How to Tell if Your Cat Has a Broken Tail: 6 Vet Approved Signs
Updated on
Did your cat just come home with an unusually bent tail, or maybe they got their tail accidentally closed in a door? Can cats break their tails?
Yes, cats’ tails contain multiple bones, so they can be broken, with common causes being events like being closed in a door, being hit by a car, falling from a height, or getting into a fight. Sometimes, however, an abscess can cause swelling and pain on the tail, and appear like a fracture. Whatever the cause, it is important for you to determine if your cat’s tail is broken. Here’s what you need to know.
How to Tell if a Cat’s Tail Is Broken
1. Check Your Cat Thoroughly
If you suspect your cat might have a broken tail, the very first thing you need to do is evaluate the whole cat. If your cat has experienced a traumatic injury, there’s a real possibility that they have internal injuries or wounds that you can’t see through their coat. In fact, if your cat has experienced major trauma, like being hit by a car or a dog attack, then you should assume that your cat has internal injuries until you are told otherwise by a vet.
2. Check the Tail for Visible Changes
Take a good look at all parts of your cat’s tail. Do you see any swelling or redness? Are there new patches of hair loss? Is there a visible bend in the tail that seems unnatural or unusual? All of these can be visible changes that occur when a cat breaks its tail. Make sure to check the underside of the tail for injuries as well.
3. Check the Tail for Movement
If your cat has broken their tail, they may lack mobility in the tail. Some injuries will only limit mobility, while others may cause full loss of mobility in the tail. Check to see if your cat is flicking or wagging their tail.
Are they walking around with their tail up or down? Is your cat holding their tail in a position that seems unusual? If your cat will allow it, you may also gently palpate along the tail to determine if there are any abnormalities that you can feel or any spots that seem particularly painful for your cat.
4. Note Your Cat’s Behavior
Cats are experts at hiding pain, but you can still expect at least some behavior changes in a cat that has just broken its tail. Your cat may be loud about it, yowling, meowing, or even screaming. It’s also possible that a more stoic cat may not vocalize about their discomfort at all. However, they’re likely going to do things like lick and groom their tail, avoid moving their tail, or simply choose not to move around much at all. Any sudden and significant changes in your cat’s behavior is cause for concern.
5. Determine if Your Cat Can Urinate/Defecate
The nerves at the base of the tail are extremely important parts of the spinal cord that control the movement and function of the back end.
For some cats with significant tail trauma, a loss of bowel and bladder function may occur. There is also a possibility that your cat may drag their back legs or seem to have trouble getting their feet to sit properly on the ground when they walk (lack of proprioception). These signs indicate a very serious problem has occurred, and your cat needs to be emergently seen if they have lost the use of their back legs or the ability to urinate or defecate.
6. Go to the Vet
If you suspect that your cat’s tail is broken, then they more than likely experienced significant physical trauma. As previously mentioned, it’s best to assume that your cat’s injuries are worse than what you can see until you’re told otherwise. Cats hide their pain very well, and some internal injuries may take some time to start to show signs. If your cat has been hit by a car, attacked by another animal (especially a larger animal), closed in a door, or has fallen off of something, then they need to see a vet to rule out internal injuries.
Final Thoughts
If you think your cat’s tail is broken, get them to the vet right away. Tail fractures may be allowed to heal on their own, but in severe cases, amputation of all or part of the tail may be necessary. A broken tail is extremely painful, so even if your cat isn’t acting like they’re in a lot of pain, it’s still important to have them evaluated by a vet. Keep your cat confined to a small area until it’s time for their appointment to reduce the risk of them causing more damage to the tail.
Most importantly, do not give your cat any medication that has not been prescribed for them. Some human medication is deadly for cats, so a swift visit to the vet is the best way to get your cat the pain relief it needs.
Featured Image Credit: olivier.laurent.photos, Shutterstock
