Tail Communication?

My Leo's tail is pretty much always moving. Not always swishing quickly back and forth, but he twitches the tip and lazily flicking it around, even when we're cuddling and he's snuggling, playing and even when he is sleeping... even when he is by all stretches of the imagination being very calm and secure. He can't possibly be angry/irritated/bored/indecisive all the time? I play with him for something like 45 minutes a day, leave toys out for him, pet him, snuggle him, talk to him in addition to letting him have plenty of alone time...and I'm home a lot of the day if he needs me...
Nothing physically is wrong with him according to the vet, other than that we're clearing up a little ear infection...
This has kind of always been the case with him.
Should I be worried?

Also, to follow up on his food issues, I picked up some samples of Felidae, Innova Evo, California Natural and another one at the pet shop near me. So far, he has turned his nose up at the Felidae, but he's also eating a little bit of real cooked chicken, so at least there's that...

I can't offer you sound advice but only give you my experiences.

Baker NEVER swishes his tail unless he is thoroughly ticked off.

Cola CONSTANTLY moves her tail about, no matter the situation.

Tango only does when she is in "predator" mode. Such as attacking toys, chasing bugs, or looking at the invisible cats on the wall (hehe, thats what we call it when she stares at nothing)

I think every cat is different, but you need to learn his movements and understand what they mean~

Tail swishing from side to side can also mean utter contentment.
Quick flicks of the end of the tail is a greeting to both humans and other cats.

My Lovey has a constant moving tail as well and I can see his anger/irritated tail (the quick violent swish) and the content tail (the lazy swish back and forth).

Rocky is the King around here and carries his tail bent over towards his head at all times when walkin' around.

Each cat is different but this is a good starting point:

http://198.60.22.4/~emailbox/tailtalk.htm

Maybe Leo's got a dog somewhere in his ancestors?

(I think I can joke about that .... I've got a half cat / half dog, too)

Rocky is really funny,,when he gets rambunxious(sp?) he flops his tail hard on the floor a few times right before he decides to pounce on one of other cats..Fluffy swishes hers back and forth all the time high up in the air, but Ash, his is always up in the air, and hardly ever moves it unless he is grooming it...lol

Does anyone have a cat with a vibrating tail...I would love to know what it means. Maddie greets me all the time with a rear up and vibrating tail. She doesn't greet me face first but rear first. I'm guessing this is a leftover mating response...even though I don't plan on mating with her anytime soon! LOL

some of my cats vibrate their tails when they are very excited and happy, usually this happens when i first walk in the door and they say HI MOM, or hungry. sometimes even when they are very playful. about four out of my six babies do this, but overall, i can tell the moods of my cat by their tail movement, even though they may differ between them.

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

Tail swishing from side to side can also mean utter contentment.
Quick flicks of the end of the tail is a greeting to both humans and other cats.

Click to expand...

That's the only sign Willow even likes me. If I have food, she'll be really obvious about loving me (head butts, purring) but the rest of the time she acts like she could care less if I live or die. But she does do that tail flick a bit, when she sees me or I see her. I just thought it was maybe one of the hairs on her back "spazzing" (you know when sometimes you touch the back of a cat and the back twitches or something?). She also does it a lot when playing with Buffy, but a lot more fierce (the whole tail flicks, instead of just a minor, subtle flick)

Mine both lazily wag the last couple of inches of tail while they are having a treat (of custard, or milk, or whatever) so it can't be an unhappy signal. I think the slow relaxed end-of-tail movement is to show contentment.

They both do the vibrating tail - tail straight up, & wiggled from the base. This, in my opinion is begging for something, whether it be food or attention, they want something!

Sue

I have a link that I find is interesting. Seems to answer a lot of the little questions we have..

Why do cats do that?

It has three questions on this page:
Why do cats' tails quiver?

Why do cats swish their tails?

What does it mean when a cat lashes his tail from side to side?

You may find the answers interesting..

Originally Posted by Aussie_Dog

That's the only sign Willow even likes me. If I have food, she'll be really obvious about loving me (head butts, purring) but the rest of the time she acts like she could care less if I live or die. But she does do that tail flick a bit, when she sees me or I see her. I just thought it was maybe one of the hairs on her back "spazzing" (you know when sometimes you touch the back of a cat and the back twitches or something?). She also does it a lot when playing with Buffy, but a lot more fierce (the whole tail flicks, instead of just a minor, subtle flick)

Click to expand...

Love your siggie. Are you going to be at the Queen's Plate? Is it at Woodbine?

I've only been once but had a blast!

Originally Posted by DaiDreamer

I have a link that I find is interesting. Seems to answer a lot of the little questions we have..

Why do cats do that?

Click to expand...

There's a whole book full of those "Why do cats...." It's called "Cat Watching" and the author is Desmond Morris. (He's listed as the reference source for the above linked website.)

AWESOME isn't it I don't have the book but I love that site..