How to put a Splint on a Cat's Tail

Secure your cat's injured tail with a splint. Because a cat moves its tail around all the time, the injury runs a high risk of being aggravated. The injured tail needs protection from being stepped or from hitting a wall. As most cats will not like wearing a splint on their tail, you will need to keep an eye on the animal and scold it when it tries to remove the splint. Pet MD recommends placing a special collar on the cat to prevent it from interfering with the injured area.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard
  • Medical tape
  • Splint
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Instructions

  1. Initial injury

    • 1
      The cat may try to harm you while you tend to it.

      Lay the cat on a flat surface. Have another person try to keep the cat calm by petting it.

    • 2

      Slide a piece of stiff cardboard underneath the cat's tail. Place another piece on top of the tail. The cardboard should be no more than one inch wider than the tail.

    • 3

      Wrap medical tape around the two pieces of cardboard and the tail. Do not wrap tightly. The splint needs to prevent the tail from moving, not add additional pain or move the broken joints.

    • 4

      Take the cat to the vet.

    Healing splint

    • 5

      Open the fasteners on the splint. Lay the splint on a flat surface, opening facing up.

    • 6

      Lay the cat next to the splint. Gently place the tail into the splint.

    • 7

      Wrap the splint firmly, but not tightly around the tail. Fasten closed.