My adopted cat has a short tail. Is it normal or from past abuse?

Absolutely not! This is a normal genetic variation and just causes them to have a short tail. Most cats with bobtails live normal lives as those without. Of course, I cannot guarantee that your cat will be without problems, but it doesn't have to do with the bobtail. She is REALLY cute BTW!

Without seeing pictures of these areas it is difficult to speculate. The areas may have been shaved, or it could be fur loss from some sort of irritation. Fleas or other biting insects are a potential source of irritation, perhaps CiCi had something stuck in her fur that they had to remove. I would recommend calling the shelter and ask for more information. Check with them if they advise any sort of follow-up with a veterinarian.

Hello, sorry t hear about Lumi. His tail may indeed have a kink there either from some form of trauma when he was really young or from an birth defect. As long as he is not bothering at it then he may have this curled tail for the rest of his life. However, if you think it is painful, then it should be seen by his veterinarian and an x-ray may show if there is a fracture. If there is a fracture and it is causing him pain, then your options may include to manage the pain medically while the tail heals to to remove the damaged part of the tail. Hope this helps and best of luck.

A picture of the ktity would help determine that. However, these are two very different breeds, so it is unlikely. Here is what an american bobtail cat looks like http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/american-bobtail-cats#/slide/1 You can also repost your question with a picture of the kitty if you are unsure. There is likely another explanation to your kitties short tail, such as birth defect or previous injury and subsequent docking of the tail.

Not necessarily - some animals can act ‘head shy’ simply because they are not used to having their heads and faces handled. It is possible that something happened in the past but it also may not have been abuse, anything traumatic could make her nervous about having her head touched.

Hello! It's hard to say for sure, but generally speaking, I wouldn't be too worried, if the tail isn't sore, or itchy. Shaving was a great idea, for 2 reasons. 1) Because now you can keep an eye on the area to be sure it isn't getting worse and 2) Air can now get at the skin to help it to heal. If the area looks sore, or is itchy, I would suggest having her checked out by your vet. If everything seems pretty comfortable, it would be likely okay for you to keep an eye on this at home. Best of luck with Munchkin!

Ouch! Without seeing the x-rays, it's difficult to provide a terribly accurate opinion regarding Luna's tail. In general, if there is a small fracture near the tip of the tail, these can heal quite well without any lasting problems. However, if there is a fracture closer to the tail base, these can cause more problems when healing (i.e. holding the tail up while using the litter box) and be more painful. Tail amputations do not cause any significant stress beyond the stress caused by any surgical procedure. Most cats recover uneventfully after 10-14 days with the help of some pain medication. To my knowledge, there is not emotional distress caused by tail amputations because cats do not experience the social pressures that people will feel. In most cases of tail fractures, I lean towards amputation. I hope this helps you to confirm your decision!