How can you tell if a cat is happy?

Question

I was curious about this after something I saw with my new kitten. I already had a dog, and the two seem to get along very well. They seem to like to chase each other around the house and yard. I know my dog likes it because her tail is always wagging when they play this game.

But I noticed today that right before they start chasing each other they "size each other up" by staring at each other. My dog's tail was wagging, but I noticed the cat's tail was also wagging. I was wondering if this is a sign that the cat likes the game or if tail-wagging means something different for cats.

I have never seen the cat's tail wag at any other time (even when I'm feeding her or petting her and so on). I just want to be sure she is just playing and not scared of my dog (which is nearly twice the kitten's size). Thanks to everyone on help with this, she is my first cat.

From what I've seen of the answers, even the type of wagging seems important. It flicks from one side to the other, and usually the cat is scrunched up into a tight ball. Then the dog does a fake lunge (looks like she is attacking but isn't really) and then runs the other direction.

When my dog does the lunge in the cat's direction, my cat springs way high into the air (looks like a good 1 1/2 feet off the ground) with all paws extended and tries to catch my dog before she gets away. If the cat misses the dog she chases the dog until she catches her and the two wrestle for a little bit (no hard biting by either of them).

Then they break it up and the dog chases the cat until she catches the cat and the wrestle again. Then they break and stare at each other again until it starts over from the beginning. I have seen them do it for over an hour at times.

Answer 1

When a cat's tail wags, they are stalking, which is instinctive, emotionally effected, or frustrated. When a cat is happy, they are sometimes still, their eyes are bright and shiny, they are purring, making butter (extending-retracting their paws and receding them), they are active and playful, making low mewing sounds or even being "talkative".

Answer 2

well that depends...is the cat actually wagging her tail or is the cat doing more of a flick here and a flick there?
I just found this article on domesticated cat body language from animal planet's main website, and a paragraph from the article will explain the difference for you; it says:
"A cat's tail is its signal flag. Held high, the tail is a banner communicating confidence. Curling around another feline's tail or a person's legs, it offers friendly greeting. In motion, it usually indicates excitement. The cat is either in predator mode, having sighted a bird or a mouse, or is feeling playful, hiding behind a chair ready to pounce on a passing person or cat. And while the rhythmic wagging of a dog's tail signals happiness, the agitated whipping of your cat's tail means that he is perturbed or upset. Don't startle a cat in this state. Your reward may be a claw swipe or a bite."
here's a link to that article if you'd like to learn more about domesticated cat body language:
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/safety/body.html
I know my kitten tends to flick his tail about when he's about to pounce on a toy, whereas the only time I've actually seen him wag his tail was the first time he met the dog and about two seconds later he started to hiss...
hope this helps!

ps, just read your edit and it sounds like they are playing
your cat is exhibiting "playful hunting" behaviors and your dog is playing tag the same way it would with a littermate: they must really like each other, it's lucky that they each have some one to play with!

Answer 3

Cats knead with their paws when they're happy.

Cats wag their tails when it is in a stage of conflict. The cat wants to do two things at once, but each impulse blocks the other. For example: If your cat is in the doorway wanting to go outside, and you open the door to find it raining, the cat's tail will wag because of internal conflict. The cat wants to go outside, but doesn't want to go into the rain. Once the cat makes a decision and either returns to the house or leaves into the rain, the tail will immediately stop wagging.

Answer 4

Cats normally wag their tails when angry, frustrated, threatened, though some cats are just plain different and so there fore react differently than most. Normally when a cat is happy they'll crouch down, prance around, wagging their tail elegantly. So there's a difference if your kitten is wagging it's tail agressively, then it must be pretty pissed, but if it's just swaying, cats tails do that, but any vigorous beating onto the ground and such normally indicates that the cat is angry. But I'm sure everything is fine, if they don't get in actual physical fights i'm sure they're ok, because when a cat feels threatened they don't hesitate to attack the threat, so keep that in mind. I hope I could help you!

Answer 5

When a cats tail is wagging it usually means its angry. Take my advice. When a dog wags it's tail you know its happy.
But when a cat wags its tail its angry. Its genetic. Now most people will say that a cat purrs when its happy, but this is not exacly true. Cats can purr when they are angry as well. Anyway the answer to your question is no she is not scared of your dog. If she is purring while she is glaring at your dog, then this means that she enjoys playing but is very competitive.

Answer 6

Cats wag their tails before they chase something. Usually during play. I think it has something to do with aiming in the right direction. This is only what I read somewhere.

This is what my cat does, only when he chases a toy. . . or my feet (his favorite toy). I remember my Mom said that when our old cat had an accident and had his tail cut off, he couldn't run straight, anymore. He ran away after that so I didn't see the evidence, though.

Answer 7

tail wagging is a sign of agression in cats FYI. not a bad thing, it's usually just from play fighting

Happy cats purr, "make biscuts"( this is when they move their paws up and down on a cushy surface, like your tummy or a pillow) and flip on their backs with their heads upside down and expose their bellies. (If the cats head is not flipped over, or to the side and they are just on their back, this is a defense stance, if you try to pet them, they may play-bite or "bunny-hop" your arm with their hind legs, then take off running)

Making biscuits is kitties way of saying "i love you" or "I'm content" Kittens do this to their mothers teats when breast feeding. In essence, if they do it to you or near you, it's them seeing you as their mother-figure

unhappy cats have the universal sign of ears pinned back. If the cats ears are not extended directly forward, and are instead posed backwards or even folded down... Kitty is pissed about something, sometimes they do this when playing though. Obviously hissing and growling are unhappy signs too, but some dramatic kitties (like mine) will hiss just for the heck of it and then purr and make biscuits 2 min later.

Answer 8

a cats tail wagging means its mad. its the opposite of a dog. the cat is not in pain...but its pissed. but kittens tails wag a lot...becuase they get frusterated

Answer 9

I also agree that if your cat purrs, its happy. As far as the wagging tail, your cat may be annoyed/irritated. Maybe your cat feels threatened...

Answer 10

if his wagging his tail, it means that he is happy.. i noticed that also in my own kitten and cat