Why Do Cats Suck Their Tails? 7 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

Tail-sucking is a confusing yet somewhat common feline behavior regardless of their age. Still, suckling is usually associated with nursing kittens, so it can be strange to observe this behavior in adult cats. Some cats might suck their tails habitually, while others might do it before specific tasks or when they feel unwell.

If you are dealing with a tail-sucking feline, this article will discuss the seven possible reasons behind their behavior.

The 7 Reasons Why Cats Suck Their Tails

1. Playfulness

If a cat is feeling playful, they might start playing with and sucking on their tails. This is commonly seen in cats who are playing with toys or other cats and start sucking on their tail when it catches their attention.

Cats playing with wands or teaser toys could also start randomly grabbing and sucking on their tails because its movements replicate those types of toys. They could also have mistaken their tail for another cat's leg or tail during playtime. The more your cat's tail moves, the more intrigued they might be to interact with it.

This possible reason isn't usually a cause for concern and is fairly normal. Most cats quickly realize that there are better forms of entertainment and eventually leave their tails alone to resume what they were doing before.

2. Boredom

As we previously mentioned, cats seem to find some entertainment from playing and sucking on their tails. A bored cat with limited entertainment options might resort to sucking on their tails. This could be their way of relieving their boredom by using their tail as an outlet for their frustration from a lack of mental stimulation.

In situations where a bored cat isn't having their needs met or feeling anxious or stressed from a lack of mental stimulation, their tail-sucking might progress to self-mutilation. This happens when they suck and overgroom their tail to the point of hair loss and skin irritation. It's essential to ensure that your cat has plenty of species-appropriate entertainment to prevent them from becoming bored.

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3. Instinct

It's instinctual for kittens to suckle on things, such as their tails, even after they have been weaned. Suckling brings them a sense of safety, security, and food when they are nursed by their mother. It's normal for some kittens to suckle other objects or even themselves. Kittens are generally weaned from their mother's milk from 6 weeks old but continue to suckle for the next few weeks. Although suckling behavior can lessen as kittens grow older, some adult cats occasionally do it too.

4. Allergies

Cats with allergies may have itchy and irritated skin on their tails which is only relieved when biting or sucking on their tail.

To determine if this is a possible reason, look out for signs of skin allergies in cats such as:

• Hair loss
• Frequent scratching
• Overgrooming
• Scabs or open sores

These signs are usually visible in the areas your catch is itching the most, in this case, it would be their tails. However, you are likely to notice signs of skin allergies on other parts of their bodies too. Food, parasites, and environmental allergies are usually the main triggers for most cases of skin allergies in cats.

To help your cat feel comfortable again, you should consult with a veterinarian about your cat's possible skin allergies and tail overgrooming.

5. Pain or Discomfort

Cats may start sucking or licking their tail to self-soothe when they feel pain or discomfort. It could be a sign of overgrooming if their tail sucking becomes excessive or leads to skin irritation. Licking and sucking their tail could help them cope with pain and release endorphins which could ease their discomfort. Arthritis, injuries, infections, and bladder problems are some of the many possible causes for a cat to experience pain and discomfort.

Cats tend to hide their pain well, so don’t overlook sudden behavioral changes and get them checked out by a veterinarian if you have any concerns.

6. To Promote Relaxation

Cats generally associate suckling with positive emotions from a young age. Nursing from their mother brought them a sense of relaxation and security, which is a feeling that could be carried into adulthood. It's not unusual for some adult cats to suckle things to promote relaxation like they did when they were kittens.

They might suckle objects like blankets or certain toys, but some cats suck their tails too. Some owners find that their cats suck their tails to help them fall asleep or when they want to relax in a comfortable spot.

7. Anxiety or Stress

Similar to how a cat would suck their tail to relieve pain, they could do it when feeling stressed or anxious too. The endorphins released when grooming their tails through licking and suckling are soothing for overly anxious cats.

Furthermore, it might be considered a displacement behavior in cats highly aroused from situations of anxiety or stress. Displacement behavior can happen when cats cannot perform an appropriate behavior to a situation or emotion and perform an irrelevant activity instead. In this case, their displacement behavior would be tail-sucking to self-soothe when they are stressed or anxious.

For example, an anxious cat that is being harassed by another cat has the option to either run away or hide, but groom themselves instead. Although this behavior doesn’t seem like an appropriate reaction to the situation, it’s the cat's way of trying to make themselves feel better.

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Conclusion

There are various possible reasons a cat could start sucking their tail. These possibilities range from instincts, pain, psychological, allergies, and even to promote relaxation. Tail sucking usually isn't concerning in cats who occasionally do it for relaxation or instinctive reasons. However, it can be concerning if they do it because of pain, allergies, anxiety, and stress-related reasons.

If your cat's tail sucking is becoming excessive or causing skin irritation or hair loss, you should contact a veterinarian.

See also: 

• Why Does My Cat Suck on My Fingers? 3 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

• The Catsifier: A Pillow With Nipples for Kitties Who Suckle: Review

Featured Image Credit: Vladimir Lazarev, Shutterstock