A tail tucked between the legs means a cat is anxious or afraid
#0057 Animals & plants
Fact rank
B
No behavioural research (primary); only explanations by vets and animal-behaviour experts (secondary), so B
Wow rank
B
A signal that means the same as in dogs
Usefulness
B
Helps spot a frightened cat
Verification: Supported by evidence
AI verification reports the evidence it found; it does not guarantee that a claim is true.
A cat that lowers its tail and tucks it between its back legs or under its body is anxious or afraid.
Why
Tucking the tail in is thought to make the cat look smaller and less noticeable.Evidence
Secondary Cornell Feline Health Center. Signs of fear include a tail closely wrapped or tucked under the body link
Secondary International Cat Care. A tail tucked between the back legs is often a sign that a cat is anxious link
Notes and limits
Some vets note that a tucked tail can also mean pain. The "why" is not in the sources and is given as a hypothesis. Japanese Wikipedia's "Cat" (ネコ) article also says a tail tucked between the hind legs means fear.
Derivations
Derived from: 猫が大きくしっぽを振るのは喜びではなくいらだちのことが多い
Derived facts: —