A cat puffs up its tail when it is scared
#0056 Animals & plants
Fact rank
B
No behavioural research (primary); only explanations by vets and animal-behaviour experts (secondary), so B
Wow rank
B
A familiar sight, with the reason explained
Usefulness
B
A cue to leave a frightened cat alone
Verification: Supported by evidence
AI verification reports the evidence it found; it does not guarantee that a claim is true.
A cat puffs up its tail when it is startled or scared.
Why
Raising the fur makes the cat look bigger and helps keep the threat away.Evidence
Secondary Cats Protection (2024). If the whole tail puffs up, the cat feels scared or threatened; puffing up helps it appear bigger link
Notes and limits
With an arched back it is also a "keep away" threat. Puffing only at the base of the tail can mean the cat is overstimulated by stroking. Japanese Wikipedia's "Cat" (ネコ) article also says a puffed tail means threat or surprise.
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: —