Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat having tail problems. Vet says possible amputation :(

62 replies

AbandonShark · 05/08/2015 23:14

We picked up our beautiful rescue cat on Sunday. He'd had an op on his tail, as they think it had been trapped and the end had been damaged. It was healing well, still bandaged up when we picked him up but we were assured that it was healing really well and we could take the bandage off in two days.

So we took the bandage off last night. No blood on the bandage and it looks really nicely healed. However.... the cat is freaking out about his tail. At first we thought he was scared of how it looked as he was fine when we were taking the bandage off and it was until he noticed a few minutes later that he went crazy - trying to catch and bite his tail. We wondered if it was because it looked different, but today we've noticed that he seems to flinch when the tip of his tail touches anything, even gently and that makes him snap at it (maybe he thinks something is biting/hurting him?) It must be really delicate as he's nearly constantly flinching and attacking it.

He drew a little blood this afternoon so I took him to the vet. She gave us painkillers in case it's physical, cat anti-depressants in case it's mental (the stress of a new home and delicate tail) but if neither of those work, she wants to amputate it as soon as next week Sad

He's curled up purring on my lap at the moment, and is his happy sweet self when his tail isn't bothering him, and we're giving him lots of love. But he looks so stressed when he's moving around and constantly snapping at his poor tail.

What on earth is the best thing to do for him? I wondered if anyone had been through similar with their cat and what the outcome was?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Rosesareblack · 06/08/2015 13:31

I have a cat with no tail at all. He doesn't seem bothered in the slightest. It had been amputated a little while before we adopted him. The only downside is not being able to see it flicking if he is about to attack something. I am used to not seeing him use it to communicate as he was always like it.

He may not need it all removing, some cats just have a portion removed. It might be sensitive due to not completely healing, poor boy.

An injury like that is not a reason to PTS. (Previous post - school holidays or something?)

ladybird69 · 06/08/2015 20:21

Hi Abandon how's your cat doing?

Original poster
AbandonShark · 06/08/2015 20:46

Poor thing is still stressed Sad
His pain killer is Metacam 0.5mg/ml. He's on a 3.5kg dose (he weighs 3.9kg, vet didn't want to overdose) once daily. So far it's changed nothing.

Next step is anti depressants, Zylkene capsules, 75mg. I'm also buying some feliway for him.

Not sure when to give up on the painkillers and start the anti ds so I'll give the vet a call tomorrow.

Dh is currently furious with the shelter for them letting him leave in this state. They possibly didn't give him enough bandage free time t notice how hard it was for him. (I'm a lot more philosophical about it.)
And don't worry. . Definitely no putting to sleep will be happening! Well, only me rubbing his shoulders to send him off to sleep each night Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
AbandonShark · 06/08/2015 20:48

Thank you so much for all yhe the advice and happy stories too! I've known a couple of cats who've lost tails to accidents and have been very happy, active cats so pts didn't even cross my mind. Smile

OP posts:
Rosesareblack · 06/08/2015 20:57

I know it has been mentioned already, but could you not try a buster collar or one of those soft versions like a rubber tyre and give it some time.

Feliway diffusers and spray? The spray can help for a top up if he needs it. Rescue Remedy in his drinking water, or if he is really stressed, a tiny drop rubbed on his ears.

He has a lot to cope with at the moment, change of environment, injury, pain/discomfort. His tail might be irritating due to healing and need more time or it might feel strange to him after being bandaged.

Original poster
AbandonShark · 06/08/2015 23:09

I thought putting his buster collar back on would help but the vet told me not too as it would only delay the problem rather than fix it. But I suppose that's only true if it's a stress issue rather than a pain issue? But then I'm not a professional and she is..

The vet at the cat shelter advised putting on a fake bandage on his tail to see if that helps, whereas the vet I saw yesterday said not to do that as again it would only delay the problem. I had a bit of a cry tonight which sounds pathetic but when 2 vets are telling me 2 different things, I don't know what to do Sad

Will definitely get him a Feliway diffuser or spray, heck, I'll even see if cat yoga works! Grin

He's such a sweet boy, and it's heart breaking to see him looking so stressed and in pain.

OP posts:
SunshineAndShadows · 06/08/2015 23:26

As a vet I'd agree with the vet you saw today... To an extent. As a profession we massively overuse buster collars when the primary reason for post operative wound interference is pain and what we should be doing is prescribing analgesia.
However some animals will go for their wounds when they scab and become itchy during the healing phase (usually around day 3-5) so at this time a buster collar may be helpful

Also I think you mentioned that the vet did prescribe pain relief so It would be a shame to inhibit any progress because your cat is not painful but has learned that tail chewing bring relief from the itch

cozietoesie · 06/08/2015 23:52

I don't usually like to second guess veterinary professionals - especially on the internet, remote from the animal - but given that the vets in the OP's case seem to be disagreeing anyway, do the vets who post believe that the analgesic being given is adequate in this particular case ? I hear what is being said about stress but from what Shark says, the meloxicam just isn't cutting it and I'm wondering whether another analgesic might be more effective?

