You often hear of dogs chasing their tails, but I have a cat who will see the tip of his tail twitch and suddenly is running in circles trying to grab it! Rover.com says this type of behavior is common among kittens, but my adult cat still likes to indulge in tail chasing when he's feeling silly! But, there are other reasons why cats might chase their tails, so this week I wanted to look more in to tail chasing in cats.
Why do cats play with their tail?
We already mentioned the main reason for cat tail chasing, and that is that the cat is feeling playful and their tail makes a pretty convenient, and fun, toy! Catster.com says when you see a playful cat chasing their tail, its not a cause for concern. They are just entertaining themselves, and getting some hunting practice and exercise in in the bargain! So, if you have a kitten or if your cat, like mine, that has a history of chasing their tail, there's probably nothing to worry about!
But, if your cat is not normally one who enjoys chasing their tail, and suddenly starts tail chasing, there might be more going on! It might be that your cat is bored and chasing their tail as a way to pass the time. Make sure they have plenty of toys and set aside some play time to spend with your cat and see if the tail chasing behavior stops. If not, it might be time to dig deeper.
One reason a cat might chase their tail is if it is itchy. This could be caused by allergies. Cats can be allergic to something in their environment, like pollen or could be allergic to something in their diet. Cats with allergies might also be itchy in other areas, so if your cat is chasing their tail and also seems to be scratching other areas more often, allergies might be the culprit. If you have changed their food recently and they suddenly seem to chase their tail more than usual, try switching to another food, or back to their original food and see if the behavior decreases. A vet can help diagnose allergies and may prescribe an antihistamine to help ease the itchiness.
A cat might also be itchy if they have fleas. Catster.com says fleas like to bite around the base of the tail, so itchiness around the tail could be the result of flea bites. A cat with fleas might also groom themselves excessively, even to the point of fur loss and you may see bumps or bites on their skin and black specks in their fur. A vet can also help determine if your tail chasing cat might be suffering from fleas and can also help treat and prevent further flea damage. This might include treating your home as well as your cat to make sure the fleas don't come back.
There is also something called Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome or FHS. that can cause a cat to have very sensitive skin, especially along the back and tail. Catster.com says that there seems to be some debate as to whether it is an obsessive disorder or related to a seizure disorder, but it can cause a cat to chase their tail when touched. Rover.com recommends seeing a vet if you think your cat my have FHS to find a treatment plan that may include pain and anti-anxiety medicine.
Anxiety or stress could also cause tail chasing in cats. Rover.com says this would usually be triggered by an event, like a storm, fireworks or visits by people or other pets. A stressed cat might also become aggressive, meow excessively, or try to hide. If you think your cat has anxiety, make sure they have a safe place to retreat to during events that are stressful to them, like a bed or cat tree that is only for them. If they are hiding from another pet, try to make sure that pet stays away so that your cat feels safe in their chosen spot.
Cats chasing their tails might be experiencing pain around their tail or hind end, so if your cat is not normally a tail chaser and is still chasing their tail even after other play time, they could be in pain. Rover.com says a cat could have pain in their tail due to an injury or infection. Older cats can also get arthritis in their tail.
Another condition that might cause pain at the base of the tail is called stud tail. Catster.com says this is most often seen in young unneutered mails who are starting puberty. Stud tail can look like acne or blackheads on the tail and could also be accompanied by pus and loss of fur.
Cats can also get infections in their anal glands which might cause them to pay more attention than usual to their back end, and this could look like tail chasing. A cat with an infection in their anal gland might also scoot their butt on the floor and you may also see swelling in the area.
In any case, if you think your cat is in pain, a trip to the vet is in order to determine the cause of the pain and a treatment plan.
What about your cats, do they like to chase their tails?
Cover photo by Artem Makarov on Unsplash
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