Anyones cat has his tail amputated ?
Discussion
Sam the cat went out the other night. Came in 20 mins later and his tail was just hanging. From a joint about 3 inches from his back works, but then onwards nothing. It felt a bit swollen at that joint, so the next morning he was in the vets. The vet has suspected he has been clipped by a car or trapped it in a doorway , but more than likely a car. So he is on anti swelling drugs , but I don't expect it will change. So, we have a vet visit in 10 days to decided on whats best, but looks like amputation is the end result. Its not affecting him, no discomfort, but he struggles to sit now as its in the way and also he has a very long tail, so it may get trapped. Has anyone else had their cats tail taken off and has it affected balance and anything else ?
They do well. Generally able to compensate and can usually be just as athletic as before with time.
Bigger concern is that he can urinate and defecate normally, trauma to the tail can paralyse the nerves to the bladder etc. If these are functioning normally then all will be fine once surgery (if it is needed is done)
What did the xrays show?
Bigger concern is that he can urinate and defecate normally, trauma to the tail can paralyse the nerves to the bladder etc. If these are functioning normally then all will be fine once surgery (if it is needed is done)
What did the xrays show?
They didn't do xrays. They could see the joint was swollen and it wouldn't show anything. The anti inflammatory drugs we are feeding him daily is to see if the swelling reduces and he gets the tail to come back to life, which I will be ecstatic if it did, but I don't hold my hopes high on this. We have a discussion with the vet, like I say about whats best in a week Thursday, as D day on what we need to do. It hasn't changed him. He's asleep behind me, on the sofa while I take the cats seat on the floor and is very happy, just a bit miffed its in the way when he sits. He is able to loo and seems clean, which is brilliant. The worry was his spinal potential injury being so close to his back end, but seems we have been lucky. Always fancied a Manx, but not converting a cat to be one !!
Oh Ok. Bit surprised especially if they suspected an rta and also to see if the swelling was caused by fractured/ displaced tail bone as if severely displaced this would be almost a cert for amputation. We xrayed my dogs tail after he trapped it in a gate and it confirmed a fracture that wasn't obvious on external examination. We also xrayed my cats when she had a random swelling appear on her tail and half her tail drooped, to assess if it was a fracture or just soft tissue (it was soft tissue and she also needed antibiotics for it, still don't know how she did that one!!). I kind of assumed, sorry for that.
Anti inflammatories should start getting some response within about 3 days if it is just soft tissue.
Anti inflammatories should start getting some response within about 3 days if it is just soft tissue.
The vet decided that to xray the tail would need him to be sedated and since it was far away from his back and the injury was visible as to not being needed, although he did mention xrays. Lets hope the swelling goes down, although it hasn't affected Sams need to jump the garden fence and eat next doors dog food again this morning !!
Our cat was hit by a car on wednesday and had one of her rear legs amputated on Thursday afternoon. She's been home for 24 hours and is hopping around being grumpy that she can't climb things at present. I'm astounded by the speed of adaptability in her. It's incredible.
If they amputate I'm sure your cat will be fine. Good luck
If they amputate I'm sure your cat will be fine. Good luck
Justin S said:
The vet decided that to xray the tail would need him to be sedated and since it was far away from his back and the injury was visible as to not being needed, although he did mention xrays. Lets hope the swelling goes down, although it hasn't affected Sams need to jump the garden fence and eat next doors dog food again this morning !!
Keep him in. Without use/ feeling of the tail he could trap it or damage it further, though it is good he is feeling lively!!I woukd still have xrayed but that's just me!!
One of ours lost his a couple of years ago. He came in obviously in distress and bleeding from his nether regions. We took him straight in and it was clear to the vet that he'd separated the joint/vertebrae where his tail joined the base of the spine. Basically only the skin was holding it on. There was no chance for the tail so that came off. The main concern was for the nerves in the area that serve this colon/rectum and ureter. Apparently it is common for these to be damaged badly in these situations.
Anyway he recovered and all his bodily functions were intact. He is now absolutely fine and it makes no apparent difference to him at all.
Once again I was glad he was insured as the total bill was around the 1400 mark.
Anyway he recovered and all his bodily functions were intact. He is now absolutely fine and it makes no apparent difference to him at all.
Once again I was glad he was insured as the total bill was around the 1400 mark.
Next doors cat had a tail as described in the OP. All limp after one point that had a minor trauma and swelling. Once the swelling went down/things healed up (with vet prescription for something I believe), the tail returned to it's full function.
So all is not lost yet. Even if it does come to it, cats with missing parts gain more than they lose in personality IMO.
So all is not lost yet. Even if it does come to it, cats with missing parts gain more than they lose in personality IMO.
, very true ^^. Thanks everyone for your writings. Sam is asleep next to me with the open fire roaring away. The dog has just given him a kiss, as she knows he's very quiet. Usually they are both mucking around in the house. Lets hope the swelling does go down, especially with a bill mentioned above !!. He's not insured, but we are aware of vet costs etc. Luckily the dog is insured when she broke her leg and ended up at the supervets to be rebuilt. He doesn't venture far, especially after we lost our other cat 3 months ago, so usually goes out to loo and hangs around for food or wind the dog up.
I have a 'fearless' cat with no tail. (Grebo).
One trouble that I have noticed is that she seems to have lost a little control of her 'waste facilities'.
No2's are a bit traumatic, but seem better now she is out hunting and killing, and presumably eating small furry things, but she is constantly leaking piss everywhere, especially when she's asleep.
She seems OK in herself and is out and about, and active enough.
PITA though, I managed to step on her today when I was trying to feed her - not sure that was related to the tail though....
One trouble that I have noticed is that she seems to have lost a little control of her 'waste facilities'.
No2's are a bit traumatic, but seem better now she is out hunting and killing, and presumably eating small furry things, but she is constantly leaking piss everywhere, especially when she's asleep.
She seems OK in herself and is out and about, and active enough.
PITA though, I managed to step on her today when I was trying to feed her - not sure that was related to the tail though....
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