Can Cats Control Their Tails?

Cats have voluntary control of their tails, which aids agility and communication. In fact, you can tell a lot about your cat just by looking at his or her tail. A tucked or lowered tail is a sign that your cat is sick, afraid, and/or submissive. A tail swishing back and forth could mean that your cat is excited, feeling playful, or about to attack. Cat’s tails have 18 to 23 vertebrae with attached muscles and nerves. A cat uses his or her tail for hunting and also for maintaining balance. You can always tell what a cat’s intentions are by looking at his or her tail movement and placement.