Cat Tail Tips

If you are interested in how a cat is feeling, just take a gander at its tail. Not only does the tail provide a cat with much-needed balance, but the tail is also a good indicator of what kind of mood kitty is in. As it is such an essential part of a kitty's life, it is important to keep that extra limb healthy. Follow a few tips to keep your cat's tail in good shape.

  1. Keep Kitty's Tail Out of Doors and Away From Feet

    • It's the middle of the night, you are half awake and can't see a thing. Making your way blindly to your destination, you almost jump out of your skin when you hear that gruesome sound your cat only makes in certain instances. This time, you experienced it because you stepped on its tail. You didn't mean to do it, but the cat was a victim to the brute force of your feet. Getting the tail slammed in doors and windows is another major culprit of cat tail injuries. Most cats love to follow their owners around and many follow too closely and get caught in a door when trying to keep up with you. A cat's tail can become broken, have the skin torn off or even become separated if it experiences severe trauma. For the sake of your kitty's tail, try to always keep an eye on its whereabouts and keep it away from the door and your feet.

    Wash Kitty's Tail

    • Many cats will groom themselves and will keep things clean. However, some cats simply will not, due to obesity or plain defiance. Whatever the case, some cats need the assistance of their owner's to tidy things up. Use a moist wipe to clean the tail whenever it appears dirty, especially around the anus. If you notice any vulgar-smelling discharge coming from the anus, it could be an anal gland that needs emptied, which should be done by your veterinarian. In addition, cats can experience a condition called cat stud tail, in which a brown discharge that accumulates on the skin at the base of the tail. According to Pets.WebMD.com, the hair follicles can become infected from the condition, causing the hair to become greasy and matted and eventually fall out. If this is the case, clean the tail with a veterinarian-prescribed medicated shampoo twice daily and sprinkle cornstarch at the base of the tail, according to the website.

    Never Restrict Your Cat's Tail

    • Watching a cat's tail is similar to observing the expressions on a person's face. When the tail is curved upward, the cat is usually feeling curious. If it is twitching back and forth, it is mildly irritated or playful, but if it is flailing back and forth, kitty is mad and might strike. It is often tempting to hold the tail down, especially in instances when it might get in the way, such as when grooming or at the veterinarian's. However, avoid doing so, as the tail's movement actually relieves some of the cat's stress, according to FuturePets.com.