Original poster
AbandonShark · 07/08/2015 00:01

Sunshine Thank you, that is really helpful to hear, and I can imagine the itch must be frustrating. His operation was on June 29th, and looking at his notes, the wound seemed to be healed properly the last few days of July - maybe the itch/pain is more noticeable now the bandage is off.

With his tail, he doesn't really chew it as such, he'll snap at it, and hiss and growl and whip it around, and have a kind of shiver go all the way up his back.

In your opinion as a vet, (if you don't mind me asking) would you expect the painkiller to work after 2 doses? I don't want to stop that and start the anti depressants too quickly.

OP posts:
Original poster
AbandonShark · 07/08/2015 00:05

Kind of X-post with cozie - think i nodded off while i was writing that post! Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
AbandonShark · 07/08/2015 00:07

Wish I could give real life Thanks to people on this thread - you're all really helping, whether it's positive stories or advice so thank you!

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/08/2015 00:08

I'm only concerned, Shark, that he may have some neuropathic pain - much as Lone described - and that that in itself could be acting as a stressor.

cozietoesie · 07/08/2015 00:11

The problem seems to be that the whole area of analgesia in cats/other companion animals seems to be 'ripe for investigation' - ie it needs more work - and studying it makes my brain hurt. Maybe tomorrow morning it will be in better shape.

Original poster
AbandonShark · 07/08/2015 00:16

Absolutely. Brain fried here also Smile

Main point of concern for us is:

bandage on = happy, friendly, cuddly confident cat.

bandage off = tail whipping, hissing, growling, nervous (bit still v cuddly) cat.

It all started literally minutes after we took the bandage off. We know that didn't hurt as he didn't notice (face full of Dreamies!) until a couple of minutes later. What's the reasoning behind that? More sensitive as exposed? Different appearance? Delicate to knocks? Next stop is a bloody cat psychic I swear

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 07/08/2015 00:36

Beats me, I'm afraid. Oh I can 'suppose' some psychological reasons but I still think I'll leave it to the vets among us. There is the point though - if the situation is as stark with him as you describe it (ie plus bandage or minus bandage) and he's dealing with stress at the same time, is it going to cause problems if he has some form of bandage on and allow him to deal with things perhaps more gradually ? Cats can run the gamut of sensitivity to externals so maybe he's a real antsy boy for various reasons. Do you know his history?

ladybird69 · 07/08/2015 00:49

Awh poor puss cat it's so frustrating that they can't tell you what's wrong. It could be nerve damage that's what vets were worried about with mine or could just be the stress of everything combined. Your Dh is right tho the shelter shouldn't have added the stress of recovering to the stress of rehoming it's not fair on you or the cat. Just keep giving him lots of cuddles x

Lonecatwithkitten · 07/08/2015 06:56

Abandon zylkene is not really an antidepressant it is a milk protein so not a 'real drug' it is very good at reducing anxiety and there is no reasons not to use it at the same time as metacam.
Personally I don't understand under dosing with metacam and I would be giving the full 3.9kg dose once daily of metacam, after all you wouldn't take three quarters of the paracetamol dose would you.
I am with sunshine I am not wild on buster collars and as I said earlier I never put bandages on my tail amputations in the first place.
If your cat was my case and assuming there is no infection etc. I would use zylkene, feliway and metacam now.

cozietoesie · 07/08/2015 09:54

Thanks, Lone.

Even though you wouldn't use them yourself, do you consider that some sort of bandage would be an actively bad physical idea? (I'm thinking that this cat seems to have some 'ishoos' which might be very individual to him - and while the Zylkene might be an enormous help, it's possible that it could not be quite enough?)

Just so that Shark knows her options as clearly as possible, really.

SunshineAndShadows · 07/08/2015 10:03

Agree entirely with Lone - zylkene can take up to 4-6 weeks to reach full efficacy so start it asap - it's very safe and not a drug. Also agree re metacam dose. And to start Feliway.

It's possible your cat is experiencing some hypersensitivity now his tail is exposed. I would tend not to rebrand age because he needs to acclimatise to his tail and bandaging will prevent that. As long as he's not injuring himself then start the meds and monitor.

Also offer lots of other toys/play sessions so his predatory behaviour is redirected on an appropriate target. If he's bored or frustrated he's more likely to focus on his tail.

cozietoesie · 07/08/2015 10:55

Thanks, Sunshine. I can only imagine how difficult it is for you vets to give an athoritative view when you're on the internet and without having seen the animal or taken its history - so much appreciated.

Interesting point about the distracting him, Shark. Does he have much in the way of games at the moment? (Those might do him the world of good if not.)

Original poster
AbandonShark · 07/08/2015 19:04

Just place marking with a photo of the adorable chap in question, until I can get on the laptop and write a proper post Smile

Cat having tail problems. Vet says possible amputation :(
OP posts:
timtam23 · 07/08/2015 19:21

Isn't he adorable! He's like a panda with that black nose! I have nothing helpful to add re: tail but really hope things settle down soon for him & you.

YeOldeTrout · 07/08/2015 19:39

great diamond nose

cozietoesie · 07/08/2015 20:03

He's a real cheeky chappy - and very handsome!

Smile
TheOneWiththeNicestSmile · 07/08/2015 21:51

Oh he is beautiful, Shark Smile