Fueling Happy Tails Exploring the Quality of Gain Pet Food

Tail Talk: Understanding the Meaning Behind Cat Tail Movements

Healthy cats can control their tails from the base all the way to the tipa considerable journey. The ability to move their tails is an essential part of their balance and nonverbal communication. Just like the human brain, they determine what the command should be. The nerves deliver this command to the muscles, and the tail is manipulated accordingly. It's no different from how we control parts of our bodies.

A cat's tail accounts for 10% of its bones. And about 90% of tail positions boil down to modulating distancewhether to come closer, maintain the current space, or move further away. But there are many other things these movements can indicate, like anxiety, anger, or contentment.

We spoke to expert cat behaviorist and founder and president of All Cats All The Time, Rachel Geller, Ed. D., to gather insight into cats' tail movements and what these communicate to us.

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6 Cat Tail Movements and What They Mean

Most tail movements are voluntarydone with a specific purpose or message to convey. Cats' tails are a vital means for them to communicate not only with other animals but also with humans.

Let's look at what a cat's tail tells you.

1. Tail Up

You may be wondering, "Why do cats walk with their tails up?" If a cat's tail is straight up and it approaches another cat or a human, this usually means it has a friendly and trusting relationship with that individual.

This behavior further signifies the following:

• Trust
• Desire to engage
• Confidence
• Contentment in its environment
• Approachability

Cats developed these mannerisms while living in the wild. A tail, visible above tall grass or shrubs, was a practical and necessary means of communicating readiness for interaction with other cats. As cats evolved, they continued to use the same tail language with humans, regardless of their familiarity.

"This is significant because cats are master communicators," says Geller. It's not uncommon for people to claim their cat bit or scratched them out of the blue. In reality, the cat likely signaled its discomfort or desire for distance multiple times with tail movements. Ignoring these signals can lead to a cat feeling it has no choice but to bite or scratch.

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2. Tail Wagging

What Does It Mean When a Cat Wags Its Tail?

"I often advise people to consider the cat's body language. A straight back is neutral. Anything below the horizontal line is negative, and anything above it is positive. It's a simplified view, but it can be a helpful guideline," says Geller.

Here are some specific explanations of tail-wagging meanings:

• Lower: Uncertainty, cautiousness, potential agitation
• Flicking back and forth: Irritation, agitation, reservation, uncertainty about a situation, pain
• Low flicking: Warning sign to humans to keep their distance; irritation or discomfort
• High flicking: Excitement, contemplation, playfulness. For example, an indoor cat watching a bird from a window could indicate enjoyment or curiosity by flicking its tail high.
• Swaying side to side: Focus, mild annoyance

3. Question Mark-Curved Cat Tail

A cat's curled tail indicates happiness and could even suggest a playful mood. Cats use this gesture toward humans when they want to play or are feeling happy. But, just like humans, cats all have different styles of communication, so this is not an exclusive sign of positive emotions.

This is also a common greeting among companion cats or cats living together, generally signaling contentment and well-being. They approach each other without agitation, indicating an amicable relationship.

4. Tail Whipping

While a dog's tail wags faster when it's happy, a cat's doesn't. So, why do cats slap their tails? Usually, it signifies:

• Aggression
• Alertness
• Nervousness
• Irritation
• Wanting to increase or maintain distance

Expert Tip: Immediately stop if you see this movement. Ignoring it can result in the cat escalating its behavior. It might progress to a hiss, which signifies fear, or a growl, indicating aggression. If you continue to disregard the cat's signals, it might resort to swatting, scratching, or biting.

Learn ways to tell if your cat is stressed or anxious

5. Tail Twitching

Some tail movements can signify vastly different moods. So, what does it mean when a cat's tail twitches? Twitching is often a sign of anxiety in a cat, but it can also indicate excitement. Cats' tails sometimes twitch when they're about to mark their territoryif they're going to spray, you might notice a twitch first. Typically, this signifies that the cat is feeling stressed, anxious, or insecure.

However, some cats' tails twitch while they're sleeping or napping, and this is usually no cause for concern. In this context, it's just an involuntary movement, akin to experiencing a cramp or twitching during sleep in humans.

