Why does my cat have tail bumps and groom frantically when touched?

Hello, and thank you for your question. The bumps on the tail could be related to parasites such as fleas, or a bacterial or fungal infection, or a skin allergy. Her behaviour of running around is likely due to itchiness. I would recommend a vet visit within the next few days. They can examine the skin for parasites, and potentially perform tests such as a skin scraping or fungal culture. If a bacterial infection is suspected, they can prescribe antibiotics. At minimum, anti-itch medication can be prescribed while they figure out the underlying cause. For now, you can try bathing the affected area with a gentle aloe and oatmeal shampoo. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry. I'd also advise putting an e-collar (cone) on her head to prevent her from further licking or biting the skin and making it worse. I hope this helps, and that Bling feels better soon!

It is difficult to diagnose without seeing the bump but it could be an infection, cyst, mass, or an injury. The best thing would be to have your vet take a look at it to determine the exact cause and best way to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or other medications to treat. Your vet can do a needle aspirate, if necessary, to help diagnose the cause of the bump.

The most common reason I will see hair loss at the tail base is a flea allergy. If there are any other animals in the house that go outside, I would certainly make sure that Squeaky is on a flea prevenative (even if you have never seen fleas on her). I have also seen seborrhea at that location in overweight cats that don't groom themselves well, but normally they will have more skin flaking than it looks like Squeaky does. That can cause hair loss and itching and can be treated topically. However, since you think there is a lump there, I would recommend having your vet evaluate it. They can perform a fine needle aspirate and insert a small needle into the lump to get some cells out and see what the lump is then decide on the best treatment plan for her. Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This patch could be related to fleas, allergy, infection, or something called hyperesthesia. If you are not using a quality flea preventative right now I'd definitely recommend starting. Revolution is a good flea preventative for cats. If possible you can try using a gentle shampoo like Douxo Calm to bathe the area and see if this helps. If you do not see any improvement it would be wise to have Bast examined by your veterinarian to ensure she does not need any oral medication like antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and good luck!

Even though you don't see any fleas, your cat could still be having an allergic reaction to fleas. It only takes the bite of one flea to set off the reaction, and itchiness over the base of the tail is classic flea allergic dermatitis. However, dermatitis can be brought on by other skin parasites (mosquitoes, mites, lice), bacterial and fungal skin infections, nutritional imbalances, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, I recommend that you have your cat examined by your veterinarian for a full clinical work up.

I would take a close look at the skin here because the base of the tail is a common place for flea bites. Check for fleas or flea dirt, which is small black specks on the skin/fur. If no evidence of fleas is present and the skin appears totally normal, your kitty could have an area of hyperesthesia, which is where the skin is very sensitive and can cause intense reaction. If it is just this small area, your cat may not need treatment, but if your cat is traumatizing himself or unable to live his life normally then a veterinary exam is recommended.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sox. Is he biting or scratching the area? If so, he may be creating areas of self trauma due to be itchy. The most common causes of itching is allergies and fleas in cats. If he does not seem to be bothering the area, it could also be a ruptured cyst. This usually begins as a swollen area under the skin that then opens up. A white to grey material will ooze out. It would be a good idea for Sox to see his veterinarian to determine if a medication is needed. I hope this information helps!