Do you think your cat has broken its tail? If you notice that he is in pain and his tail seems floppy, you are understandably concerned. Show
In this article we will help you know if your cat has a broken or injured tail, and what to do to help it. We will discuss the symptoms, causes, anatomy of the tail, what to do, and treatment. Read on to learn more. How to tell if your cat’s tail is broken or injuredWhether or not you witnessed the injury, there are different ways to tell if your cat has injured its tail or even broken its tail. The most common symptoms include:
This way, you can recognize when your cat is in pain and you can act quickly before it becomes too serious. The cause of an injured or broken tail is always injury. Perhaps your cat was out exploring when an accident occurred where it fell or something fell on its tail. When a cat hurts its tail, it can fracture, break, or even dislocate. Minor injuries can include scrapes, hair loss, swelling, or some bleeding. Major injuries can include nerve damage, blood vessel damage, broken bones, etc. With that said, the most common cat tail injury is a fractured tail, as it can be caused by a wide variety of accidents. Fractured cat tails near the base are more serious as they can also involve damage to the nerves or blood vessels, making it a more serious and painful injury. Fractured cattails near the tip are less painful and often less severe. Nerve damage in a cat’s tail injury is usually indicated by a floppy tail, lack of tail movement, and difficulty defecating. They will likely cry, hide, be aggressive, or freeze due to pain. Anatomy of a cat’s tailThe tail of a cat is made up of about 22 caudal or coccygeal vertebrae, which are small rectangular-shaped bones that decrease in size from base to tip. The feline tail is a continuation of its spine. The sacrum around the hip separates the lumbar vertebrae from the tail vertebrae. The spine of cats is more flexible than that of dogs, especially around the tail area, which allows them a lot of mobility and flexibility, as well as serving as an axis of rotation when they fall to readjust their posture and intervenes in the center of its stability. What to do if your cat hurts its tailHelp your cat stay calmThe first thing you want to do is help your cat stay calm. He may be scared and in pain, so it is your responsibility to help him overcome this problem as well as possible. To help her calm down, you can make sure she rests in a comfortable and cozy place, perhaps on her bed, box, or cat carrier. Leave a bowl of cool water near him, talk to him in a low voice, and pat his head so he can try to calm down. Make sure there are no other stressful triggers around him, like loud sounds, other pets or people, etc. Look at the woundNow that your cat is a little calmer, you can visually observe the tail. Is it flabby, swollen, or bleeding? Try to observe any other abnormal behavior in your cat. Are they crying or hiding? You should take all of this into account when you call your vet and tell him what happened, as well as the symptoms that your cat has. Avoid touching the tail, as it may cause more pain or damage the animal’s injury. If you must touch the tail, do so very carefully. Call a vetNow you should call your vet. Even if your cat suffers from one of the symptoms mentioned above that raises suspicion of a minor injury, it is enough to call a vet. We should never wait to contact a professional when our cat is behaving abnormally or is in pain as it could cause greater damage and make your cat suffer for longer. It is best to take them to the vet as soon as possible so that they are properly diagnosed and treated. Your vet will ask about the symptoms and then ask you to bring the cat to the clinic. How to treat an injured or broken cat tail?Each injury will be different, therefore, it is the veterinarian who must diagnose the injury and find the appropriate treatment for your pet’s condition. Let’s take a look at some treatment possibilities for a fractured cat tail. Minor injuries to the cat’s tailFor most fractured tails, the tail will heal naturally, but over time. This implies that it was a clean break that did not affect any nerves or blood vessels. In these cases, the vet will simply make sure it is healing properly and provide your cat with pain relievers to help ease the pain. Serious cat tail injuriesIn severe cat tail injuries, the bone has been broken beyond repair or the injury has damaged the animal’s nervous system or blood vessels. In these cases, where the tail cannot heal on its own, the vet may need to dock the tail. They may also need surgery to repair any nerve damage. If this is the case, your vet will provide you with more information. Fortunately, most cats recover very well from this procedure and adapt quickly to their shorter tails. They will be jumping and playing again in no time. Talk to your vet about the procedure and ask about the recovery time as it will depend on your