How to Spot a Broken Cat Tail: 5 Vet-Reviewed Steps
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Cats have very flexible tails, and you may even see them with “kinks” and strange angles. Usually, this doesn’t mean that the cat’s tail is broken. However, cats can certainly break their tails.
While a tail may seem like one of the less important areas of your cat’s body, a tail is essential to your cat’s balance. Plus, damage to your cat’s tail can cause damage to your cat’s backbone, which can lead to paralysis and a host of other problems.
Below, we’ll explore exactly how to determine if your cat has broken their tail, as well as what to do if they have broken it.
Can Cats Break Their Tail?
Cats can absolutely break their tails. A cat’s tail is an extension of their spine—it’s made up of the same vertebrae, bones, blood vessels, and muscles. So, just like a cat can break their back, they can also break their tail.
A broken tail is caused by trauma of all sorts. Cats may fall on their tail wrong, get hit by a car, or have it pulled at a bad angle. Either way, broken tails are fairly rare, so the average fall isn’t going to break your cat’s tail.
The 5 Steps to Take if You Think Your Cat's Tail Is Broken
1. Watch for Signs of Injury
If a cat is injured, they likely won’t want to be touched. Therefore, your best bet is to watch for signs of injury from a distance. A cat that’s just holding their tail at a weird angle probably won’t do so for long. They also won’t show any other signs of injury. However, a cat with a broken tail won’t move their tail much—if at all.
2. Examine the Tail
If your cat lets you, you should take a closer look at their tail very gently. Check for obvious signs of injury, like blood or open wounds. A cat likely won’t want you to touch the hurt part of their tail when it is broken. So, if your usually calm cat suddenly turns into a raging ball of fur when you touch them, then they may have a broken tail.
3. Call the Vet
If you suspect that your cat has a broken tail, you should contact a vet. Injuries to their tail can cause damage to their spine—which can result in paralysis. Therefore, it’s vital to get their tail looked at and fixed. There are many different treatment options available, and a vet can help you determine the best one for your feline.
4. Follow the Vet’s Instructions
After visiting the vet, you should follow their directions carefully to ensure that your cat’s tail heals properly. Often, this will involve resting, pain medication, and maybe even surgery. Sometimes, it’s determined that amputation is more straightforward than trying to heal the break, especially if it is complicated.
While tails do typically heal fine with veterinary assistance, it’s important to follow these instructions to ensure complications don’t arise. Further damage to an injured tail can result in damage to other parts of your cat’s body, which may not be as easy to fix.
5. Monitor Your Feline
You’ll need to monitor your cat for further problems, especially during the first few days after injury. Complications and infections are sadly quite common with cats. These can be extremely serious and cause further damage to your cat’s spine and the surrounding area.
Contact a vet if you have any concerns or questions about your cat’s condition. While many cats do recover from a broken tail, there is always a chance that something won’t go right.
Can You Prevent a Cat From Breaking Its Tail?
Sadly, tail breaks tend to be freak accidents that are hard to prevent. Therefore, if your cat breaks their tail, there likely wasn’t anything you could have done about it. You should always monitor your cat for signs of injury, as it’s important to ensure that they get treatment right away.
You can take some steps to ensure that your cat is safe when indoors. Remove heavy objects that might fall on your cat. Don’t let your cat run through the neighborhood unchecked and avoid letting them wander where they may get injured, such as in shop areas.
However, in the end, there sadly isn’t much you can actually do to prevent these injuries.
What Should I Do If My Cat Breaks Its Tail?
You should always call a vet if you believe your cat has broken its tail. Cats can have them amputated and live a relatively normal life.
Early treatment prevents complications, which can cause tons of problems for your feline. If the cat’s tail is bleeding, wrap it in a towel if possible. Follow the vet’s instructions to ensure that the cat heals properly.
Most cats recover from their tails being broken just fine. It’s mostly a matter of avoiding complications in the meantime.
Conclusion
Feline tail injuries aren’t all that common. However, they can occur and often affect the spine. Therefore, it’s important to get your feline seen as quickly as possible. Otherwise, complications have a higher chance of occurring.
A cat with a broken tail needs vet treatment right away. Be sure to follow a vet’s instructions, which may include rest, pain management, and bladder assistance.
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Featured Image Credit: italay, Shutterstock
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Kristin is passionate about helping pet parents create a fulfilling life with their pets by informing them on the latest scientific research and helping them choose the best products for their pets. She currently resides in Tennessee with four dogs, three cats, two fish, and a lizard, though she has dreams of owning chickens one-day!
