Why is my kitten biting his tail and causing himself pain or injury?

Your kitten may have some nerve damage in her tail or pain which entices her to gnaw on it. I strongly suggest you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a neurological exam in order to find the cause of the irritation and hopefully keep her from selfmutilation.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Ketkat! The most common reason for chewing the back or the tail is fleas. Use a fine tooth comb and brush above her hips and down the tail. If you catch an adult flea in the comb you have an answer. If you don't, use a wet white tissue or paper towel to remove the fur and debris from the comb. If you see black squiggly flecks that when wet look like blood streaks that indicates flea poop. I would recommend a good flea preventative like the Serest collar, Bravecto for Comfortis. be sure that ALL animals in the house are treated. Other possibilities are skin allergies from the environment or food and cats can over groom from anxiety or behavioral reasons. If you do not find fleas I would take her to the Vet for a diagnosis so you can get her feeling better. I wish you all the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tiggy! He is adorable and looks to be a tabby domestic shorthair. I think the easiest thing to do is check for fleas. Fleas love the tail area and are very itchy. I would also treat for fleas. Over the counter options are Frontline or the Seresto collar. I wish you the best!

He could have a skin infection, allergic dermatitis, fleas, and/or a problem with his anal glands. You could bathe him with a anti-bacterial medicated cat shampoo and see if that helps. Also, use a good flea prevention, like Revolution, Bravecto, or Frontline to prevent fleas. If the problem continues then he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. He might need an antibiotic, anti-histamine, and a corticosteroid to help treat. Your vet can also express his anal glands if they are full.

Poor Maxwell! This sounds like it could be something called feline hyperesthesia syndrome. This problem is not well-understood, but is thought to be linked to abnormal pain perception and hypersensitivity in the lower back and tail area. Here is a link to an article on this syndrome with more information: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3000 I have also seen similar behavior in cats with a slipped or herniated disc in their back, or with certain types of skin conditions. Depending on the underlying problem, medication options that may be helpful include steroids such as prednisone, pain medication such a gabapentin, and/or anti-seizure medication such as phenobarbital in some cases. If the Prozac hasn't helped, I would recommend calling your veterinarian to see what he/she recommends as the next step for Maxwell, or seeking a second opinion from another local vet if you prefer.

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.

Poor kitty! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem - feline hyperesthesia can be a frustrating problem. I would not recommend trying to bandage his tail to his body, since there is a risk of cutting off circulation and causing severe damage if it's positioned awkwardly or wrapped too tight. I'm not sure what medications your kitty is currently on, but if he's still very uncomfortable and constantly biting his tail, I would recommend calling your vet on Monday morning to talk about what else can be done. Many cats with this disorder respond very well to some combination of prednisone, gabapentin, and/or phenobarbital, and may also do well with adjunct treatment options like laser therapy or acupuncture. In the meantime, I would go to the pet store and get a larger cone, so that he can't reach his tail and do further damage until you are able to get his medication adjusted to make him more comfortable.