My senior cat has back pain and tail sensitivity. What's the cause?

Cats can get arthritic just like dogs. If this is a new behavior I would have your veterinarian do an exam and she may need medication for pain control. I would not give her any pain medication at home as it can be very toxic to cats.

Hi! I don't think the Omega 3s are causing Joeys sensitivity. I would check carefully for fleas and make sure he is on prevention. Another possibility in an older cat would be arthritis causing a condition called hyperesthesia syndrome. Treating the arthritis under the care of your vet may help the symptoms. Good luck!

This usually happens when there is something painful in the pelvis or lower spine. This can be due to arthritis in the area, nerve pinching, or infections around that area. In order to narrow-down the cause of this and get some good treatment, I recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian sometime soon within the next week or so. I hope that helps and Askher gets better soon.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Most cats do not like to be touched past the head normally. But of this is a sudden behavioral change I would recommend a Vet exam since she is getting older. They can see of she is more painful than normal in her back and be sure she hasn't lost weight. There are glucosamines/chondriotins for cats like Dasuquin and Cosequin. In the mean time don't pet her where she doesn't like. Cats do get ramped up if we keep doing things they don't like. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3571 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=26149

That does sound very worrisome. Unfortunately an injury to the spine is not something that we can diagnose by hearing the clinical signs. As you know, a back injury can be very serious. I recommend to get mittens in to see the veterinarian quickly. The doctor will be able to palpate the back and should get an idea as to if a back injury is likely. Pets can also get soft tissue muscle pulls, hip pain and a variety of other ailments that are not as serious as a spinal injury. The first step though is to get her checked out. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

It sounds like she may have injured her tail or pelvis, possibly from an accident or bite. If this continues beyond 12hours or she develops any fever or additional pain you should have her checked by your vet