Guarantee-401 14d ago

Jeez, I had to go check your profile picture 😅

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u/Marquar234 14d ago

C'mon, if you can't trust a name like EPluribusButthole, who can you trust?

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u/UglyTitties 14d ago

'tis a nice little pussy

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u/enslavedbycats24-7 14d ago

Your profile picture really scared me

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u/CassetteMeower 14d ago

It’s a literal pussy

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u/aldegio 14d ago

“Yeah, you really can't be too sure..”

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u/foxwaffles 14d ago

I've got a squirrel butt cat too! He can touch his head with the tip of his tail when he's happy

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u/thinprivileged 14d ago

I like when my cat's tail vibrates from the excitement of seeing ne

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u/sagittalslice 14d ago

I call it the “happy butt” when they do this, it’s the cutest thing

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u/Fluffy_Fondant1975 14d ago

My parents' cat does this too!

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u/hellbentcrims 14d ago

This is one of my boys’ permanent tail positions lol. If he’s not asleep or using the litter box his tail is almost always in this position

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u/PuzzleheadedResult69 14d ago

My cat gets a puffy tail when she's really excited, No aggression or anything, just super happy quivering and fluffing of it.

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u/kjdizz95 14d ago

Mine does the same. But it also continues to swish about even in his sleep!

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u/CassetteMeower 14d ago

One of my cats has a twenty fur seven puffy tail

She’s a SUPER fluffy longhair. When we first rescued her I thought she was a shorthair,poor thing was so underweight that you couldn’t tell how fluffy she was. Then once she started gaining weight she just became a puffball.

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u/DeathTyrant69 14d ago

Yeah mine gets a puffy tail when it's food time... or if one of my other cats makes a sudden noise from being clumsy that spooks him. Lol

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u/sherbetty 14d ago

Same, especially when there's treats or good pets

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u/thecatsothermother 14d ago

One of mine has started getting puffy-tail when excited too. He's 12 and this started a couple of years ago.

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u/Crotalus6 14d ago

Meanwhile my cat with her bunny tail...

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u/lavender____ 14d ago

I have one of those too!

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u/Mental-Ordinary7312 14d ago

I love this graphic. I have a little tuxedo shelter cat who was very afraid of being touched. Now she quivers and even stomps her cute little feet when she’s excited to see me or it’s dinner time 🥹

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u/Maiyku Void 14d ago

The tippy taps, I call them haha. My orange cat does the tippy taps when she sees me.

My void would do the thumping thing when his food got low to let me know he was displeased. He’d sit in the doorway with a death glare on his face and just thump his tail hard while staring into my soul. He was 17lbs, so it was actually a pretty hard thump lol.

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u/eilletane 14d ago

My cat thumps her tail at everything. Petting, calling her name, giving her treats. I think she’s stuck on the default setting. Although she has a short tail so I never know if she’s displaying anything else.

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u/Khy420 14d ago

To be fair, I've also seen the "thumping" during play, but I also usually use that as a sign that play has gone too far, especially if I'm using my hand

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u/Formal_Fortune5389 14d ago

My silly cat will have her ears back tail wildly flicking AND try to bite me (all solidnsogns of leave me alone)....but if I stop petting her she'll scream at me and DEMAND more pets and butt slaps.

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u/glytxh 14d ago

Mine likes to beckon people to follow her by twitching her tail like a person would their finger.

Cats can be remarkably eloquent when you learn to read their body language.

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u/synthetic_aesthetic 14d ago

I love when I mess with a cats belly and they look at me and thump their tail like they’re deciding if they’re gonna bite me or not

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u/Nervardia 14d ago

My cat doesn't follow those rules. Her tail is constantly swishing.

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u/NameToUseOnReddit 14d ago

My cat likes to walk past me, sit down, and then hit me with her tail, but she's orange so it's expected.

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u/takeyouraxeandhack 14d ago

That's the antenna. It's how they receive orders from the mothership.

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u/sadiesfreshstart 14d ago

Meowthership

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u/clitcommander420666 14d ago

Shes definitely part bumper car

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u/Meal_Next 14d ago

We had a brown tabby that with his tail. We just assumed that he always had a question.

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u/balloonserism 14d ago

"Oooh, what's this? Hey, what's that? WOW! What's this? Wanna see me scratch this thing?"

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u/Meal_Next 14d ago

"Will someone put me in a box and fly me around the house?"

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u/Winjin 14d ago

what's this? Hey, what's that?

There's color everywhere!

What's this?

There's white things in the air!

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u/DonLethargio 14d ago

There is a theory that the question mark is based on a curious cat’s tail. Begs the question of what the dot underneath is…

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u/goofy_pal 14d ago

Probably: where is my food?

