Cat tails are often where they shouldn't be, lingering near doors, feet, and anything else that can potentially hurt them. If your cat has experienced a tail injury, there are a few signs you should keep your eyes open for that indicate that they need veterinary care. Here's what you should look for.
Limpness
Cats who experience severe tail injuries will often have the entire tail or just a portion of it hang limply. There are a couple of potential reasons for this.
One possible reason is that your cat can't control its tail, which typically only happens with severely pinched nerves or a break. This is a very bad thing because sometimes an inability to control the tail also affects other parts of the lower body, like the back legs.
Another option is that your cat's tail simply hurts too much to lift. In either case, however, it's wise to see a vet to determine how bad the damage is and whether or not your cat needs medical care.
Sensitivity
It's not wise to try and touch your cat's tail immediately after an injury. However, if your cat is still unwilling to let you near the tail a few days later, that's a sign that the injury is still hurting your cat. At this point, it likely indicates that there is more than simple bruising or soreness going on. If your cat shows these signs, go to a vet's office. Alternatively, if your cat's tail is so sensitive that even they react badly when they try to groom it or touch it by accident immediately after the injury, seek medical care immediately.
Swelling
Finally, swelling can be a potential problem that can happen after a tail injury. The issue with swelling is that it not only indicates that your cat has a problem, but it often means that the problem could get worse.
Swelling is something that tends to happen after an injury. Tissues swell when they're injured, and if there's internal bleeding, that could contribute to swelling too. However, swelling itself is a problem because if the veins and arteries in the body become too tightly squeezed from the swelling, circulation can be lost. At this point, the tail would lose its oxygen supply and the tissue could begin to die.
Cats who have swollen tails should be seen immediately by a veterinarian. If tissue damage has already occurred, your pet's life can still be saved by surgically removing the damaged tissue or through a partial tail amputation. Rest assured that your cat should adapt to life with a shortened tail quite easily.
Many cats will recover from minor tail injuries without any serious problems. However, if you're worried about your cat or see any of these signs, get in touch with your vet immediately.
For more information, contact a veterinarian clinic.
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