Does a cat always wag it's tail when it's angry?

I ask as my 5 month old kitten hardly ever wags her tall which I take to mean she's happy. However this morning we were having snuggles time and she moved into Her back to let me rub her tummy she was purring loudly (which I thought meant she was happy) but started waging Her tail, very slowly so it hit my arm and herself. Does that mean she was angry ? Strange as she was purring with her eyes shut !

Not necessarily, and if she was purring too, I would hazard she wasn't angry. They wag their tails if  they're angry, anxious or excited. 

Tail twitching has lots of meanings in cats, but they all have one thing in common - that the cat is stimulated by something. Kittens playing will twitch their tails before they pounce. It's all a part of the stalking/hunting ritual. After all, all play in predators is based around learning the essential hunting skills they need to survive A cat sitting on a windowsill birdwatching will twitch their tail too.

Cats also twitch their tail when they're uneasy about something or when they're fighting/about to fight.

Lastly, all cats can get over stimulated by us petting or grooming them. With every stroke or pet we're putting our energy into the cat, and this energy can build a little like a bomb. How soon this sets in varies enormously from cat to cat. Some cats can be petted for ages, whereas others (like my girl) get twitchy pretty quickly.

The general rule is if you see the tail start to twitch, stop petting. If you don't, the overstimulation can build until the cat lashes out at you. It's not that they don't love you, simply that they get antsy and need to release that pent up energy. The faster and harder the tail twitches, the closer they are to 'exploding'...even though they're purring ecstatically the whole time. This is especially common in kittens, who are little balls of playful energy. It's always a good idea to have a safe toy to hand, so they can release that pent up energy on that rather than your hand

Have you ever watched kittens grooming each other? A mutual grooming session (the equivalent of us petting them) invariably turns into a friendly wrestling match. Having that toy to hand means that you don't become a kitten substitute! [article="29673"][/article][article="22480"][/article][article="29674"][/article][article="22328"][/article][article="33557"][/article][article="32441"][/article]

@Columbine  has given a very comprehensive answer and I'd go with the advice given above.  But I'd just like to add that cats' tails sometimes vibrate when they are super happy.  And sometimes I consider a tail to be a separate entity, like it has a mind of its own, like a tentacle.  Sometimes my cat's tail says "hi" to me by caressing me when the rest of my cat appears to be otherwise engaged.  He's never attacked me, it doesn't matter what his tentacle is up to.

Thank you ! She did seem shocked that her tail was wagging and she held it down once! She is a very fiesty kitten always has been ! We've had to learn when to keep away from her! But she can be so loving too ! Never had a cat before let alone a kitten

Feisty kittens are a lot of fun. She sounds absolutely adorable :heart3: A great tip, especially with kittens, is to give them plenty of interactive playtime each day. This gives them a positive outlet for their energy (which can help keep them out of trouble) and is a wonderful way to bond with them too [article="29675"][/article][article="32656"][/article][article="30336"][/article][article="22399"][/article]

Yes our living room is like a play room ! The only toy which hasn't worked is a remote control mice which she was terrified of ! We bought her a laser pen which she lives but I've heard they may not be good as the cat never catches it so I always give a toy to fight with after !

She is ADORABLE oh::love::heart3::heart2::heart3:

The trick with the laser is to end the game by making it land on a toy. That way, in the final pounce she catches her 'prey'. Ending playtime with a meaty treat or snack completes the ritual, as she can then eat the 'prey'

Thank you ! I never really likes cats hence never had one but fell in love with the fiesty 6 week old ball of fur - Altthough she bit my partner when we first met her ! She's always by our side and for the few bites are tons of licks and cuddles

If she does bite, squeak or squeal loudly at her. That's how one kitten would tell another that they were hurting. She should understand instantly and release the pressure.

NEVER pull away - that's what prey would do, and she'll be likely to bite down harder. If you move at all, push towards her, into her mouth. That's the opposite of what her prey would do, and she'll very likely release you.

Licking is a good sign!  It shows that you are special to her and that she loves you  

I do treat Her like a baby sometimes ! I've read if they curl up in a tight ball they are cold so she has her own blanket

What a blissed out, spoiled little girl :9: She's lucky to have such a doting, devoted mom :heart4: