I was recently adopted by a stray cat. Her tail is 1/2 missing and what is left of it is pretty mangled. I am wondering it would be better for her to have the damaged part removed or if it could be mentally harmful for her.
2007-03-22 15:49:28 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
I would ask a vet, not a person on here who says they work as a vet's assistant......... if the vet says the tail is not a problem, then don't do it just for looks.
2007-03-22 15:54:23 · answer #1 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having the tail removed will screw up kitties balance for a little bit but given time, will learn to live without it. Having a mangled up tail the rest of its life is not very nice. Imagine having a busted finger or two your whole life. It's just paving the way for infection or other complications down the road. As against I am of cutting off tails, I think it would be best for kitty to have it taken off.
2007-03-22 23:20:03 · answer #2 · answered by no name brand canned beans 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your vet's advice would be the best way to go.
IMHO, cats need their tails for balance, especially when they are jumping and then landing on something,
Docking what's left of the tail might possibly cause her problems when she is jumping and trying to make a decent landing.
2007-03-22 22:54:50 · answer #3 · answered by aattura 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The damage is done so I'd do the rest, it will look better and I think would be more healthy for it. Ask a vet, just love it to pieces and the missing part wont be a mental problem.
2007-03-22 23:20:03 · answer #4 · answered by Grandma of six 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mentally, I don't think losing the tail would be hard for her. She might be physically a little off-balance for a while until she learns to compensate for the missing tail, but if it's that damaged she's probably already learning to compensate for it. You should get a vet to look at it and give you a medical opinion. It's hard for folks on here to give you advice since we can't see it!
2007-03-22 22:52:50 · answer #5 · answered by kittenpie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for caring for this poor kitty. Yes; the tail ought to be docked. But make sure the VET does the docking OK? One of my cats has a docked tail - from birth. He is very proud of it!
2007-03-23 04:54:10 · answer #6 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go ahead and ask the vet to remove it. it's obviously bothering you. And maybe if it does mess up her balance, you'll think the wobble is cute. You don't need anyone's approval on here to get done, all that matters is that you love her and if the mangled tail is thwarting your efforts, then off it is. Don't let anyone sway your decision without talking to the vet first. ok, good luck (=oo=)
2007-03-23 04:09:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to the vet about it and take his/her best advice. I suppose any serious injury could cause mental stress, but with the tail it could turn out to be a problem with her sense of balance.
2007-03-23 02:50:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your vet.... I believe there is a lot of spinal anatomy that goes with the tail.... not a good idea of thinking of getting rid of it.. Let an animal hospital or a vet give you the correct info.
2007-03-22 22:57:14 · answer #9 · answered by stevedrz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to ask your vet about the tail, but cats get over emotional issues like losing a limb or a tail really quickly
2007-03-22 23:51:21 · answer #10 · answered by katie d 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