I adore my Siberian cat Alexei’s tail. It is so big and fluffy and I love how it flicks and sways depending on his mood.
So sure, I enjoy his tail but does he need a tail? And why does he have one in the first place? I don’t – I have always thought it must be quite fun to have a tail. Anyway, I digress.
Sometimes a cat’s tail will move in an involuntary action – much like how we often blink without thinking about it. You may notice this in particular when your cat is asleep and its tail starts twitching.
Once your cat reaches two it is unlikely that its tail will continue to grow. A typical full-length cat tail will be between 9 and 11 inches long.
When a wild cat is walking it will either tuck its tail between its legs or hold it horizontal. Domestic cats are the only kitties that have a vertical tail whilst walking.
If a cat loses its tail it will soon learn to compensate. Manx cats are a breed of cat that are born without tails and don’t seem to have any agility issues relative to other breeds.
The general answer to this is no. A cat’s tail is quite sensitive due to the number of nerves and muscles within it. It is quite easy to cause your cat some pain without meaning to – particularly if you step on their tail.
An injury to your cat’s tail can result in permanent damage. The tail is home to many nerves which affect how your cat controls urinating and defecating. Nerve damage can also be caused by pulling on a cat’s tail.