My cat's tail was caught and skinned in a door. What should I do?

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.

Hello. I am so sorry that your kitty was injured. Technically, this is an emergency because if an infection gets started in the bone, it can have serious consequences for her. It is very unlikely the tail will heal on its own, but I have seen this injury in feral cats & the tail tip can eventually just slough off. Keep cleaning the wound but do make an appointment with your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to have this taken care of properly. All the best & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

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.

Ouch, poor kitty! It could be his tail is broken from being shut in the door, and he needs to be checked out by a vet right away. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

I'm so sorry this happened to Gibson. Unfortunately, she likely needs just the last portion of her tail amputated, especially if it is broken. I do not think euthanasia is indicated and many veterinarians are capable of doing a tail amputation. I see there are 3 local vets in your area. I would recommend finding one you trust and making an appointment ASAP. She needs pain medication, appropriate antibiotics, and surgical treatment. Luckily it's not a major procedure and she likely could come home right after.

Hello. I am so sorry about Dionysus' injury. There really is not much for you to do at this time. Your pictures do not show a completely limp tail, so that is a good sign, possibly that the tail was only bruised & not broken. So, have him checked tomorrow & hopefully he will be just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.