Shakey Tail

**krazyaboutkatz** · 05-27-2011, 12:56 AM

I've been noticing that my Ziggy will do this shakey tail wiggle as if she's going to spray but luckily nothing comes out. She seems to do this while I'm petting her in the morning. I remember that Storm used to do this too. Has anyone's cat ever done this before? I tried looking it up and I got the term shakey tail from a vet that had responded to someone's question. I think the vet said that it happens when the cat gets excited. I just don't like it because I'm afraid that some day she will start spraying.

I tried looking up more info about it and it's also called quivver tail. This is what it says about it: When a cat is very excited and happy to greet its owner he will hold his tail straight in the air and it will quiver or twitch. This is the cat's way of saying he is so pleased to see you that he is overcome with emotion. If this is what Ziggy is doing then I'm thrilled because it took her over a year to really come out of her shell and now she'll come to me for pets, scritches, and will sometimes sit in between my legs and take a nap.

**kuhio98** · 05-27-2011, 10:01 AM

Kuhio did that all her 17 years. Usually near the food bowl.
She would put her back to the refrigerator and do the shakey tail thing like she was trying to spray and mark her territory. But nothing ever came out.

I don't think I ever remembered to ask the vet about it. If I did, I don't remember him being concerned. I think it's just one of those adorable Kitty Kwerks.

**lvpets2002** · 05-27-2011, 10:18 AM

My Harley (female) & Bump (male) both do that too && nothing ever comes out.. Yes its ussally when I am rubbing their backs & they are happy..

**JMCsGirl** · 05-27-2011, 08:17 PM

Actually Riku does this too. Many times I have checked the area behind him to make sure there is no moisture.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 05-28-2011, 06:28 PM

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only experiencing this.

This morning Ziggy did it again. She must love me very much.

**Medusa** · 05-29-2011, 05:52 AM

Mine do that, too, but now that I think about it, it's only the males.

**Grace** · 05-29-2011, 07:14 AM

I remember Mouse used to do that - but it was because he was ticked off. When he would go to the door, wanting to go out, and the weather was bad (snow, rain), his tail would quiver. It was a constant thing throughout his life.

**Malibu's Mom** · 06-04-2011, 04:25 PM

I'm going to try get a video of Eve doing this and post it! I have never seen a cat do it so vigorously before than with Eve. When she sees me in the kitchen she'll back up to the cupboard and shake away. She's never tried to spray before. Just another one of her many, many quirks.

**sasvermont** · 06-04-2011, 09:15 PM

My black, female cat does it outside. I figured it was instinctual - and I never noticed anything coming out. I am glad mine isn't the only one acting this way.

**pomtzu** · 06-05-2011, 11:11 AM

My RB Meezer Ming (male), did this, but he was the only cat I ever had that did it. Sometimes he was spraying - other times not. I'm certain his wasn't a case of being excited to see me, since every time I caught him in the act (or looking like he was going to spray), I would yell at him and he'd take off running like a bat out of h3ll! If that wasn't an indication of guilt on his part, then I don't know what was!

**Freedom** · 06-05-2011, 11:35 AM

Yes, several of mine do this, male and female both.

Yes, I've seen a girl of mine do this before marking. Sigh. But they do it other times as well.

**jenluckenbach** · 06-05-2011, 09:12 PM

That is a happy tail indeed!!

**cassiesmom** · 06-23-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by krazyaboutkatz

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only experiencing this.

This morning Ziggy did it again. She must love me very much.

I am sure she does!

I think I've seen Cassie do it, but I'm not sure. When she is content, she walks with her tail up and sort of flipped over her back, like "Hello, nice to see you, all is well in my world."