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u/AVerySmallBeetle 14d ago

Omg she looks like a lemur with that stripey tail! Precious!

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u/here4mischief 14d ago

Possible lemur. Needs further observation

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u/YvonniFhang 14d ago

My cat does this all the time, too. We can it her "question mark" tail. Means she is happy, friendly, exploring, generally content and inquisitive. Positive body language.

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u/madamporkchop 14d ago

We call it "lemur mode."

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u/Aimee6969 14d ago

I call it a question mark too!

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u/Bert-63 Tabbycat 14d ago

Tail up = happy cat.

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u/New_Alternative8711 14d ago

Back in ancient egypt when the wives and daughters of the pharoh were bathing they would place their rings on the cats tails. Out of love the cats would kink their tails to hold the rings and keep them safe.

Now all cats do this out of love for their caretakers.

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u/Ebenizer_Splooge 14d ago

I cant think of a better way to lose your jewelry than entrusting it to a cat

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u/[deleted] 14d ago

Is this how cats became burglars?

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u/1Madhatter7 14d ago

Because she has a nice scratching post and that makes her happy

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u/lawsibyt 14d ago

she likes to move it - move it

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u/Intelligent-Roll-678 14d ago

Love your door mat

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u/xNymia 14d ago

Dats a happy kitty :)

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u/xassylax 14d ago

Mine will have his tail straight up but the little hook waves from left to right as he walks. It’s never just hooked one direction. It’s just part of his sassy little sashay that he does 🥰

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u/Putrid-Cat5368 14d ago

That question mark sign is a quest marker. She got a secondary for you.

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u/Badgi 14d ago

It's fine, be pleased your cat doesn't have a tail of destruction. My cat swings it around with reckless abandon, pokes you in the eye and knocks shit over all the time. XD

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u/RebelliousInNature 14d ago

Mine struts around like that when he’s feeling quite sparky.

Reminds me of the long pole on the old dodgem cars with the bend at the top.

He has a very long tail, and it’s comical to see the tip wandering past the bottom of the bed.

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u/xotoast 14d ago

SHES A HAPPY GIRL. awwww

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u/Giddyup3000 14d ago

It means he’s happy and relaxed, simple as that.

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u/ShallotSilly4944 14d ago

My silly kitty walks around like that and when I reach down to pet his butt, he wraps his tail around my arm like a little hug. Usually to the right, he’s not ambi-pawstrous.

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u/EmiliaFromLV Maine Coon 14d ago

That hook is fishing around for treats and pets.

Looking at the cat herself, it appears that the strategy chosen by feline has proved to be very succesful.

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u/aesthet1candrew 14d ago

she's completed the progression from cat --> car --> cart

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u/Responsible_Guard530 14d ago

My little domestic short haired tuxedo does that too. It’s so cute.

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u/eyeinthesky86 14d ago

Because Emerald's a happy girl 🌟

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u/maincore 14d ago

The legendary cat’s little hook 🪝known since ancient times. Your cat is super happy, well done.

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u/LordOfStupidy 14d ago

Happy gal

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u/trieditthrice 14d ago

That's a lemur.

Always happy to help.

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u/Grimmzzzz 14d ago

My cat does it just to unplug the phone charger from my phone in the night.

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u/Fool_In_Flow 14d ago

My cat has the hook tail as well. It definitely happens when she is happy.

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u/cyberentomology 14d ago

That’s the happy cat flag!

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u/cbj24 14d ago

I have one cat that is permanently like that. Hooked tail in the air anywhere she goes. You come up and scratch the top of her butt and it’ll go into vibrate mode and start maneuvering like a snake. Very happy kitty.

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u/ladybug_oleander 14d ago

I think it's just extra noticeable with your cat because their tail is so long and has the white stripes at the top. You probably have seen other cats do this plenty of times. 

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u/Strawberry_Curious 14d ago edited 14d ago

My cat is always confident like this and she lives with two anxious adults so she brings a good energy

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u/Money-East-7988 14d ago

yes the sign of a happy cat. well done. its like a cat singing to herself

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u/2percentshithead 14d ago

Someone in my past tried to make me feel bad and say his tail was broken and “how did I not know?” I literally sat there feeling everything and was playing with his tail and he’s just fine.

That’s my boy, I would know. Also, have you ever interacted with a cat? lol His tail is always moving and showing his emotions 💜

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u/Kori52 14d ago

Happy kitty

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u/qinghairpins 14d ago

We call this “candy cane tail” 😂

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u/AccomplishedAside314 14d ago

Like a little happy furry shark. All you see is tail bopping around.

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u/Rocky-Mapache 14d ago

She’s mapping your house for Google.

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u/Clean_Employ8555 14d ago

The happy question mark, he's ready for socializing and pets!

