she wandered into our life on a -20 degree day in January. As a result, her ears, one lip, the tip of her nose and the tip of her tail suffered from frostbite. She has always chased her tail, and when she catches it she growls and hisses at it, and she draws blood. Once, she gave herself an abcess. I have talked to the vet about it, and I think it is like some phantom limb thing going on. We got her a playmate, and this seems to decrease the behavior. Any other suggestions?
2007-08-01 19:17:27 · 8 answers · asked by rera1397 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
This could be a form of OCD - obsessive compulsive disorder. There are human drugs like Prozac being used now with animals.
Perhaps the frostbite caused some nerve damage and she can't feel part of her tail and doesn't realize that it is part of her. She attacks it, hurts herself and associates the pain with her tail.
If a playmate has helped, perhaps having more toys will help as well. Cardboard boxes, grocery bags, pingpong balls are all inexpensive distractions.
2007-08-01 19:39:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chances are she's just doing normal cat behavior but the frostbite took away quite a bit of sensation to the tail. There might even be possibly nerve damage to the tip of her tail which causes discomfort. The playmate is probably just a distraction. Amputation is an option that I'd consider.
2007-08-01 19:54:46 · answer #2 · answered by theresa b 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This may sound harsh,but she may be better off if you have her tail amputated.I knew some people who's cat did the same thing,and was constantly making it's tail bleed and it would get infected.Their vet finally recommended amputation,and the cat did fine afterwards,and looks rather cute with it's tiny stub of a tail.If you don't want to do that,ask your vet if you can try the cat on a very low dose of Valium to decrease it's anxiety.Also,provide lots of toys and catnip,and use a squirt bottle filled with water to distract her from her tail. Good luck.
2007-08-01 21:54:56 · answer #3 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everytime she starts to hiss at her tail, I would spray her with a water bottle. She'll soon learn not to do it as cats hate water. Works when they want to scratch on furniture too. lol
You an angel for taking her in and giving her a good home.
2007-08-01 19:27:09 · answer #4 · answered by Eshta 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She probably had frostbite on the tail and can't feel it or it feels painful or weird to her - she's probably attacking it because it's attached to her an she feels like it shouldn't be. She may think something has attached itself to her butt that is trying to attack her.
You might want to think about amputating the tail - talk to her vet about it.
2007-08-01 19:22:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
continually initiate with a topic be counted ou be conscious of the different guy or woman is attracted to and is familiar with lots approximately. this form you initiate off and the different guy or woman on your marvel will take over the verbal substitute.
2016-10-09 01:02:35 · answer #6 · answered by lishego 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try the old squirt gun or spray bottle trick. It won't hurt your cat but it will distract it. Eventually you won't even have to squirt it just seeing the bottle will be enough.
2007-08-01 19:28:35 · answer #7 · answered by Morty Smith C137 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
get on to it every time it does it. sound weird but it will help.
2007-08-01 19:20:30 · answer #8 · answered by razorblade romance 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