Why is my cat's tail puffed up?

Question

We have 2 female cats one is about 12 months old, the other is about 8-10 months. The past day or so I've barely seen the younger one and she is acting strange, she keeps hiding under the bed and dresser (thankfully not the couch), and when she has come out she is somewhat lovey, but keeps her tail verticle and very poofed out (it looks vastly thicker). Is she mad, is does this indicate an injury or is she just in a pissy mood? Also she was acting very scared earlier too, so we don't know if we accidentally kicked her off the bed the other night (it has happened if you pounce on feet while people are sleeping).

Update:

She's also whining a little, and would she be scared of us or the other cat, we've had her since May. Is this a mood?

Claire · Answer

If there has been no other big changes in the house and the other cat isn't chasing her and being aggressive with her, I would say that she is almost certainly injured, and its probably very uncomfortable if she is acting like this. When my girl cat was about the same age, we were doing some renovations on the house and my boyfriend of the time dropped a plank of wood on her by accident when she ran under his feet. She hid under the bed for two days and barely came out, then when she did come out she was limping (a nice obvious sign that something is wrong, but unfortunately it doesn't always happen like this). She got x-rayed and it showed a hairline fracture in her hip bone, and she suffered with a limp in cold weather for a couple of years after that.

Cats often show signs of fear and anger when they are hurt, as their instinct is to fight or run away. Its very confusing for them when its an injury and there is nobody there to hit out at, to make the pain stop.

If you have kicked her off the bed by accident in the night, she might have got hurt. Or she may have got in a fight and have an abscess somewhere. Or something else. But I really think you should take her to the vet and get her checked over. I know people always say take them to the vet on here, about everything, but I really don't. However, everything you've described (the whining is really quite worrying, as cats don't often make a whining noise) can be indications of some serious pain. Please. Please, please, take her. Best wishes

Anonymous · Answer

it is actually funny when this happens to my cats when we first got them (i have 5) the cat is trying to look bigger and more intimidating towards the other cat.

its just scared

Ike · Answer

when i had cats the only time she did it was when she saw my dog so shes obviously scared of something

? · Answer

my male kitten dose this when my dog comes to him. it just means he is scared, or it shows he/she is trying to look big and strong to protect themselves. when they hiss obviously he is trying to protect, but whining that means he is scared or nervous. just pick her up and show her its ok.

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Why is my cat's tail puffed up?

4 Answers