Why do animals (dogs, cats, etc) have tails..what is there use?

Question

What is the purpose of these tails

Answer 1

Animals have tails for assisting in balance and steering, propulsion,
grasping, grooming (swatting flies is one example) and for display. .

Answer 2

"Tails perform various different functions in animals, they are used by fish and other marine life for locomotion, while some land animals use them for balance (e.g. cats) or even for grasping (e.g. monkeys).

Tails can also be useful as for social signals, as used by deer to warn of possible danger, or by domestic dogs to indicate emotions. Different evolutionary pressures have led to armoured tails, some containing venom, as in the case of scorpions.

In some species of lizard, the tail is able to be permanently detached ("cast") from the body if necessary, with the intent of escaping a grip or distracting a predator long enough to allow the lizard to escape. Usually their tails will grow back over time, though generally darker in colour than the original.

In most birds, tails consist of feathers of extended length, the function of which is to act as a rudder to balance and steer the bird in flight, also to provide balance when perched."

Answer 3

A lot of animals have tails to help keep their balance. Cats use them for this especially when running at high speeds.

Answer 4

That depends on the animal... in the case of a Porcupine, the tail is used for defence.
In dogs it is used as a rudder on land and in water to help steer and keep balance, it is also used for communication where the position of the tail indicates a specific message, it also has minor secondary uses, when curled up dogs use their tail as a blanket to keep their feet and muzzle warm.
Cats use their tails to perform incredible feats of balance and also for communication.
Horses use their tails as fly swatters to keep bugs away from themselves and eachother.. you will often see 2 horses standing nose to tail taking advantage of the fly repelling swish of the others tail.
Opossums use their prehensile tails as a 5th limb and a safety line in case they lose their grip while climbing in trees.
Kangaroos use their tails as a third leg and even support their body weight on their tail while using their hindlegs to kick, the tail also provides needed balance for their incredible jumping and hopping.
Beavers use their tail to swim, to communicate (by slapping it on the water) and also for balance when they walk upright and carry mud in their forelegs.
Squirrels use thier tails for balance while climbing trees, communication and surprisingly defence from predators... the squirrels tail is designed to detach when grasped by a predator so that the squirrel itself has time to escape.
Iguanas also have detachable tails and they use thier tails as a whip to defend themselves from potential predators.
The purposes of various tails are diverse... communication, defense, propulsion, balance, protection from pests and weather, an extra limb, and most amazingly a source of food for its host during times of starvation as in the case of certain rodents like mice.

Truly tails have thousands of uses and evolutionary pressures have brought about some amazing tail designs in the animal kingdom. There are so many uses for tails, it is a very successful design that has no set "purpose" but rather is a design which can perform a multitude of tasks depending on which evolutionary path its owner has traversed.

Answer 5

I heard once that cats have tails to help keep their balance in high places or something. Don't know if that's true or not but that's what I heard.

Answer 6

the tail is part of the spine therefore helps with balance.

Answer 7

Mostly for balance,except in some primates,can be used for grasping.

Answer 8

We have a Darwin out here, wondering abt nature...Tail ...huh... may be to give signal.

Answer 9

Balancing and communication.

Answer 10

It helps communication