Pets Australia — October-November 2017

Do you have a badly behaved budgie

or a misbehaving mutt? Animal

behaviourist Dr Kate Mornement shares

some handy hints to help get common

pet behaviour blunders under control.

PETS | Behaviour and training

Photos: maximkabb/BigStock.com, mashimara/BigStock.com, Zoo Studios

72 http://www.petsmagazine.com.au

CAT TAILS

Q:

Dear PETS, I love cats and really want to

get one, but before I do, dad says I need

to learn more about them. I was wondering if

you could tell me more about what a cat’s tail

movements mean? Do they swish them about

for any particular reason or is it random?

Chloe, via email

A:

Hi Chloe, it’s great that you are doing

some research before getting a cat. Cats

communicate a lot of information through their

body language. Being able to read your cat’s body

language is important in terms of understanding

its behaviour and emotions. A cat’s tail

movements can tell us quite a bit about

how they are feeling. For example, a tail

held straight up in the air with a curl

at the end indicates a happy, alert and

inquisitive cat. If the tail is swishing back

and forth it can mean the cat is agitated

or angry. A tail held in a low position or

tucked under means the cat is feeling

frightened or anxious, and when the tail is

straight and stiff with the fur standing on end

the cat is angry or very scared.

A cat’s ears, eyes and body can also

communicate their feelings. Dilated pupils can

be a sign of aggression but also playfulness. Ears

held back or fl at against the head mean the cat is

angry or frightened, whereas ears held forward

indicate the cat is alert or happy. When cats arch

their backs with their fur on end it means they are

scared or angry, whereas a cat lying on its back

purring means it’s happy and content. I hope this

helps you understand cats a bit better.

Some cats enjoy living in the same household

together, although this isn’t always the case.

s

WRITE TO Dr KATE

Does your puppy pee in all the wrong places?

Does your kitty scratch the new couches? If you

have a question about your pet’s behaviour,

write to our resident animal behaviourist,

Dr Kate Mornement from Pets Behaving Badly

(petsbehavingbadly.com.au

question to ). Send your

Naughty or nice/PETS

Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 , Locked

question to or email your

[email protected]

with the subject heading “Naughty or nice”.^

Stay tuned, as your question may be answered

by Dr Kate and published in the magazine.

WWWWWWWWWWRITTE TO

D

NAUGHTY

OR

nice

Animal behaviourist Dr Kate

Mornement with her canine

pals Joseph the Labrador and

Archie the Boxer.

PLF071_pg072-073_Naughty or nice.indd 72PLF071_pg072-073_Naughty or nice.indd 72 8/22/2017 10:30:07 AM8/22/2017 10:30:07 AM