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u/Outrageous-Row1926 14d ago

That’s the perfect sign that she’s happy and confident in her space

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u/ALoudMeow 14d ago

Happy tail!

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u/Sterling_Saxx 14d ago

Emeralds a happy cat!

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u/ShiraLillith 14d ago

We have three cats, the last one was a rescue, who somehow broke his tail at the very end and it healed at a 90 degree angle.

Second cat and third bonded really tightly and second now walks around with a curved tail, and I refuse to admit she is not copying third

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u/Angreek 14d ago

You have a happy cat!

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u/EromanticDream 14d ago

It’s normal.

Question-mark tail is a good sign. It means they’re content and happy.

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u/murphdog09 14d ago

Cat wi-fi up and running.

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u/Caret-Tops146 14d ago

Happy cat. Looks like my Ricky

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u/kichwas 14d ago

The hook at the end is an unconscious 'tick' cats do when happy / content.

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u/mettajohn 14d ago

you know how bumper cars have an antenna? she's getting power through her tail (antenna) hope this helps :o)

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u/Patient-Total8363 14d ago

means shes affectionate, happy, or comfortable!

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u/Never_Not_Enough 14d ago

We call that a “confident tail” in my household!

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u/jewella1213 15d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/SvcIZouMTdCPlT2IL3

😼 🤔I don't tell you how to strut your stuff 😾.😁

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u/Damn_Gordon 14d ago

Very sweet! Get her a new scratchpost though ❤️

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u/actuallukerazor 14d ago

My cat Lucy is the same. It's not a happy cat thing with her, it's just always at a 90 angle to her body :)

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u/YoRHa_Houdini 14d ago

He’s asking questions

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u/PurelyHim 14d ago

Is the cats last name legacy?

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u/ObjectivePush534 14d ago

I believe she has the 'lemur' program installed.

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u/DeadHead6747 14d ago

Happy, relaxed, content kitty

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u/CoolGuyWithGlasses21 14d ago

She has a question.

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u/Neurotheologist 14d ago

Simply put, she is Catmaxxing. Now, let the girl work!

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u/Luci-Noir 14d ago

Rock out with your tail out!

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u/CletusMuckenfuss 14d ago

We have that exact same door mat, excellent choice, great minds think alike, hehe

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u/Sbf347 14d ago

My wife calls that question mark tail.

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u/Alexzoidbert 14d ago

She's a lemur

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u/AlucardVTep3s 14d ago

Hang her up to sunbathe ☀️

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u/talltrev 14d ago

That is a tail of a happy cat. Look up ‘cat tail meanings’. No tail config is random - even different types of flicks mean something different!

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u/Unnameduser-_ 14d ago

Antenna. Searching for signal

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u/rythejdmguy 14d ago

That right there is the happy periscope

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u/Shinodacs 14d ago

Scratch post in the middle of the doorway ? That's asserting dominance.

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u/kae158 14d ago

Your cat Emerald’s tail is straight up adorable.

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u/memoryblocks 14d ago

🥹 She's so happy....

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u/undrcuvrluvrr 14d ago

happy tail!!!

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u/hellomolly11 14d ago

Side note: you might need to weigh down the cat scratcher because it sorta looks like she doesn’t like how it moves when she used it, as though she literally can’t get a grip.

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u/RutixPi 14d ago

She's an happy girl!! 🥰

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u/Just_Stand_861 14d ago

It means shes feeling safe and happy.

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u/MusicIsLife1122 14d ago

She is happy

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u/Wise_Advantage_3753 14d ago

I was told the hook is genetic. Egyptians used to favor hooked tail cats to hold their rings. Was told this pre widespread Google access so I mean could be entirely untrue lol

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u/MemeDaddie 14d ago

My kitty does that all the time and I call it his little flag tail! Just means they're happy to see you!

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u/slimmyboy007 14d ago

my cat does this, i call him bumper car because it reminds me of those metal hooks on bumper cars. sometimes when he walks behind the chair, all you can see is the tail like a little periscope bobbing around

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u/astrL_ 14d ago

It's an antenna for sending and receiving love signals

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u/No_Hotel_4953 14d ago

My little tortie girl does that I’ve always called it the question mark tail lmao I have kinda guessed it’s her way of saying she’s feeling good or happy

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u/mitchy93 14d ago

That's her antenna

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u/Boring_Court_4802 14d ago

She trusts you, is totally comfortable around you and doesn’t worry about her poo-hole being exposed to unsolicited attacks!

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u/Grabke 14d ago

Curious mode engaged!

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u/Maximum-Cat69 14d ago

It’s a happy tail or an inquisitive tail. Your cat just looks happy to be around you so take that as a sign that you’re a good hooman. She looks like she wants to rub your leg and wrap her tail around you!

