Why dogs wag their tails
(Excerpt from How to Speak Dog )
Dr. Stanley Coren

"....In some ways, tail-wagging serves the same functions as our human smile, polite greeting, or nod of recognition. Smiles are social signals, and human beings seem to reserve most of their smiles for social situations, where somebody is around to see them. Sometimes, vicarious social situations, as when watching television or occasionally when thinking about somebody special, can trigger a smile. For dogs, the tail wag seems to have the same properties. A dog will wag its tail for a person or another dog. It may wag its tail for a cat, horse, mouse, or perhaps even a butterfly.

But when the dog is by itself, it will not wag its tail to any lifeless thing. If you put a bowl of food down, the dog will wag its tail to express its gratitude to you. In contrast, when the dog walks into a room and finds its bowl full, it will approach and eat the food just as happily, but with no tail-wagging other than perhaps a slight excitement tremor. This is one indication that tail-wagging is meant as communication or language. In the same way that we don't talk to walls, dogs don't wag their tails to things that are not apparently alive and socially responsive.

A dog's tail speaks volumes about his mental state, his social position, and his intentions. It is something of a surprise to many people to learn that puppies don't wag their tails when they are very young. Why does it take so long for the puppy to start wagging its tail? The answer comes from the fact that puppies begin wagging their tails when it is necessary for purposes of social communication. Until they are about three weeks of age, puppies mostly eat and sleep. They are not interacting significantly with their littermates other than curling up together to keep warm as they sleep or crowding together to nurse. They are physically capable of wagging their tails at this time, but they don't. "

Cat Characteristics

Meowing
Cats can make over 100 different vocal sounds (dogs can only make 10). These sounds encompasses a variety of meows, purrs, gurgles, and eeps which occur in a variety of tones and octaves and can mean a plethora of things. The more you talk to your cat, the more your cat will talk back and extend his/her 'vocabulary'. And a good owner will learn over time what his/her cat means by each of his/her vocal sounds. By listening to your cat and talking back, eventually you and your cat can start to 'talk' back and forth to each other with understanding. This will help the bond between you and your cat grow and entice your cat to become even more expressive.

Purring
It is still not known why cats purr. Some theories on the origin of purring include 1) the possession of false vocal cords 2) the contraction of laryngeal muscles 3) blood flow that is amplified by the diaphragm. Whatever the cause of purring a cat purrs when he or she is generally happy; although, some cats are known to only purr when they are ill. However, most cat owners will attest to the fact that their cats only purr when the are content or happy.

Ears
Cats ears are another way that a cat expresses his/her emotions.

• Ears pointing forward and slightly outward - your cat is relaxed and happy.
  
• Ears very straight up and forward - your cat is listening to something that is intriguing.
  
• Ears twitching nervously - your cat is agitated and nervous.
  
• Ears flat against the head - your cat is frightened and may attack (this is instinctual as to protect the ears during a fight).
  
• Ears back or in between alert and defensive position - your cat is aggressive and may attack.

Tails
Tails are probably one of the best communication indicators that cats have. One can almost read every cat feeling and thought by looking at his/her tail.

• Tail arched and puffed out or bristled - your cat is scared or fearful and is ready to attack or defend itself. The bristling is instinctual as it makes the cat look larger.
  
• Tail straight up in the air and fully puffed out or bristled - your cat is angered, aggressive and ready to attack.
  
• Tail straight up in the air and quivering a bit - your cat's tail moves this way when spraying urine to mark territory; however, once your cat is spayed or neutered he/she will continue to move his/her tail this way (without any spray or urine being excreted) when you greet him/her. This is your cats way of saying, 'hi, it's your loving cat!'
  
• Tail straight up and unmoving - an unabashed greeting. This is what a mother cat does to her kitten to tell him/her to inspect her rear.
  
• Tail straight up but the tip tilted to one side - your cat is very interested and intrigued by something; your cat is happy and friendly.
  
• Tail straight up or just slightly raised and curved like a question mark - your cat is very excited and interested in something.
  
• Tail curved down and then back up again near the tip - your cat is very relaxed and content.
  
• Tail still but tip of tail quivering or twitching - your cat is mildly irritated. Your cat may attack if the twitching becomes violent enough.
  
• Tail swishing from side to side rapidly or violently - your cat is about to attack something, this is seen during fights and play time. This is not the same as tail wagging in dogs.
  
• Tail held to one side - your cat is giving a sexual invitation (generally only females in heat do this).
  
• Tail held low and puffed out or bristled - your cat is intensely afraid.
  
• Tail held low and tucked between the hind legs - your cat is showing his submission or defeat.
  

Helping a wild bird in need

Beth McMaster of Wildbird Recovery in Middlesex offers these guidelines for what to do with a wild bird that appears to need help:

To catch and pick up an injured bird, throw a pillowcase or towel over it and gently scoop it up with the towel or pillowcase over its head and around its body. Place the bird in a box and pull the towel or pillowcase off the bird to keep it from overheating.

If a baby bird that does not yet have its feathers is found outside its nest and is alert, warm and begging for food, return it to its nest. Contrary to popular belief, parent birds will not reject or abandon babies if they are picked up by a human and returned to the nest. Birds do not have a very developed sense of smell.

If a baby bird that does not yet have its feathers is unresponsive, appears to be injured or was caught by a cat, call a veterinarian or a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center immediately. Place the bird in a small, cardboard box lined with unscented facial tissue and place the box on a heating pad set on low. Do not give food or water.

Baby birds that have their feathers and are hopping on the ground with adult birds nearby have "fledged," or are learning to fly. If the baby bird is alert, keep cats, dogs and people away for a few days. If the adult bird is gone for more than a few hours, call a veterinarian or a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center.

If a baby bird that has its feathers is too young to hop and appears uninjured, place it back in the nest.

If an adult bird can be caught, it is injured and needs help. Place the bird in a small cardboard box lined with paper towels and put it in a quiet dark place. Call a veterinarian or a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center immediately.

Any bird caught by a cat needs immediate help from a veterinarian or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Cats carry bacteria in their mouths that are deadly to birds.