Q&A for How to Treat a Cat's Broken Tail

The weak point in a cat's tail is the ligaments holding the line of small bones together. It is these ligaments that usually snap, leading to a kink in the tail. It's difficult (and usually not necessary) to fix the ligaments, so whilst the cat has a permanently bent tail this is something they can live with.

Limp tails are usually the result of either pain and inflammation (such as a bite from another cat or an abscess) or nerve damage. The most common causes of nerve damage are either a pull injury, where something tugged on their tail, or a traffic accident.

Cats use their tail for balance and to signal to each other. Cats do just fine after the loss of their tail, but it takes a little time for them to adapt and become more confident on their paws.

Yes, it does. Never grab a cat by the tail! Pulling on a cat's tail also pulls on the end of the spinal cord, which is where the nerves for the bladder and bowel come off the spine. Damage in this area leads to fecal and urinary incontinence, with obviously serious implications.

A skin injury may take around 7 — 14 days, provided it isn't infected. Broken bones take on average 4 weeks to mend. However, the bones may not heal in a straight line so any 'kink' in the tail may be permanent.

It's great that the tip is moving because this is an encouraging sign that there's no nerve damage. The most likely explanation is that pain or swelling at the base of the tail is inhibiting the cat from raising it. The commonest reason for this is a bite or abscess.