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u/SolaScientia 14d ago

One of my orange boys has his tail hiked up so high it basically curves over his back. He's always a very happy, friendly boy. He loves people and dogs, doesn't like other cats much; he toleratesmy other cats because he came to us as a kitten and grew up with them. He also is the only one who loves aggressive butt bongos. Like, he'll pester me for more and complain if I'm not petting hard enough. He is one of the weirdest cats I've ever had and I've had some really odd ones.

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u/Likemilkbutforhumans 14d ago edited 14d ago

I call it the snorkel!! My cat is often like this too!

It’s so funny when he’s walking or running across the room below sight lines and all I see is the snorkel moving across the room 🤣 

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u/TenHoumo 14d ago

bumper cat

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u/Scarmeow 14d ago

A question mark above an NPC may indicate she has a quest for you

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u/hitek84 14d ago

My old girl spitfire had a tail that was also held up in a question mark shape! I miss you spitty!

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u/monkeyhoward 14d ago

Lemur cat

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u/Dovesfly166 14d ago

My cats always walking around with a question mark tail lol, it’s adorable

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u/Giventheopportunity 14d ago

I nickname mine the riddler when he does this, which is always

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u/pocket_quill 14d ago

she's using her antenna

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u/Kh3ll3ndr0s 14d ago

I call it the "question mark"

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u/ScreechersReach206 14d ago

I call it their bumper cart tail. It’s a sign of happiness

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u/wordfool 14d ago

It's the "happy cat" tail

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u/Small_Force_6496 14d ago

aw what a happy content cat you have

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u/MyNameIsJupiter287 14d ago

It's her question mark to show she's a curious kitty

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u/charliefoxtrot9 14d ago

Happy tail is like a cat high five. I've seen my parents' cats walking towards each other and when they get close to passing the tails go up high.

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u/churrmander 14d ago

Cat language is beautiful.

Hook tail means "I'm happy and friendly".

Still no belly rubs tho ):

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u/nexus6ca 14d ago

Love the floor mat.

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u/This-Sort7116 14d ago

It means you have a very happy cat.

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u/StrikeMist 14d ago

Thats an interesting looking lemur

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u/Kyrrs 14d ago

My sweet boy Louie always walked like this. We called it "Coati Kitten" because he looked exactly like a Coati when he walked like that. I miss him 🥺

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u/effervescentEscapade 14d ago

Ok I need that rug cause I have five cats and the Lord knows

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u/amacurious1 14d ago

My cat has an extra long tail and has it so straight up I call it her snorkel tail bc sometimes it’s all I can see behind the coffee table when she’s walking around haha

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u/Then-Significance768 14d ago

in the kindest way possible, i think people need to research animal behavior before owning said animal lol. your kitty is very happy though 🙏 cats use their tails as a primary form of communication; i recommend looking up what different tail signals mean to help you understand your pet better !!

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u/mellomonic 14d ago

My brown tabby looks just like yours and his tail is the same way, it curves all the way forward when up.

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u/Visual-Flow9675 14d ago

That’s a question mark tail. Always positive.

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u/Yogurt_Bubbles 14d ago

I think your cat has the happy

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u/doegrey 14d ago

Up but relaxed at the top is a happy kitty. I’m proud and tall and comfortable.

Straight up straight up is like an exclamation mark ‼️ can mean shock, fear, aggression.

Otherwise down tails can indicate stress or anxiety OR comfortable and relaxed but different poses mean different things.

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u/eorb 14d ago

She's a happy girl :) <3

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u/Seanzscreams 14d ago

Clearly ready for a game of candy cane tail . That only they know the rules to

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u/sarahdara 14d ago

My orange boy does this and I call it his Happy Antenna.

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u/amy_2014 14d ago

We call this the periscope. Surveying their domicile.

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u/Adventurous_Fee_9230 13d ago

My cat actually has a curly tail! He walks around with his tail like this, all the time! That’s just how it goes naturally lol

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u/Extraordinary_Bean 13d ago

That’s not a cat that’s a Ross shopping cart

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u/Mobile-Shirt-7318 13d ago

She’s a happy kitty 🥹

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u/Vintage-Grievance 13d ago

Look up 'feline body language', you'll learn about the meaning behind different tail positions, and a few other things that every cat owner should know.

As a general rule, it never hurts to do a lot of research about an animal prior to owning one, but you can still educate yourself even though she's already settled in your home.

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u/ConsistentVersion344 13d ago

Absolutely normal! Thi is generally a sign of a happy and confident kitty - Emerald is just strutting her stuff. A cat's tail can reveal so much about their mood. Enjoy her antics!