cat’s injury. The most important thing to do when your cat suffers a tail injury or is experiencing symptoms of an injured tail is to see the vet as soon as possible. The faster you go to the vet and treat the injury, the faster your cat will heal and recover from its unfortunate mishap. An upright tail is always a welcome sight in cats. A feline that holds its tail high and proud is feeling healthy and confident. This means that a cat’s tail drooping or dragging on the ground is a concern. It must be determined if this sudden tail limpness is voluntary or due to an injury. Cats sometimes drag their tales along the ground deliberately due to emotional discontent. If the cat is physically unable to lift its tail, one of the bones in the appendage may be broken. Alternatively, the cat may have dislocated its tail from the base of the spine. There is a difference between a cat being unwilling to lift its tail and being physically unable to do so. The former, while concerning, can be connected to a lifestyle concern and easily resolved. If your cat is physically incapable of lifting its tail, your cat will need to be examined by a veterinarian. Why Do Cats Lift Their Tails?Cats’ tails are among the most expressive parts of feline anatomy. An experienced owner can often detect the mood of their pet through its tail. Typically, a tail held high and prominently means that the cat is happy and contented. If the tail is curled like a question mark, the cat is saying hello to you. This is a common position when you return home after a prolonged absence. Cats also lift their tails for a range of reasons unconnected to emotions. Common reasons for cats to lift their tails include:
Tail-lifting is almost always a voluntary action from cats. As per the Journal of Anatomy, cats have more muscles in and around their tail than almost any other mammal. Several of these muscles are used in any movement. Felines do not wag their tails in an excitable frenzy, comparable to canines. If a cat chooses to lift its tail or, arguably even more importantly, it chooses not to do so. Why is My Cat’s Tail Hanging Down?Having established why cats lift their tails, we should now look into the opposite behavior. What causes a cat’s tail to go limp? This could be an issue with anxiety or unhappiness or due to physical trauma. Either way, your cat needs help. Like most animals, a nervous cat will keep its tail low. It may even be tucked between the legs. Investigate if something is making your cat uncomfortable or uncertain. Common explanations for cats to feel nervous include:
A low tail can also be a sign that a cat is feeling defeated. Felines like to feel in control of their affairs, so if your cat feels resigned to a life of bullying and misery, it’s no quality of life at all. Do not make the mistake of believing that a low tail is always a sign of meekness, though. Just as a high, prominent tail could denote happiness of aggression, the same is true of a low position. Hunting cats keep their tails low and often swish them from side to side, ahead of pouncing on prey. Your cat may be preparing itself for an attack, usually as an act of self-defense. Of course, this is all assuming that your cat is willfully keeping its tail low to the ground. You must learn if this action is voluntary. If your cat is physically unable to lift its tail, it is automatically more concerning. Why Isn’t My Cat’s Tail Moving?As mentioned, whether a cat’s tail is held tall and proud or low and innocuous, it should be a conscious decision. The tail should, at the very least, twitch and vary in position. What does it mean when a cat’s tail doesn’t move? Often, a completely static tail is a sign of trauma. This could be an injury to the tail or lower back, such as dislocation or a break or fracture. Alternatively, it may be connected to nerve damage. There are tests that you can run to see if a cat is capable of moving its tail. These include:
Injuries to Cats’ TailsImpact trauma can render cats unable to lift their tail. Typically, this symptom will arise from dislocation of the tail or a broken or fractured bone. In some rare cases, the issue may be with the cat’s spinal cord. Cats’ tails are delicate and can be injured in many ways. Common reasons for cats to experience tail trauma include:
At the first sign of tail trauma, apply first aid. As per Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, tail injuries frequently lead to pelvic issues. Your cat will be in pain and may not heal appropriately without assistance. Does My Cat Have a Back Problem?You must always eliminate the prospect of a spinal injury. This will have a range of consequences beyond an inability to lift the tail. Falls from height or road traffic accidents are the most common explanation for a feline spinal injury. A cat’s tail is linked directly to the vertebrae, in addition to a range of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If the cat’s spine is injured, this can have a knock-on effect on the tail. The lower the back injury, the likelier the cat will be unable to lift its tail. Other than the inability to lift the tail, warning signs that your cat is living with a back injury include:
