A new study reveals that cats with curled-back tails may face communication challenges due to their unique trait.
Cats are known for their body language, which they use to communicate. A straightened tail, often with a slight curve at the tip, is a common feline sign of friendliness and contentment.
A tail curled backbelieved to be the result of a genetic mutation, is a trait that some breeders are now promoting under the proposed breed name “American ringtail.” Unlike cats with normal tails, these felines cannot keep their tail in the traditional vertical position, something essential in feline social interactions.
According to , researchers believe this unusual feature could function as a kind of “accent”requiring other cats to adapt and interpret their signals differently.
Morgane Van Belle, a feline ethologist at Ghent University, first encountered curly-tailed cats while studying cat interactions in domestic environments. The owners of two curly-tailed cats shared videos showing their pets interacting with straight-tailed cats in their homes.
The study, recently in the Veterinary Journal, concluded that straight-tailed cats that lived with curled-tailed companions seemed to adapt well. This suggests that these cats used alternative signs – such as the position of the ears, body posture and smell – to communicate.
Sandra Nicholson of University College Dublin notes that although the curled tail may reduce some signaling ability, cats rely on a combination of cues, including facial expressions and body posture.
Interestingly, the study draws parallels with certain dog breeds that have curly tails, such as Pomeranians and Shiba Inus. Daniel Mills, veterinary behaviourist at the University of Lincoln, points out that similar challenges can exist in dogs, especially if they only interact with their own breed.
