Has anyone on here ever had to have their cats tail removed? If so, were they put to sleep for the operation or was it as simple as carterizing it on the spot?

Our kitty's tail is really messed up and I'm pretty sure it is dead on the end past the point where it is open and bleeding. I'm taking him to the vet first thing tomorrow morning, but I would like to know what to expect.


The story on the tail: We don't know how it happened, so don't even ask.

10/6/2006 9:32:57 PM

A google search didn't turn up much

http://www.cindydrew.com/cats/story43.shtml

Just one lady who made the cat an indoors cat after a tail removal & some other stuff.

I've been working at Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic for over a month, haven't seen or heard of anything like this yet though, so let me know how it turns out.

Best wishes!

[Edited on October 6, 2006 at 9:44 PM. Reason : http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_cats_with_broken_tails.html]

10/6/2006 9:41:14 PM

If infection has spread through any of the tissue and bone of the tail then it will likely be removed. My mom went through this experience with one of her cats (due to an infected area from another cat's bite) and described the situation as miserable. The entire tail was removed and the resulting wound was pretty awful. It demands alot of care, especially right after surgery. The cat was absolutely put to sleep for the procedure -- you can't just cauterize an animal tail. It's major surgery; but it will turn out ok if properly taken care of.

I wasn't around when my mom's cat walked after the surgery, but apparently he didn't have too much trouble adjusting with balance. I was worried that he'd walk all wobbly for the rest of his life . It took awhile, but now it just looks as if he was born without a tail.

Good luck with the appointment; hopefully you won't have to deal with it. Just be prepared to give your kitty major TLC afterwards if the surgery is suggested.

10/6/2006 9:55:17 PM

i hope to god youd anesthatize the cat

10/6/2006 10:00:14 PM

Try centrifugal force

10/6/2006 10:11:10 PM

Well, I called the emergency vet because I am getting a little anxious over it all. She said that they can just sedate him with an IV and if that don't work-THEN they use anesthesia on them. See, the wound is about 4 inches below the tip, so a reduction to a nub wouldn't be necessary. But a partial removal would. She said they have to get between the vertebrae, and it's really a simple thing if it is necessary. I just hope everything will turn out.
She also mentioned something about using a lampshade as an alternative if it is fixable-but it looks REALLY REALLY bad! Oh, I feel so bad for the poor little guy, but I can't let him suffer.

[Edited on October 6, 2006 at 10:24 PM. Reason : ]

10/6/2006 10:23:37 PM

take him to ncstate. students get free dont they?

10/6/2006 10:27:18 PM

Seriously?? I called there one time to see about having a kittens pelvis fixed, and they said they didn't work on just any animal, it had to be a project animal or some BS like that.

10/6/2006 10:30:48 PM

there's got to be an "enough room to swing a cat" joke in her somewhere

10/6/2006 10:31:22 PM

I looked it up, your animal must be referred to the NCSU Vet from your current vet. They're only open M-F 8-5. There are still charges as well, but wouldnt be as much as a normal vet, since they're supported.

[Edited on October 6, 2006 at 10:37 PM. Reason : ]

10/6/2006 10:36:34 PM

unfortunately

we had a dog emergency once, and ncsu vet school just told us to fuck off basically and there was nothing they could do, even for students or whatever. just a rumor

10/6/2006 10:41:10 PM

That's how it was when I called about the kitten. Needless to say, the kitten had to be put to sleep that day by another vet.

10/6/2006 10:42:58 PM

i can kinda see why they wouldnt do that though. it would end up getting abused, much like mexicans with colds at the emergency room at human hospitals.

10/6/2006 10:48:15 PM

Poor scooter

10/6/2006 10:55:53 PM

^^True. But still, thats no reason to take it away from everyone.

Poor Grits. He's such a good boy.

10/6/2006 10:59:56 PM

nasteeer had her cat's tail removed last month. he was unable to move it and it just got in the way. it's healing nicely. i think they put him under during the surgery.
he is a little unbalanced now, falls over sometimes...but otherwise, it's actually kind of cute.
it's this little guy ...

remember him?

10/6/2006 11:32:14 PM

damn, next to that kitten, the grey cat looks like a mountain lion!

10/6/2006 11:41:42 PM

^^AWW!! I bet hes big now! I hope everything goes ok. I don't know if its normal for a pet owner to have so much anxiety over it! But I am worried about the poor fella.

10/6/2006 11:43:20 PM

carterizing

10/7/2006 12:15:07 AM

this thread makes me sad

10/7/2006 12:38:31 AM

my dad ran over my cat's tail when i was a little girl so we took her in to get in cut off. i'm pretty sure they put her under, i don't remember. but afterwards she was fine. i hope your kitty is doing good

10/7/2006 12:46:16 AM

10/7/2006 1:37:13 AM

My cats seem really attached to their tails. I can't imagine them without them.

Why do they have to remove the tail? Can't they just bandage it up and have it heal?

10/7/2006 3:08:37 AM

10/7/2006 3:22:37 AM

^^No, I've been bandaging it myself, and all he does is make it worse. He chews the bangade until his tail starts bleeding like crazy.


We woke up this morning to find that he has chewed the end of his tail off. We cannot find the tip of the tail. He has an appointment for 9:20, so we'll see what happens. He is much more playful this morning than he has been lately, oddly enough.

10/7/2006 9:02:39 AM

well....sick...but, problem solved

10/7/2006 9:54:01 AM

We got back from the vet a little while ago. The put some aloe gel and a red bandage on it and a lampshade. She wants to see him Monday to make sure its healing-but NO SURGERY!!! YAY!!! Although, he kinda surgeried it by himself.

He's all snuggled up in my lap asleep right now, but he is so pissed at the lampshade. I have a funny video loading to youtube right now, so maybe y'all can see it in a few.

I am so relieved, all that worry last night and he was in the other room taking care of business!

WARNING: The tail pic is not pretty. Do not click to enlarge it if you can't handle it.

The tail:

After the vet:

[Edited on October 7, 2006 at 10:17 AM. Reason : ]

10/7/2006 10:01:47 AM

cats like to sleep bad shit off like that

10/7/2006 10:38:16 AM

He's been asleep since he stopped freaking out on the collar! He came in my room with this pissed look in his eyes and swatted me a few times then I picked him up, and hes been snoozing since in my arms!

10/7/2006 10:44:20 AM

10/7/2006 12:16:03 PM

10/7/2006 12:17:15 PM

10/7/2006 12:18:15 PM

related story....

my cat, Jack, whom I rescued, lives indoors & outdoors at my parents house out at Jordan lake. Long story short, they came home one night to find him EATING his tail. They would hear him cry, and then run into the room and there he was, eating it away.

We think he got bit or got part of it ripped off or someting out in the woods. It ended up costing my parents like $600 to get it sewed up at the vets (they put him under). He is so sweet....but he definitely went crazy for a while there. I wish I had a pic of his new, shorter tail.

10/7/2006 2:35:59 PM