6. Puffed Tails

"My short-haired cat could puff up his tail quite impressively when he wanted to," explains Geller. "Ultimately, cats are not naturally aggressive and would prefer to avoid fights. They prefer to intimidate and use posture to defuse the situation."

Of course, some cats, especially short-haired ones, won't be able to fluff their tails as much as long-haired breeds like the Maine Coon. But they have other forms of nonverbal communication, like:

• Puffing up their tails as much as possible while doing lashing movements
• A posture that simulates a pounce, like wiggling their butts
• Rolling their ears back and down, signaling readiness for a confrontation by protecting their ears
• Faking an attack

Fun Fact: A cat gets a puffy tail when happy, too, especially when playing. Often playtime mimics their natural hunting behavior, like pouncing or preparing for an attack, which shows why their tails may get puffy in these instances.

What to Do if Your Cat's Tail Is Injured or Broken

"Remember, the tail is an extension of the spinal cord, so an injury there can be compared to a human having an injury on their back or neck, which would also cause significant discomfort," explains Geller.

Some signs and symptoms that something may be wrong with your cat's tail are:

• Tail hanging limp at base
• Dragging along the floor
• Bent cat tail
• Difficulty urinating
• Leaking or dribbling urine
• Diarrhea or signs of incontinence
• Incoordination or difficulty walking with the rear legs

If your cat is experiencing these symptoms, limit its movement. Since cats use their tails for balance, an injured or broken tail can be debilitating and affect their gait. Ensure your cat has close access to its litter box, food, or water.

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Let the Tail Guide You

Cats communicate with their tails expertly. They can express many things to other cats and humans this way. While tail movements focus on helping your cat judge distance, navigate its surroundings, and keep its balance, there are many insights into mood and well-being too.

It's important to keep your eye on any changes in your cat's tail movements, as it could indicate a larger issue. In the unfortunate case of an injury or break, be sure to follow our guidelines and head to a vet as soon as you can. This way, your feline friend can get the best care to alleviate discomfort and improve its quality of life.

Best and worst dog food brands

There are hundreds of dog food options available, from dry to grain-free to raw, but which ones will have your furry friend licking the bowl clean?

We surveyed 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they buy to uncover the brands that customers (and their dogs) love and which offer the best value for money.

See how brands such as Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin are rated by customers, as well as supermarket options from the likes of Aldi and Lidl.

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Dog food brands rated

Our top-scoring dog food brand achieved an impressive customer score of 82%, and five-star ratings for how much pets liked it, as well as their wellbeing when eating it.

At the other end of the scale, two brands scored less than 60%, with just two stars out of five each for how healthy the dog seemed when eating food from that brand.

Which? members can log in now to unlock the full results. If you're not yet a member, join Which? today to get instant access to this and thousands of other reviews.

Make sure your furry friend is covered see our guide to the best pet insurance for your dog

How to choose the best dog food for your pet

Deciphering all the pet nutrition information on the internet can seem like an impossible task. It can range from confusing to completely contradictory.

We spoke to real pet nutrition researchers to understand what actually matters. Good news: it isnt as complicated as it seems.

The most important part of choosing a food is actually monitoring your pet, said Dr Teresa Hollands, senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you're feeding your pet a particular brand of food, and they have plenty of energy and seem well in themselves, then you are on the right track.

Dr Nigel Kendall, lecturer in nutrition at the University of Nottingham, agreed: If your pet is on completely the wrong diet, then there will be physical signs.

Signs that your pet is eating a nutritious diet, and the right food for their needs, include:

• good overall health
• plenty of energy
• good sleeping habits
• regularly passing firm stools
• maintaining a healthy weight.

Also a cat owner? See our guide to thebest and worst cat food brands

How to feed your dog the best and healthiest diet

As well as choosing the right food, you can also maximise the nutritional value of your pets diet by feeding them in the right way.

We spoke with Dr David Gardner, professor of physiology at the University of Nottingham, to find out more:

Choosing a complete food

Start by making sure you are feeding your pet a complete food, he said. Thats really important, but it isnt always clearly labelled.

Complete foods are designed to give your pet all the nutrients they need, so you can feed them the same thing every day without causing a nutritional imbalance or deficit.