Felines can be masters of hiding pain or discomfort. If you suspect that your cat has a back injury, consult a vet. If it deteriorates further, your cat may be permanently immobilized. If your cat does not appear to have a back injury, the issue will be localized to the tail. This has a better prognosis than spinal trauma but must still be taken seriously. Your first step will be to identify the type of injury. Is My Cat’s Tail Dislocated?Cats’ tails are delicate and easily dislocated, especially when pulled or tugged. The tail is connected to the backbone. This part of feline anatomy is known as the tailbone (sacrum). A cat’s spinal cord concludes at around the fifth vertebrae. After this, tendons connect the back and tail. This is sometimes referred to as the cauda equina, or “horse’s tail.” This means that tugging and dislocating a cat’s tail is likely to result in nerve damage. This will be extremely painful for the cat and likely result in loss of bladder and bowel control. The sooner the cat is treated, the likelier a full recovery becomes as nerve damage is minimized. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to reset a dislocated tail. Your cat may never regain full control. Is My Cat’s Tail Broken?Cats have between 19 and 21 bones in their tail. These are known as the caudal vertebrae. A break or fracture to any of these bones can leave a feline unable to lift its tail. The lower the impacted vertebrae, the likelier the cat will be unable to lift its tail. As per a study of 51 cats with tail fractures published in Veterinary Surgery, incontinence is the most common symptom of a break. Alas, a break or fracture in a cat’s tail may not be immediately obvious. Even a slight droop in the tail’s position may indicate this injury. Fractures to a cat’s tail are frequently divided into 5 categories of varying severity:
Do not assume that your cat’s tail injury is capped at level 1 and move along. Any form of tail trauma merits a full x-ray investigation. This will reveal the extent of any damage and ensure the cat gets the right treatment. Usually, the break will need to heal itself over time, but your cat will need painkillers in the meantime. You may also need to apply a splint to keep the tail elevated, preventing any difficulty with elimination. Other Cat Tail InjuriesIt’s not only impact injuries that leave cats unable to lift their tails. Outdoor cats, in particular, will encounter other animals. These interactions will not always be friendly. If a cat fights with a neighborhood feline, a dog, or even a wild raccoon, they may be bitten on the tail. This can lead to viral infection due to bacteria found in the other animal’s mouth. If your cat has a wound on its tail, wash the area with antibacterial soap. Apply a bandage too. If your cat cannot lift its tail after this, your cat likely needs a course of prescription antibiotics. These conflicts can result in abscesses. In this case, clip the fur around the abscess and apply a warm flannel. Repeat this process thrice daily. In theory, this will drain the abscess – though, as before, antibiotics may also be required. Cats can also burn their tails. For example, if your cat frequents the kitchen, it may burn its tail on a stove or hob. Apply a cold compress to the burned area, then visit a vet. Will My Cat’s Tail be Amputated?The healing of a cat’s tail injury is a notoriously slow process. It can take up to 6 months before your cat makes a full recovery. If this will dramatically reduce your cat’s quality of life, a vet may recommend amputation for the cat’s safety. You’ll know if a cat is set to recover in full within a month. It may not have full control over its tail after four weeks, but at a minimum, pain and discomfort should subside. This timeframe will also reveal any long-term nerve damage. If a cat is experiencing fecal or urinary issues beyond a month, it is unlikely ever to cease doing so. At this point, amputation is often considered the best course of action. If a cat cannot lift its tail and has difficulty eliminating properly, it will regularly soil its tail. This will be stressful for the cat, in addition to being dangerous. The odor will attract flies, leading to the risk of flystrike. A cat that undergoes tail amputation will live a full and normal life. It may take the cat a few weeks to fully master its balance without a tail. With time and patience, the cat will eventually forget that it underwent this major surgery. If your cat cannot lift its tail, check its general mood and demeanor. This should reveal if the issue is emotional or physical. In the latter case, ensure the problem is rectified. Tail trauma can have long-term repercussions if ignored.
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