People keep saying my cat is mad when she flicks her tail. That's not it.

My cat, Mochi, does this slow tail flick when she's watching birds out the window. Everyone who sees it says 'oh, she's annoyed.' But I read a study from the University of Lincoln that called it 'frustrated predation.' She's focused, not angry. It's a hunting thing, not a mood thing. Has anyone else's cat done this during birdwatching?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaret_torres2mo ago

My cat does the exact same thing. People always jump to the "angry cat" idea but it's really just focus. I found explaining it as pent up hunting energy makes more sense to visitors. It's like her body is ready to pounce but the window is in the way. Once I started calling it her "hunting twitch" everyone got it. It totally changed how people see her birdwatching time.

henryc642mo ago

Wait, you read a study from a university? I just watch my cat and guess. That's way more effort than I put into anything.

christopher671mo ago

My buddy's cat does this exact thing. He had a whole argument with his girlfriend because she thought the cat hated her new curtains. The cat was just watching squirrels, doing that slow tail flick. I told him about @margaret_torres calling it a "hunting twitch" and it totally clicked for him. Now he explains it to everyone like the cat's engine is revving but the parking brake is on. It stopped so many dumb fights.