My cat has a swollen, lumpy tail and won't eat. Is it serious?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Rilian. He will need to see his veterinarian as he most likely has developed an abscess under his skin. Cat teeth are very sharp and puncture the skin introducing bacteria deep inside. The overlying skin heals quickly trapping the infection underneath. A visible swelling will develop. This is what I suspect has happened to Rilian. Most cats will develop a fever and may stop eating. He will likely need antibiotics and possibly to have the abscess lanced. In the meantime, it is fine to shave the overlying hair. I would not apply anything topically aside from water to cleanse the wound though. You can apply warm compresses for 5 minutes 3 times per day if he will tolerate it as well. I hope this information helps!

Do not attempt to drain this yourself. Felix needs to see a vet immediately to get this checked out. It could be fluid accumulating, but he could have an infection or that could be internal bleeding. I can't say what exactly is causing the swelling without seeing him in person, but I would consider this a medical emergency. Please take him into a vet now. Best of luck.

If Cali fights with other cats, she could have an abcsess on her tail from a cat bite. I would be concerned because it’s bothering her, so I would take her into a vet today or tomorrow to have it examined, diagnosed, and treated. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You could try to keep it clean but aside from that, I am afraid that he will need veterinary care. Puncture or bite wounds can get infected rather quickly and result in a fever which may be why he is not eating. They can form abscesses that require local treatment and antibiotics. You could perhaps consider taking him to an emergency veterinarian who is open over the weekend. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Squishy. Not sure if he goes outside but if he does I would suspect that he has been in a fight with another cat or wild animal and now has developed an infection/abscess. I would advise taking him to your vet immediately to get him evaluated. Not sure if he has a rabies shot either. Your vet can evaluate him after gathering a history and can advise you on what to do. If it's from a fight or bite wounds, he may have to be sedated to explore the injuries further. Treatment may include antibiotics, pain meds, etc. If a bone injury is suspected, x-rays may be needed. If a fight is suspected a rabies shot or booster may be advised also. Good luck with Squishy.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mangle. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He may have an abscess from a fight wound if you noticed the bump after he was outside. The veterinarian will perform an exam and take his temperature. An fever can be a sign of an infection. Then a small needle may be used to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. If it is an infection, there will be white blood cells and bacteria present. From there, treatment options can be discussed. I hope this information helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Raoul! I would worry about trauma: someone pulled his tail, his tail was ran over and fractured or other nerve damage. Ideally he should be seen by a Vet to potentially X-ray to the tail to look for fractures. I hope this helps and I wish Raoul the best!