From: jbrandt@NeoSoft.com (J Brandt)
Subject: Re: Tail stood up straight, what's up??
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900
Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1992 22:56:33 GMT

In article <67745@hydra.gatech.EDU>, gt1167b@prism.gatech.EDU (Christie Shackelford) writes:
> I think that the tail up position is definitely a friendly
> greeting message.  When I call Fermi, she almost always
> will flick her tail up when she hears her name.  In a few
> seconds, it starts to return to its original position, but
> she'll lift it back up if I call her again.  This works over
> and over.  I really like it.

I just finished reading Desmond Morris' book on cat behaviors, called
_Catlore_.  And he agrees with you about tail positions.  He details 12
different tail positions:
  
TAIL POSITION                          MOOD/EMOTIONAL CONDITION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
tail curves gently down and then      relaxed cat, at peace with the
up again at the tip                   world
  
tail raised slightly and softly       cat is becoming interested in
curved                                something
  
tail held erect but with the tip      cat is very interested and is in
tilted over                           a friendly, greeting mood but 
                                      with slight reservations
  
tail fully erect with the tip         an intense greeting display with
stiffly vertical                      no reservations
  
tail lowered fully and possibly       this is the signal of a defeated
even tucked between the hind legs     or totally submissive cat that
                                      
tail lowered and fluffed out          active fear
  
tail swished violently from side      conflict signal of tail wagging
                                      in its most angry version
  
tail held still, but with tip         this is the version of tail 
twitching                             wagging that indicates only mild
                                      irritation
  
tail held erect with its whole        this gentle quivering action is 
length quivering                      often seen after a cat has been
                                      greeted by its owner.  It is the
                                      same action that is observed when
                                      urine spraying is taking place out
                                      of doors....The gesture appears to 
                                      have the meaning of a friendly 
                                      "personal identification," as if
                                      the cat is saying, "Yes, this is
                                      ME!"
  
tail held to one side                 sexual invitation signal of the
                                      female cat in heat.
  
tail held straight and fully          this is the signal of an aggressive
                                      cat
  
tail arched and bristled              this is the signal of a defensive
                                      cat, but one that may attack if
                                      provoked further.
  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Copyright 1987 by Desmond Morris)
-- 
Jaclyn Brandt
jbrandt@NeoSoft.com
--
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