Why Does My Cat Wag Her Tail And Purr At The Same Time When I Pet Her?

Cats make very special companions. They’re cute, furry, smart, protective, and of course good at confronting or driving out rodents, snakes, and other invaders that may want to enter your home. Asides from all these, cats are some of the easiest pets to keep at home. They naturally have good instincts, so don’t need much training.

However, cats also are quite mysterious and mischievous. Sometimes they enter into mood swings and do naughty things like tearing at things at home or tumbling things over at your home. Cats always give subtle signs to communicate their feelings or mood: they can purr, meow, and wag their tails, all to pass a message.

In truth, it’s not always easy to tell exactly what a cat is thinking or feeling. For instance, when a cat purrs it’s usually a sign of happiness or pleasure, but wagging its tail is usually seen as a sign of hostility. But what do you do when your cat shows a mixture of these signs, for instance when it purrs and wags its tail at the same time.

Why Does My Cat Wag Her Tail And Purr At The Same Time When I Pet Her?

When a cat purrs and wags its tail at the same time, it’s a sign that they are feeling very secure. So when your cat purrs and wags its tail simultaneously while you’re petting it, it simply means that it has a strong affection for you, and feels very secure around you. In other words, your cat is enjoying being petted by you at that moment and this is a sign for you to go on petting her.

Cats are very strong-willed. If your cat doesn’t want you to pet her, or if she isn’t enjoying the petting so much, she’ll definitely let you know (by clawing or biting at you). As a fact, how fast your cat wags its tail while purring can let you know how much it is enjoying the petting. If it is slow and smooth, then you’re petting her just right. But if her wagging is quite forceful, then your petting isn’t hitting the spot quite right.

Why Do Cats Wag Their Tails?

Cats seldom wag their tails. The common belief most people have is that cats wag their tails when they’re agitated or want to attack. This isn’t entirely through. There are a number of reasons why cats wag their tails. Here are some of them.

5 Reasons Why Cats Wag Their Tails

• Cats wag their tails when they’re feeling secure: If you’ve ever seen a cat wagging its tail while sleeping and wondered why, it is simply because the cat is feeling very secure at that moment. A cat will acknowledge you by wagging its tail. When a cat feels total security and affection around you, it’ll wag and purr when you cuddle it.

• Cats wag their tails when hunting: A wagging tail can be a sure sign that your cat is on the prowl; in order words, it is on the hunt. Cats always go down low and stay quiet, before they launch an attack on prey (just like lions do). At that moment, their tails wag. Whether it’s a mock hunt with a toy, or about to pounce on a real prey, cats always make this move before leaping into action. It shows how much concentration they’re putting into that moment.
• Cats Wag their tails when they’re angry: This is a common sign a cat uses to tell you it is annoyed. This sort of wagging is usually done energetically. At such a time, your cat is best left alone, except if you want to get clawed or bitten. Some things that get cats annoyed are when humans become pushy, invade their space, or try to pet them forcefully.
• Cats wag when they’re excited: A good sign your cat can use to welcome you home is to meow and wag its tail. This kind of wagging is more like a top-to-bottom motion.

• Cats wag when they are scared: If your cat is feeling scared, it’ll wag its tail in a very unique way. This type of wagging is done in a low position; sometimes their tail may even be tucked between their legs while wagging. This means extreme fright.

Now you know the various reasons why cats wag their tails. But perhaps a more common thing cats do is purring. Purring is the low vibrating sound cats make, as though they have a machine in their throats. Cats mostly purr while you’re petting them. So what does their purring mean, and why do they do it?

Why Do Cats Purr?

The common belief is that cats purr when they’re happy. This is only partly true. There are several reasons why cats purr. Here are 5 of them.

5 Reasons Why Cats Purr

1. They Are Happy and Relaxed

Cats usually purr when they are happy, relaxed, and satisfied. If your cat purrs while your stroking or petting it, then it’s happy you’re doing so. Sometimes they may jump on your lap and start making purring sounds: it’s a sign that your cat loves you and wants you to pet it.

2. They Want Something

If your cat suddenly comes around you whilst purring, then it’s a sign it wants something from you (maybe food, a treat, or a cuddle). They knowingly make this sound to steal your attention and to appear more cute and irresistible. Most cat parents fall for this because purring cats are just too sweet to ignore.

3. They Feel Safe

Purring is a more likely way for cats to express their feeling of safety and contentment. A cat that doesn’t trust you will never come to you purring. Sometimes you’ll notice your cat snuggle into your bed whilst purring. Don’t drive it away, it feels most safe by your side.

4. They Feel Stressed

Cats may purr when they are stressed out. Also, certain things can make a cat feel uncomfortable. For instance, moving to a new environment, strange people and pets in the home, painful diseases or injuries can all make a cat get stressed out. Purring is its way of trying to calm down. If you notice your ca purring but yet it’s being very unfriendly, shallow and isolated, this is most likely the case.

5. They’re Giving Birth

A pregnant cat will begin to purr when it is about to give birth, although this doesn’t apply to every cat. During this time they may start pacing around looking for a good spot to give birth. At this point, felines are very sensitive, so the purring just comes on its own.

Some Cat Body Language and Their Meanings

BODY LANGUAGE	MEANING
Cat purrs gently	Happiness; relaxation; cat is communicating with other cats; cat needs something; cat is tired, weak, or in pain
Cat purrs aggressively	Stress; birth contractions; anxiety, fear, anger
Cat wags in a slow or controlled fashion	Safety and contentment, happiness or excitement, prowling or stalking prey.
Cat wags aggressively	Fear, Anger
Cat wags and purrs simultaneously	Extreme pleasure and relaxation, high affection
Cat stands on toes with tail straight up, arched-up back, ears and hairs standing	Extreme fright, potential threat spotted