My cat attacks its tail, hisses, and wounds itself. What's the cause?

Poor kitty! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem - feline hyperesthesia can be a frustrating problem. I would not recommend trying to bandage his tail to his body, since there is a risk of cutting off circulation and causing severe damage if it's positioned awkwardly or wrapped too tight. I'm not sure what medications your kitty is currently on, but if he's still very uncomfortable and constantly biting his tail, I would recommend calling your vet on Monday morning to talk about what else can be done. Many cats with this disorder respond very well to some combination of prednisone, gabapentin, and/or phenobarbital, and may also do well with adjunct treatment options like laser therapy or acupuncture. In the meantime, I would go to the pet store and get a larger cone, so that he can't reach his tail and do further damage until you are able to get his medication adjusted to make him more comfortable.

He could have pain in his tail from a skin wound or fracture that is causing him to traumatize his tail. He might also have feline hyperesthesia syndrome, a likely neurologic disease that can result in self trauma. I’d recommend having your vet examine him to see if there is any evidence of other diseases and to discuss starting medication if needed.

Hello. You do describe the condition known as Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. The fact that you describe her episodes as getting a bit worse does point to an escalating problem, but the prognosis for this condition is very variable. There are treatments, but we must first be very sure there are no underlying triggers such as a food or flea allergy. A hypoallergenic food trial along with diligent flea control is required, even if Daizy is strictly indoors. If the episodes are not too bad & are tolerable to you & Daizy, then I would not jump into seizure medications or anxiolytics/antidepressants that are sometimes needed for the more severely affected cats. There has been some response by cats when treated with supplements such as acetyl-L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 riboflavin & Vit E. Your vet can help with these, but if you should try them, you need to supplement for at least a month to see if they are beneficial. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If his thyroid has not been tested that would be the next step in my opinion. It is very rare for a cat to have an non-healing wound like this. Unless she is chewing the tail, Prozac would not be helpful. If she is chewing the tail then it may help.

It would be hard to say. If your vet can't find any health issues, I would see if there is another trigger - time of day, location, specific events that happen (are you putting down food first? Could there be a critter in the wall?) or if something new has happened (new person, new pet, etc). This may help you pinpoint a cause which you can then use to adjust behavior as needed.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Can you talk him out of attacking his tail or is he "out of it"? If he is out of it I would worry he is having a seizure and I would recommend video taping it and showing your Vet. If you yelling or trying to play with him makes him stop then it may not be a seizure, it might be boredom. I would start playing with him more and providing environmental enrichment to his life. If he is older then I would get some blood work done and have his blood pressure checked. I am assuming your Vet checked him for pain and fleas. I wish you the best! https://indoorpet.osu.edu/sites/indoorpet/files/assets/documents/Herron10_EE_for_Indoor_Cats.pdf

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. He may have full anal glands that need to be expressed or be dealing with an allergy. This could also be stress related. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would have the vet check his anal glands to make sure that is not the cause. You can also try the Feliway products, which can be found online or at you local PetCo. Feliway is a pheromone product that might help relax him if this is due to anxiety.I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.