Cat walking with tail down – what to do next

The movement and positioning of the tail can tell you a lot of about your cat’s state of mind. Here’s what you should do next if you notice your cat’s tail is down more often than it normal.

Rule out health issues

The cat might be walking with its tail down all the time because certain health issues are making it uncomfortable for the cat to raise its tail. Lower back pain, for example, can result in the cat’s tail being down all the time. Senior cats, in particular, are susceptible to joint conditions like arthritis, which can result in changes to how the cat positions its tail while walking. You may want to have the cat checked with the vet, especially if the cat cries when you try to touch the base of its tail or if it doesn’t eat, drink, or pass stool as normal.

Cat is feeling relaxed

You might have heard that cats could be in a state of anxiety when their tails are down. While that might true in some cases, you need to consider the cat’s behavior as a whole to determine if the cat is really feeling stressed or not. Some cats may simply feel relaxed and there could be no meaning to them walking with their tail down. Look for other signs such as the cat’s ears. A cat’s ears are considered to be in a neutral position if they are raised and forward-facing. A combination of flat ears and low tail, on the other hand, might indicate something is wrong.

Stress and anxiety

Something could be making your cat feel anxious while walking around. If the cat being down reflects a sudden change in behavior then think back to the past few days and see if you can identify any changes in the cat’s environment that could be making your feline pal feel nervous. While it doesn’t help for every case, turning on a pheromone diffuser like Feliway may help feel your cat feel a bit more relaxed. You may see a change in the cat’s walking stance once they become less anxious.