My kitten's tail is curled like a pig's. Is it normal or broken?

Many dogs will naturally have a hemivertebrae, or partial vertebral bone in their tail. This can give the tail a kinked or broken appearance. If she let you touch it, wags it normally and does not appear painful than this may just be a natural variation. If there is swelling, or she seems painful, is holding the tail tucked or not moving it then she should be seen by a veterinarian to evaluate if there is a fracture or other injury. I hope this was helpful, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

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!

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.

Hello there, Sorry to hear this happened with Luna. Most of the time, tail fractures will heal well with medical treatment and minimal long term issues in pets. That being said, open wounds or complicated fractures could mean a necessary tail amputation. I'd recommend having Luna seen by a veterinarian for a physical exam. They can prescribe pain medications to keep her comfortable while she heals. They may recommend an x-ray to assess internal damage. If there is an open wound, they will likely recommend a course of antibiotics as well to prevent infection. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am sorry to hear about Matilda! It is definitely possible to have a broken tail. We can see fractures, and also trauma to the nerves that can affect the tail. I would recommend a visit to your vet. They can examine the tail and likely will want to take an x-ray to check for fractures. They can prescribe pain medication to make her more comfortable and decide the best treatment to help her.

I'd keep an eye on Kirk for now if his tail looks normal and he's acting fine. I'd expect that if his tail was broken, it would be hanging abnormally, he would have trouble moving it, and/or he would be crying in pain. Should any of those signs appear or he starts acting lethargic, then I would take him into the vet for x-rays. I hope this helps.

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.