Significados de la cola de gato: decodificando el lenguaje corporal de un gato

Cats are fascinating creatures with a lot to say, especially with their tails. Cats use their tails to communicate their emotions the same way a human might use their facial expressions. Therefore, if you want to get to know your feline friend better, you need to know about cat tail meanings. Determining whether a tail position means fear or happiness will help you unlock your cat’s brain; you can then figure out what your cat needs.

Today we’re looking at cat tail meanings, so you can build a more fulfilling and trusting bond with your cat.

tabla de contenidos

Understanding Your Cat’s Tail: The Basics
Posiciones de la cola del gato y su significado
Your Cat’s Tail Language
Colas de gato como parte de la comunicación felina: reflexiones finales
preguntas frecuentes

Understanding Your Cat’s Tail: The Basics

The feline body is remarkable. Not only do cats have incredible flexibility, they have tails that can move a number of ways. The tail is an extension of a cat’s spine. Where the human spine ends with the pelvis, the cat (and all tailed creatures) have a spine that continues on for another 18 to 23 vertebrae or bones in length.

Sabía usted que Los gatos machos tienen colas más largas que las hembras.? The average male tail is 11 inches (28 cm), while the female’s reaches 10 in (25 cm). However, there are larger breeds, like the Maine-coon, ¡que puede tener una cola de 16 pulgadas de largo! También hay colas de diferentes formas. persas tienen colas más gruesas y con penachos, mientras que los gatos de pelo corto suelen tener colas más delgadas y estrechas.

La cola en sí está formada por pelaje, piel, músculos, vasos sanguíneos y tejido conectivo. Una gran cantidad de nervios les da a los gatos un control único sobre sus colas, por lo que pueden mover la cola en muchas direcciones o realizar movimientos pequeños o grandes. Es por eso que verás la cola azotándose como una serpiente en algunos momentos y otras veces la verás moverse casi quieta.

Gato atigrado naranja en un cubo de plástico azul

Posiciones de la cola del gato y su significado

What can your cat’s tail tell you? So, so much! Cat tail meanings are vast, but here are some of the most common positions you’ll see, as well as what they mean:

1. De pie erguido

What does it mean when a cat holds its tail vertically? From an anatomical standpoint, when a cat does this, they are displaying their backside, where there are glands. By exposing this region, they’re inviting other cats to take a whiff, which is a type of friendly social correspondence opening up friendship.

For humans, you can read this tail-held-high position as your cat saying, “I’m your friend.” Feel free to reach out and give any cat with its tail standing straight up some love.

2. El signo de interrogación rizado

One of the most asked about cat’s tail signals is the question mark. This is when the cat has their tail standing straight up but with a little (or large) hook on the end, which looks like “?” to many. Seeing this is a good sign. It means two things: your cat is in a good mood and wants to be your friend. If your cat sees you and begins to approach with their tail in a question mark position, consider it an invitation to give them a pet.

3. Enroscado alrededor del cuerpo

Si su gato tiene la cola enrollada firmemente alrededor del cuerpo mientras está acostado, podría significar que no se siente bien o tiene dolor. Observa atentamente a tu amigo por cualquier otro signos de enfermedad. If your cat doesn’t appear sick, take it as a sign of contentment.

4. Envuelto alrededor de usted o de otra mascota

Cats will loosely wrap their tail around your leg or other pets as a way of greeting their friends. Think of this gesture as the equivalent of shaking someone’s hand. If a cat does this to you, consider it behavior displaying their willingness to interact.

Biologically speaking, a cat’s tail has scent glands. Cats use this motion to share their scent with another creature.

5. Una cola suelta y meneante

Qué significa cuando un gato mueve la cola? The cat tail meaning for this motion is one of ambivalence. Your cat doesn’t know what to do about a situation and is calculating their options. This is different from tail lashing or whipping, which means a high level of emotion or anger.

6. La película rápida

A flicking tail can mean a few things. First, your cat is irritated. When you mess around with your feline friend for too long and they’re getting agitated, you might notice that their tail flicks about angrily. This is a warning before they go in for a scratch or bite.

The second meaning is fascination. Look around the environment for something that may have your cat’s attention. Sometimes, the quick flick means they’re excited by something they see, like a toy or another cat. Other times, it could mean there is an unfriendly cat wandering through the yard.

7. Cola mantenida hacia atrás

Is your cat laying on the ground with their tail held back behind them? It means they are stalking prey and decreasing the size of their profile. By hiding their tail, the prey won’t be able to see them as well.

8. Cola metida

Una cola recogida suele ser un signo de malestar, enfermedad o descontento. Asegúrate de que no haya ningún problema físico con tu gato. También pueden estar molestos con el medio ambiente o con otro gato.

9. Cola hinchada

Un lomo arqueado y una cola hinchada son una clara señal de que su gato está asustado o asustado por algo que percibe como aterrador. Los gatos pueden ponerse los pelos de punta (lo que se llama piloerección) como mecanismo de defensa que los hace más grandes y amenazadores.

Should your cat do this, it is a clear sign that they don’t want to be bothered. Avoid interacting with your cat when they are clearly startled. Sometimes, cats will play by doing this as well. They will arch their back, crabwalk sideways, and puff their tails. Be sure to look for context before engaging with a cat you think might be playing. If there are other signs of aggression, such as growling or crouching, it’s best to leave them alone.

Your Cat’s Tail Language

One of the things you need to do when decoding cat tail meanings is look for context. Any changes to the environment or intrusions could make a cat act strangely. Furthermore, if your cat has been feeling unwell or perceives a new stressor, their tails will show their frustration. Always be on the lookout for things that will impact your cat’s mood. If it doesn’t help your cat, remove it!

Colas de gato como parte de la comunicación felina: reflexiones finales

Cats use their tails to communicate in a noticeable way. While some motions may be subtle, most cat tail meanings are easy to decode when you know what to look for. By reading less into your cat’s expressions and more into the way they hold their tails, you can better your relationship with your pet so they live a happier, healthier life.

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