My cat's tail got caught in the door. What can I do for the injury?

Poor Toby! I am sure you feel awful and are concerned about Toby. I cannot tell from this photo the depth of the wound. Sometimes in cats we can get what is called "degloving" wounds where the bone actually becomes exposed. Either way, it looks like Toby needs veterinary care. The wound needs to be cleaned up and may need a bandage to be applied by the vet, and he may need some antibiotics and pain medication. If you wish to discuss this with one of our veterinarians here at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach you can use our consultation service.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Albhe. This happens more often than you realize! It's very important you do not give him any human pain medications. Many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. I would keep a close eye on him to see if he has any pain. Pain can be shown by him keeping his tail limp, not moving it, lethargy, or a loss of appetite. If you see any of those signs, have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to tell is his tail is broken from these pictures. I would have to examine the tail in-person in order to tell this. The wound does look quite deep though and it's definitely possible that it was broken. These injuries tend to be vary painful, so I would consider going to the ER vet if he seems very guarded and not interested in food - these are signs of severe pain. Otherwise, as long as it's not bleeding profusely, this injury can wait until your regular vet is open tomorrow. For now, you should flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with warm water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because cats tend to hate water getting sprayed on them. I recommend having someone help you with this and wrapping Alexander in a towel to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Below is a link to a demonstration of an eye flush that shows how to restrain her well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGzdUTUdNI Infection is the biggest concern with these wounds; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound. In order to keep the wound clean, it's best to flush the wound 1-2 times a day and gently wipe away any big crusts - make sure not to scrub the wound, because this can make it worse. Apply the antibacterial cream after each flushing. I hope that helps and Alexander gets better soon.

Hello. I am so sorry about poor Jordan. Based on what you describe, it sounds like it was his tail that was caught in the door. The question you need to ask is how painful was this for him? If he is still uncomfortable & flapping his tail around tomorrow, I encourage to let your veterinarian take a look, possibly take an x-ray, & put Jordan on a couple of days of pain medication. I do hope he is feeling better soon & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Tas! This is a common injury, and can be quite painful. Please have him seen by a vet, as they should be able to help determine if there is a fracture based on a physical exam and x-rays, although other diagnostics may be needed. The vet can then treat appropriately, including pain management that is appropriate and safe for use in a cat, as pain medications made for humans can be very dangerous for cats, and pain medication should only be given on the advice of a veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This would warrant a veterinary evaluation for further assessment and treatment. These types of traumatic lesions can result in a fracture of the tail which can be quite painful. Even when a fracture is not present, this tends to result in a lot of pain. They would be able to evaluate her and at the very least start medications for pain. Good luck and have a good night!

Unfortunately it seems as her tail is limp, which means there is likely to be a fracture of the tail. this is not something that can be repaired, the only medical solution for this condition is tail amputation which will need to be done at some point.