If a cats tail has nerves, why does it not hurt to "BOB" a cats tail? I had a cat in anatomy lab.?

Question

I don't recall the tail as a part of the cat that we were studying and no discussion on the autonomic nervous system in regard to the tails body language. I guess my question refers to my trying to understand what stimulates her to think because when she is looking out the window she is concentrating and her tail is swishing like she is really thinking, and yet she is a total "fraidy" cat in regard to the out doors. She never purrs much. She is very well fed, treated and loved but doesn't really purr that much. She wakes me up licking me in the face every morning for as much as I will allow. I've studied a little bit but this fascinates me in trying to figure out how she thinks like a cat, but is totally afraid and doesn't want to go outside at all. If I hold her, and open the front door, she will freak out and jump out of my arms and run up the stairs.

Answer 1

I'm not real sure about cats, but i used to raise Boxer puppies. Their tails are bobbed when they are three days old and the nerves and bones are fully developed. It does hurt though, I heard the yelp. When they cauterized it with that hot tool, it hurts.

Answer 2

Who said it does not hurt to bob a cat's tail? and who on earth would do that for anything other than a medical necessity. I had to have one of my cats' tails amputated, but that was because she got hit by a car and the tail got broken and dislocated. I'm pretty sure she was in pain before it got fixed up.

Answer 3

Ah, no way is this a serious q. Not hurt to 'bob' a cat's tail - do you mean amputate? If you're as clever as you claim you'd know that cat's tails are part of their spine and they can not lose them much above halfway without permanently damaging them.

Chalice

Answer 4

Cats tails are not normally bobbed. If it is medically necessary, yes it does hurt and any vet should prescribe good pain medication. A cat twitches its tail as a sign of conflict or excitement.

Answer 5

You have to do it when they are very young before the tail has time to fuse together. Other wise it is a major surgery.