My cat's tail is painful and won't lift. Is it broken or dislocated?

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.

Poor Sarah! It sounds like she may have injured her tail when she fell. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam. He/she can take x-rays if needed to check for any problems, and can also prescribe pain medication or anti-inflammatories for her if needed.

There are no medications that you can use at home, as most human medications are toxic to cat. Others are not really pain relief medications and would not even touch the pain cause by a fracture. I would therefore recommend to see a vet so that the fracture can be confirmed and the best way forward found. Hope this helps ! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Cachou! It sounds like from your description that he has hurt his tail, and it is concerning that he cannot lift it at all. I would be afraid he may have broken his tail preventing him from lifting it. Given it's been two days now and he meows in pain every time you try to lift it, it's time for him to see a vet. I recommend a physical exam and x-rays of the tail. Once the cause of his pain is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. He would also benefit from pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. I would take Cachou into a vet today if possible; if not, take him in first thing in the morning. I hope this helps!

I would be concerned if the area is painful or she cannot hold the tail in a normal position as it may be injured or broken. It would be best to bring your cat to a vet ASAP to have the area examined, X-rayed for any breaks, and checked for any nerve or other injuries causing it.

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!

I would have Burt checked out by the vet. It is possible he could have suffered an injury to his tail causing it to be painful and may actually have a broken bone. A physical exam and x-rays can be done to see if any trauma has been done to his tail, and the vet can suggest treatment based on the findings of the physical exam and x-rays.