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Original poster

Why do cats attack their own tails?

24 replies

SoupDragon · 13/07/2017 17:23

I am watching FatCat twitching and pouncing on his own tail. He then looks faintly bemused when he catches it. Surely he realises what it is - it's attached to his butt! At 10 he is surely old enough to know better :o

OP posts:
EyeHalveASpellingChequer · 13/07/2017 17:23

Why not?

ineedamoreadultieradult · 13/07/2017 17:24

Something to do isn't it. Like chasing imaginary objects.

yawning801 · 13/07/2017 17:28

According to my DCat, the Tail Monster is a powerful enemy which never goes away but can be useful for some things, like balancing. However, at other times having it attached to your butt is a total inconvenience and it is at this point that they ATTACK! Grin

Original poster
SoupDragon · 13/07/2017 17:30

I think what I find most perplexing is that FatCat is incredibly lazy. He rarely plays with anything unless it involves food. Except his tail.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 13/07/2017 17:31

The Tail Monster makes sense though.

OP posts:
OlennasWimple · 13/07/2017 17:31

WimpleCat has to hold his tail down with his paws in order to wash it, otherwise it flicks away from him.... I don't think he really has any concept that it is part of him

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/07/2017 18:35

Harry does that Olenna! I think he gets offended when I laugh at him!

HipsterHunter · 14/07/2017 08:46

WimpleCat has to hold his tail down with his paws in order to wash it, otherwise it flicks away from him.... I don't think he really has any concept that it is part of him

Oh that is too cute!

Bogburglar75 · 14/07/2017 08:51

BogCat doesn't bother with his tail except when it drapes in the bath and gets wet. Then it becomes this long heavy alien object which clearly says snake to the poor beast. He crouches over it, holding it at bay and hissing and growling fearsomely if anyone comes near.

In order to resolve the situation before he does himself an injury we have to pick him up, hold him upside down and hair dry the snake until it turns back into something he recognises as his own tail.

He is in general quite a bright cat Grin

Original poster
SoupDragon · 14/07/2017 08:58

LOL :o

I would need gaultlets and a full bullet proof suit to dry FatCat.

OP posts:
HipsterHunter · 14/07/2017 09:07

@Bogburglar75 oh no thats even more cute!

HipsterHunter · 14/07/2017 09:07

How does he let his tail get wet? Mine freaks the fuck out if there is so much of a drop of water on him. He won't come in the bathroom any more!

GreenVelvetandCajmere · 14/07/2017 09:10

They do it to amuse us. Like doing puppets for a child.

Bogburglar75 · 14/07/2017 09:26

He's a Siberian and they quite like water so he patrols the side of the bath while you're in it, sits in bath waiting for you to run taps, etc. All good until you get to the tail scenario!

SoupDragon yes, any other cat I've owned, using a hairdryer would be an exceptionally high risk enterprise! BogCat is a ridiculously gentle giant - his fearsome i am a stone of wildcat from the Russian steppes growl comes out only for wet tails and those treat stick things from Pets@Home!

DudeHatesHisCarryOut · 14/07/2017 09:36

My last cat would keep a paw on her tail most of the time she was sat down. No idea what mischief she thought it would get up to otherwise!

I remember one time when present cat was a kitten, curled up on my lap. She suddenly seemed to notice her tail, which twitched. This fired her interest, so it twitched some more. This made her angry, and the strange thing started moving back and forth in a very daring manner, so she had to pounce on it. Was highly amusing watching this vicious circle escalate!

TheLongRider · 14/07/2017 10:02

My current cats aren't tail chasers but we had a wonderful ginger and white boy who was tail obsessed! He would wash it very carefully, scooping up the tip with a paw to clean it properly. He would also sleep with a paw on it just in case it twitched. If it did start twitching he would pounce immediately and kick seven bells out of his tail!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 14/07/2017 10:09

I trod on Harry's tail this morning Sad

I was standing by the fridge deciding what to have for breakfast and I felt something move from under my foot. I looked down and there was a very indignant cat glaring at me. I have no idea how long I'd been standing on it...

YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/07/2017 10:57

I've often wondered how much control cats have over their tails ...

Gotanewusernamenow · 14/07/2017 11:03

Yes cats can be very comical in some of their ways.
Ours holds his tail down with his paw when cleaning too.

BattleaxeGalactica · 14/07/2017 11:04

Previous cats haven't been tail chasers but the current fur princess gets totally enraged with hers then glares at us when we laugh. She's also hunted her own twitching back paw which was even better entertainment Grin

HipsterHunter · 14/07/2017 11:21

@Bogburglar75 I've just googled siberians.... wow what beautiful cats!

Bogburglar75 · 14/07/2017 17:40

Thank you! Smile He is super gorgeous and causes me to frequently recommend the breed on threads about allergies. I'm a lifetime rescue mog person and BogCat only came into our lives because DH is allergic and it was that or no cat. But am seriously hooked these days - tail thing notwithstanding!

RubbishMantra · 15/07/2017 00:57

MCat pins his tail down so he can suck the end accompanied by loud rumbling purr. He looks very content whilst doing it, so must be one of his favourite things.

Little M, my youngest cat looks like somebody gave him the wrong tail - he's a Devon Rex, so short wavy fur, then this huge puffy tail, that looks like a cloud billowing from his bottom.

Oldraver · 18/07/2017 21:07

Ernie chases his tail and once bit it so hard he yelped. He then had the most bemused look on his face

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