The ancient Greek word for cat was “ailuro,” which means “tail waver.” Unfortunately, says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall, the message of the feline tail, as well as other feline signals have been lost on many modern observers.

In a 2005-2006 series published in DVM Newsmagazine, Dr. Overall gave readers a crash course in interpreting feline body language to better predict and understand feline behavior and interactions.

The series includes detailed (although unfortunately small) photos of cats alone and in groups, as well as of wild cats, which illustrate the points of feline body language essential to any reliable assessment of feline cat behavior.

In the conclusion to the first article in the series, Dr. Overall wrote:

Clients who watch their animals and allow their animals to teach them their feline or canine signaling language have better relationships with their dogs and cats, and are less likely to relinquish them. This is absolute justification for all veterinarians to make understanding behavior one of their priorities.

Published in three parts, the series includes:

Cat signaling: Learn the behavior dance to help patients
Tools for observers to help them understand the basics of feline body language.

Feline communication: Listen to the tail’s tale
What tail position, and its relationship to other body language, tells us.

Watching the cues will help unlock clues to feline communication
Overall body posturing and the information it provides.