Why Do Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets Have Tails?

Geckos, for example, are capable of shedding their tails when they feel threatened. Believe it or not, the disconnected tail will continue to wiggle in order to distract predators while the gecko makes a quick getaway.

Opossums have prehensile tails, which they can wrap around branches to help them scale trees. And some birds, such as peacocks, use their tails to attract the boys.

Why Do Dogs and Cats Have Tails?

For the most part, canines and felines use their tails to communicate — from the wide, sweeping wag of a happy dog to the quick tail swish of an annoyed cat.

In canines, a tail may also serve as a type of rudder to help stabilize dogs in the water. In some cases, it can also entertain a bored dog who will chase it in relentless circles.

Although both dogs and cats have supracaudal glands on the surface of their tails, the reason for this is unknown. In dogs, the scent of these glands may help identify them to other canines. In cats, excretions from these glands may be used to mark territory.

To find out more about the tails of dogs and cats, and whether they need them, read the full story at Vetstreet!