How to Tell if a Cat’s Tail is Broken
Cats use their tails for communication and balance. A broken tail usually heals on its own without being splinted. In some cases, a broken tail will require professional attention from a vet. Nerve damage can occur if a cat breaks their tail, and in rare cases, it may require surgery.
If your cat breaks their tail, they may suffer from bowel and bladder issues and if you have any questions about the causes, treatments and long-term impact of a broken tail then read the Expert's answers below.
Diagnosis and Treatment
X-rays are the only way to find out if a cat’s tail is officially broken. Some vets can identify if there has been a break in your cat's tail through examination. Your vet can't do anything specific for a broken tail, but they will monitor your cat as they heal. If there are any soft tissue injuries such as cuts or wounds, they will need to be cleaned to avoid infection.
Stitches may also be needed if the wound is larger than a centimetre. If stitches are not required, the scar will be allowed heal on its own over several days. After the exam, your vet may prescribe pain medications to alleviate the pain. Antibiotics may be needed if there is any discharge.
How to Fix Your Cat’s Broken Tail at Home
If your cat has a broken tail, they are likely to experience swelling or an abscess. Use an ice pack on the fractured tail to help alleviate the pain. A small dose of aspirin can also act as a pain reliever. You cat can have aspirin every 72 hours at 5 mg per pound (10 mg per kilogram) of body weight. You may need to confine your cat to a small area to keep it from causing further injury to its tail.
Whenever your pet has an injury, you will inevitably have questions and concerns about their symptoms, treatment plan, or whether they need urgent medical attention. Get answers from Experts on JustAnswer any time, day or night, from the convenience of your own home.
Avoid Splints
If your cat has a broken tail, then please don’t use a splint. Your cat will probably find it intolerable, and it's often a source of great discomfort. Your vet will provide appropriate medications as needed and it may take your cat a few weeks to recover. The vet's prognosis will be okay as long as there are no problems with urinating and defecating.
When to Consider Amputation
Your cat's broken tail may require amputating if they have no feeling left in their tail and their blood supply is infected. If it's only partly broken, then it may become a source of an infection if their soft tissue circulation is no longer present.
The dead weight of a broken tail can also increase pain.
Circulation may also be compromised because of a dislocation between the fracture fragments. If the cat does not react to the damaged area, there may be no nerve function or blood flow to the area beyond the break.
Bathroom Accidents
Your house trained cat may endure further accidents due to their broken tail trauma. A loss of nerve input and control of the urethra and anus may result from a broken tail. Nerve fibres send signals down the spinal cord to the anal sphincter, which keeps the anus closed, leaving stool inside the rectum. The urethra is held closed by the urethral sphincter, which is also controlled by nerves in the spinal cord. These signals can be disrupted by spinal cord injuries, causing the muscles to become weak or loose.
Please see a vet if your cat is incontinent after a tail injury.