A cat's tail can telegraph mood.

Consider your cat's tail as her mood barometer. When your cat explores, read a high tail as bravery and a low tail as uncertainty or fear. When your kitty arches her back with a skunklike tail, she is saying, "Please pet me, now. I'm in the mood for love." As her tail lowers with waving or twitching, back off. She's getting annoyed and is putting up the "no trespassing" sign. Leave her be!

Animal behavior experts Susan and Roland Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.