Weighing your pet food

David also highlighted the importance of weighing your pets food every time you feed them.

Remember, you may not notice that you're overfeeding your pet if you increase the size of their feed very slightly each day.

Varying your pet food

If you want to take additional steps to ensure your pet is getting the best nutrition, David also suggested varying the food you give them, provided that this doesnt upset their stomach.

These changes could be as small as varying the flavour of food that you give to your pet.

If you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month, try the chicken next time, David suggested.

If you do want to try changing the type or brand of your pet food, remember to do so gradually. Your pet's meal should be no more than 25% new food for the first couple of days, increasing over the course of a week.

Dogs can be fussy, so know that varying your pet food is not essential. The main thing is that they eat and enjoy their food and that it's nutritionally complete.

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Is wet or dry dog food better?

Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete, meaning that they should contain all the nutrients your pet needs. That means there is no significant advantage to either food type.

David recommended feeding your pet a mixture of wet and dry food.

Evidence suggests that there are slight differences in the nutritional composition of wet and dry food. That means you are going to cover more nutrients if you mix them together.

If you want to feed your dog exclusively one type of food, then wet food does tend to be more appealing. However, it is often more expensive and it can predispose pets to dental disease.

In contrast, dry food is beneficial to dogs teeth and gums, and it is usually easier and cheaper to use and store. Just make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water, as they will not be getting hydration from their food.

Best food and drinkwe've rated the tastiest food for humans too. Discover our top picks, from chicken soup to red wine

Can dogs be vegan?

Yes, provided you are careful about the type of food you give them.

There are commercial dog foods available that are vegetarian or vegan and nutritionally complete.

Some people may want to prepare homemade vegetarian or vegan meals for their dog, which is not typically recommended by experts.

This is because evidence suggests that homemade food (including meat-based diets) is typically not nutritionally complete even when people follow recipes labelled as such.

Is raw food good for dogs?

Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years, especially for dogs, but experts don't generally recommend it.

I would not recommend a raw food diet due to the risk to human health, says Dr Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.

Bacteria present in raw meat can include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E-coli. These cause significant illness in humans and animals, particularly young, old and immune-compromised individuals.

These can be spread around the house during food preparation and eating. They can also be passed from animals to humans if your pet kisses your face after eating.

All of these bacteria are destroyed when meat is correctly cooked.

How much should my dog weigh?

According to a 2022 survey by UK Pet Food, 50% of dogs (and 43% of cats) are overweight or obese.

Your pet being overweight can have a huge impact on its quality of life, including limiting their ability to exercise or sleep properly. According to the RSPCA, it also predisposes them to illness including:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• cancer.

How to if tell your dog is overweight

Dr Teresa Hollands recommends an easy method for checking your pets weight.

Create a fist with your hand, and feel your knuckles with your fingers, she said. If your pets ribs feel like that, they are underweight.

Then lay your hand flat, and feel your knuckles again. If their ribs feel like that, they are the perfect weight.

Finally, keep your hand flat, turn your hand over, and run your fingers over the pads on your palm at the base of your fingers. If their ribs feel like that, they are overweight.

Physical signs that your dog is overweight

• Very thin(more than 20% below ideal body weight) Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen (in short-haired pets), obvious loss of muscle bulk, no fat can be felt under the skin.
• Underweight (10-20% below ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen, obvious waist and abdominal tuck, very little fat can be felt under the skin.
• IdealRibs, spine and hip bones easily felt, visible waist and abdominal tuck, small amount of fat can be felt.
• Overweight(10-15% above ideal body weight): Ribs, spine and hip bones are hard to feel, waist barely visible, broad back, layer of fat on belly and at base of tail.
• Obese (more than 15% above ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones extremely difficult to feel under a thick layer of fat, no waist can be seen and belly may droop significantly, heavy fat pads on lower back and at base of the tail.

How we rated dog food brands

To uncover the best and worst dog food brands, in July 2023 we surveyed 2,304 Which? members who had bought dog food recently, and asked all about their experiences with their chosen brand.

We asked them to rate the brand on various attributes including value for money, how their dog responded to the food, and its perceived wellbeing on the food.

Overall customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall and whether or not they would recommend it.

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