Hmm i have take my cat to the vet twice $224 later and i still have a cat that is angry and chasing her tail. Seems to only happen in the morning but is lately steadily getting worse.
She had her anal glands drained but was no different.
Im at a loose end as to what to do next. Have tried cat lax and milk as the milk is supposed to give them loose stools as i find that i think she is constipated but this isnt working..
What to do next is the problem this started the day after giving her a flea treatment on the back of the neck and yes i got the treatment at the vet so hmm something to think about there. .
Have not given her that treatment since as i am positive its what started this problem.
Any answer to try would be wonderful she growls hisses and bites at her tail the vet said his only answer is its phycological
Oct 13, 2008 Rating
Fighting with Tail by: Jessica
My 2-yr old cat has this problem too. I've tried to give her the best environment possible, but she continues to his growl and fight w/her tail and her back does twitch. I've googled it and there is some information about a rolling back syndrome or somthing of that nature.
Sep 17, 2008 Rating
My Max.. by: Anonymous
Also has been attacking his tail for a couple of years now and the vet did say that it's probably a neurological problem and I do agree, but why does it start happening as they get older? Max was and outside cat for a short time until he was attacked by an animal outside, after that I kept him in. He's such a sweet cat and it drives me crazy to see him acting this way, he is definately stressed. I had given him a flea and worm treatment from the vet a few years in a row. It was liquid form that you put on their necks and I'm seriuosly wondering whether that has had a permanent effect on him.
Comment by Kate
As cats get older just like us they start to suffer from illnesses more and that can include mental degeneration too. perhaps this tail chasing is just a symptom of that.
It does sound distressing though, and i am surprised that the vet could not give him something that may calm him or reduce the irritation.
As for the flea trea treatment, thousands of cats use it every day and as far as i know there have been no reports of illness. It probably is just a coincidence. It is important to give flea and worm treatments though as this can also be a nasty problme for a cat. i always recommned using the treatments sold by vets as the ones sold over the counter may be cheaper but are much less affective.
Sep 01, 2008 Rating
Mine too keeps chasing her tail by: Mavis
My cat too keeps chasing her tail, shes been doing this on and off for some years and I was advised by my vet that it was stress (we were doing building work at the time) Now its still there but much much worse, shes hissing, growling, wipping her tail, chasing it, biting it, has these big eyes and makes everyone jump, inlcuding our other cat. But this time we have noticed a bald patch on her back above her tail. Ive also noticed her roll her skin up and down her back when she twitches but she wont allow me near her to take a proper look. She charges around the house as if trying to lose her tail. If anyone finds out what they think it is I would be very much interested and appreciated of their comments.
Sep 01, 2008 Rating
Mine too keeps chasing her tail by: Mavis
My cat too keeps chasing her tail, shes been doing this on and off for some years and I was advised by my vet that it was stress (we were doing building work at the time) Now its still there but much much worse, shes hissing, growling, wipping her tail, chasing it, biting it, has these big eyes and makes everyone jump, inlcuding our other cat. But this time we have noticed a bald patch on her back above her tail. Ive also noticed her roll her skin up and down her back when she twitches but she wont allow me near her to take a proper look. She charges around the house as if trying to lose her tail. If anyone finds out what they think it is I would be very much interested and appreciated of their comments.
Aug 03, 2008 Rating
cat chasing,hissing at tail by: Linda
I've already taken my cat to the vet,and can't really afford to keep taking her.This was late May.The vet couldn't explain it,but did give her a shot to stop itching as she had been biting off all the fur off her back side.Even with the Advantage.
I think around April she started chasing her tail once in a while. Now it's gotten to the point of her chasing and hissing at her tail whenever she's awake. I did have a small gas leak in my house,so I thought maybe it was the gas leak making her demented.I had my stove fixed, my heater fixed,and she is still chasing and hissing.She does it the most when I'm trying to go to bed-she likes to lay right next to me,I'll start falling asleep,and she'll start fighting with her tail. I'm sure the guy that lives on the other side of my wall thinks I'm beating the cat,or the cat is in a fight! Is she getting senile,do I put her on cat sedatives?
Answer by Kate
oh Linda i wish i could give you an answer, but I am not a vet and so wouldn't want to to make a diagnosis.
I haven't really seen this beahvior before, not long term any way. i am serprised that the vet did not do further tests etc or even give you any ideas as to what it could be. After all he is suppossed to be the expert in animal care.
It could be a mental thing, ie as she gets older, but as i say as i jave net heard of this before it is difficult to say.
I know vet bills can be very expensive but if you think your cat may be distressed by this chasing then there isn't much else you can do. I don't know if there any animal charities of homes where you are who may be able to advise or offer some help.
Jul 16, 2008 Rating
Chasing Tail by: Colleen
My male cat, who I believe is about 13 or 14 yrs old - we found him - has been exhibiting this same sort of behavior. It started about 3 weeks ago. It would not be such a problem except that my dogs seem to think he is in a cat fight as well and so a lot of barking starts up and it usually is in the morning hours. He is an outdoor/indoor cat. Again, it does not happen all the time and until today, was just happening outside, but this morning he exhibited the behavior indoors. He does not have any physical issues either so I am wondering if it is some sort of dementia or something like that.
May 23, 2008 Rating
weird tail chasing by: melly dee
although i don't have an answer to this question either, i feel that some of the other comments have helped me a little bit. i now know what to kind of expect once i take my cat to the vet. i think it's a very odd thing, because it came on so suddenly :) At first i thought it was a tick, but she is an indoor cat and never has access to the outdoors... i'll comment again if i get any answers. good luck!
May 16, 2008 Rating
Chasing Tail by: Anonymous
Our cat has begun this strange behaviour too. three weeks ago she began chasing her tail and it is becoming more frequent and she has begun hissing at her tail. She is an extremely friendly cat about 10yrs old.
She seems to have itchy ears that have been treated several times for ear-mites with little difference.
Any ideas?
Answer by kate
Has the vet checked to see if she may be allergic to anything which may be causing her extreme itching? I only ask as Our cat went through a similar period and the vet discovered that she was alergic to flea bites, even though she did not have flease herself she was bitten by one from the bgarden and that was enough to set her off.
May 07, 2008 Rating
Tail Chaser by: Anonymous
Hello there,
My cat started chasing her tail about almost two weeks ago. Just like you, we thought it was cute at first but now we are worried. We took her to the vet this morning and the physical exam showed that everything was fine but we are doing blood work to rule out anything internal. The vet said that it might be a behavioral disorder or nuerological that medicine might help once we find out what it is. If you or anyone else has more information on this I would appreciate more information.
Thanks.
May 06, 2008 Rating
cat chasing tail by: Anonymous
Our 4 year old female cat does the very same thing! She used to growl and chase her tail all the time before she was spayed. It was such an awful sound! Almost like she was going to attack us! After she was fixed, it let up for about 2 years. When it returned, I too, brought her to the vets thinking she was in pain. The vet drained her anal glands and gave her an enema just in case...but to no avail. The vet DID say that there's a type of condition that some cats develop --almost like a prickly feeling that runs up their backs and tails. The way it's treated is with something like Prozac. I've not pursued this because I can't imagine giving this cat meds of any kind. She only allows so much human contact...and definately only on her terms. She was abandoned or lost as a very tiny kitten. Our Lab found her at, they think, 4 weeks of age. She needed to be bottle fed. Although she seemed to like the attention as a baby, she's not especially fond of us now.
Good luck with your cat! You're not alone :-)
