Latest news with #GuinnessWorldRecord-holder
USA Today
12-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
What your cat's body language reveals about its mood
What your cat's body language reveals about its mood Show Caption Hide Caption Maine Coon claims Guinness World Record-holder for longest cat tail! Pugsley Addams, a silver Maine Coon from Minnesota, earned the Guinness World Record for the longest tail for a domestic cat at 18.5 inches. Understanding a cat's cues can help owners better care for their pets. Cats have a reputation for being mysterious, independent creatures. But understanding your feline friend's emotions and behavior may be as easy as reading their body language. By paying attention to signals like tail flicks, ear twitches and whisker movements, cat owners can better interpret their pet's mood, deepen their bond and ensure a more harmonious home. Knowing a cat's telltale signs can also help inform when to approach them and when to give them some alone time, cat behaviorist Jane Ehrlich told USA TODAY. Reading your pet's body language can inform how you change your own posture around them, too. 'The first and the best thing a person can be towards a cat, especially when you're trying to introduce your body language to them, is to be non-threatening,' Ehrlich said. From slow blinks to an upright tail, here's some cues to look out for when reading your cat's body language. Eyes Like humans, cats use their eyes to convey all types of emotions. Paying attention to a cat's pupils is a great first step to understanding their mood. For instance, slow blinks indicate relaxation, trust and affection. The cat is showing vulnerability by closing their eyes slightly. Ehrlich says reciprocating the slow blinks shows the cat you are not a threat. Dilated pupils may signal surprise, excitement or fear in a cat, depending on the situation, Ehrlich said. They typically show that a cat is trying to get a better understanding of their environment. More: We know why cats knead. But here's why humans love it so much. If the cat's pupils dilate or become the pinprick size, it likely means that they are perceiving a threat and are preparing to attack. Ears Cats' ears move in a variety of directions and can offer insight into whether they're getting ready to destroy your couch or take a nap. Flattened ears are a cue that the cat is feeling fearful and irritated Ears twisted to the back of the head may suggest that the cat is feeling aggressive Perked, erect ears show that a cat is attentive and relaxed Tail Cats communicate how they are feeling through the way they hold their tail. A cat with a tail pointed up in the air is happy and confident. Cats move their tail in the shape of a question mark when they're greeting someone or are feeling playful and curious, according to the pet charity Blue Cross. A low or tucked tail may signal that the cat is feeling uneasy and anxious. More: Cats use nearly 300 unique facial expressions to communicate, new study shows The way a cat flicks its tail may also give deeper insight into its mood. For instance, cats twitch their tail when they're feeling agitated, and they whip it back and forth rapidly when they're feeling overstimulated. Whiskers Your cat's whiskers are more than just fun facial hair. They help the cat navigate its surroundings and reveal how they're feeling. Whiskers that are close together and curved slightly toward the ground signal that the cat is calm, according to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. As a cat becomes more upset, or aggressive, their whiskers will straighten out to the sides. If the whiskers are flattened against a cat's face, they may be fearful.
USA Today
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Mischievous' Mr. Pugsley Addams breaks record for longest cat tail. See just how long.
'Mischievous' Mr. Pugsley Addams breaks record for longest cat tail. See just how long. The 2-year-old Maine Coon living with his cat mom Amanda has a tail that measures over 18 inches long. She says Pugsley is a curious adventure-seeker who can be just as caring as he is mischievous. Show Caption Hide Caption Maine Coon claims Guinness World Record-holder for longest cat tail! Pugsley Addams, a silver Maine Coon from Minnesota, earned the Guinness World Record for the longest tail for a domestic cat at 18.5 inches. Mr. Pugsley Addams may not be related to the most famous Addams Family, but the feline named after prodigal son Pugsley is in a league of his own when it comes to long tails. Pugsley, a 2-year-old grey Maine Coon from Minnesota, recently won the record for having the longest tail for a domestic cat, with his fluffy tail measuring 18.5 inches long (1.5 feet), the Guinness World Records announced Wednesday. The cat's owner, Amanda Cameron, told Guinness that her cat always had a long tail, but it wasn't until it became a topic of conversation during a vet appointment that she decided to do some research. Cameron looked up the Guinness world record for the longest tail, upon her children's suggestion, and to her surprise, Pugsley's tail beat the listed record holder. Pugsley received his world record title earlier this year on Feb. 24. The title was previously held by a 4-year-old silver Tabby Maine Coon from Seattle named Rajah Shimko, whose tail is about 2 inches shorter than Pugsley's. Shimko held the title for only three weeks, according to Reuters. The new record-holder comes from a long line of fluffy-tailed felines, according to Guinness. America's oldest natural cat breed, according to Maine Coon cats are also the largest domestic cat breed in the country. Their heavy and shaggy double coat and muscular bodies make them well-equipped to handle the snowy Minnesota winters. The longest Maine Coon cat on record, meanwhile, was Stewie, who measured approximately 4 feet from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, according to Stewie died in 2013 from cancer at his home in Reno, Nevada, at the age of 8. A local celebrity Cameron describes Mr. Pugsley Addams as "a curious adventure-seeker" with a heart of gold, who also has a reputation for being a mischievous troublemaker. "(He is) very creative when it comes to new ways, he can be mischievous," Cameron told Guinness. "And yet, he is kind and caring and loves his momma." She added that Pugsley wins everyone over with his calm demeanor and is in fact, a bit of a local celebrity. 'Everybody always wants to meet him and falls in love with his calm demeanor," Cameron told Guinness. "He is pretty level-headed, even in new situations that might be scary for some cats. He is super soft and is always purring. He's just a great little guy to be around." Pugsley has three siblings: two sisters, Winnie and Duchess, and a brother, Gomez, a black Maine Coon cat named after the Addams Family patriarch. Cameron shared that the family celebrated Pugsley's win by giving him lots of cuddles and kisses and treating him to his "favorite shoulder massages" and snack, beef jerky. Pugsley is still in his terrible 2s, but his family is excited to watch him grow and see how many more records he can break. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
