My Cat Dixie is a shy timid little thing who can be happy to be petted one minute yet running away and hiding the next.

If I walk in her direction she usually bolts as though she thinks I'm after her.

This morning she was doing the same and ran into the Living Room and jumped onto the sofa like she was trying to get away. Then she cocked her head to one side whilst looking at me and then rolled onto her back and proceeded to lie there looking at me whilst rolling around and around. She then kept jumping from sofa to chair and back doing the same. Her tail was wagging while she was doing it.

What the heck does that mean? Was she scared or playing!?

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sounds like playing to me

Meeko does this ,and I know for a fact he isnt scared.He is playing with me when he does it.I walk in a room ,he will, not always look "spooked" and run out the room just to creep back to see if I'm following.They are strange creatures

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Definitely playing by the sound of it. Her tail will tell you a lot - if it's up/swishing, then that's a definite sign of positive alertness and playfulness... a scared cat will have its tail down or between its legs and will tend to skulk...

Yes her tail was up and swishing back and forth.

She is a strange cat. She always comes up to us asking for a stroke and then runs away if we actually touch her.

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My hubby plays chase with our cat making loud 'whisht! whisht!' noises as he chases after her. When she hides under the sofa, she forgets her tail is still visible and swishing back and forth . If he stops chasing she will come looking for him to play some more, so it sounds very much like playing to me However, we are sure not to overdo it and he always makes a fuss of her afterwards.