Tabbytudes Cat Behavior Column - March 2003

March 2003

Dear Readers,

Welcome back to the second issue of the new monthly TabbyTudes Column. I'm delighted at the letters you've sent this past month. I regret that I'm only able to answer a single letter in detail, offering some behavior insight and advice to help foster the bond we share with our special felines. If your feline behavior question isn't specifically addressed, please take a look at the Tabby Tip at the end of each column. I'll try to address a couple more questions there. And of course, lots more information is available in my books. *s*

Purrs,
Amy

Letter of the Month: My Cat Bites Her Tail!

We have three cats. Our two neutered males are very "normal" but our spayed female is a bundle of energy to say the least! All three are indoor cats that have a toy box full of toys and a climbing tree with multiple levels on which to play. For the past several months, the little spayed female (who is about 2 years old) will get this "wild" look on her face and chase her tail and then let out a wild fighting sound when she bites it! She's actually chewed the coat off the tip of her tail and it has bled a little on a couple of occasions. We love her dearly but are at a loss as to what to do about this behavior. Would appreciate any input.

Bobbie

Amy Shojai's Reply:

Dear Bobbie,

Although at first glance this looks like a pure "behavior" problem, I suspect it may have a root cause in the physical or emotional realm. Whenever a cat acts a certain way, we must be detectives to figure out the cause before we can attempt to fix the problem. All cat actions can be traced to their root cause with the PET Test, which helps determine if the behavior is due to issues of Physical Health, Emotional Well Being, or Traits of Instinct.

Physical Health: The owner's first step should always be a thorough physical examination by a veterinarian. Believe it or not, some cats become nearly violent when bitten by a single flea. The discomfort of an itch can prompt skin rippling on the lower back, excessive grooming to the point of hair loss and, in rare situations, self mutilation. Cats are such fastidious creatures that many times they groom away fleas and owners never see the bugs. Another possible physical cause of the tail-chasing/biting behavior is back or tail pain. In either case, have your veterinarian rule out a physical cause before assuming the problem is behavioral.

Emotional Well Being: Cats reach social maturity between the ages of two to four years. Prior to that age, your three felines may have gotten along famously with no squabbles. But once they reach this benchmark, some cats decide to argue over which cat gets top billing. Social squabbles can take odd turns, and this may be a factor here-although I must say that tail-chasing behavior is new to me in that context.

In dogs, tail chasing sometimes has an obsessive/compulsive component and in rare cases escalates into self-mutilation. A rare condition called feline hyperesthesia syndrome is thought to be a neurologic/seizure disorder. Cats typically develop signs between the ages of one to four years; Siamese, Burmese, Himalayans and Abyssinians are most commonly affected. The most common sign is excessive grooming-skin ripples on the lower back, the cat's pupils dilate, and she frantically licks or even attacks the area. The second most common behavior pattern is inexplicable aggression-kitty acts friendly, even solicits attention, and then furiously attacks when the owner tries to pet her. The final behavior pattern reported with hyperesthesia syndrome is seizure. Such cats need a neurological workup from a veterinary specialist to get a true diagnosis. You can find such specialists at www.acvim.org, which is the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (look for "neurologist" as a sub-specialty).

Cats diagnosed with hyperesthesia syndrome may be helped with anti-seizure medication or drugs used to treat human obsessive/compulsive disorders. Cats can also sometimes be helped simply by interrupting the behavior-sort of JARRING them out of it with a loud sound of clapping hands, or a squirt gun, or towel tossed on top of them. If the trigger that prompts the behavior can be identified (the sound of the vacuum cleaner, for instance), the condition may be controlled without medication simply by avoiding the trigger.

Traits of Instinct: The third category has to do with natural, normal activities. Cats tend to be very high-energy creatures that go-go-go at top speed, then crash and sleep for hours upon end. In particular, young cats often indulge in bursts of nearly manic play periods. These seem to take place once or twice a day, often in the early morning or early evening hours. Some owners call the behavior "the zooms" when Kitty bounces off the walls (sometimes literally) for many minutes at a time. Cats that spend all day alone with little physical or intellectual stimulation are more prone to these manic displays. All cats need about 20 minutes aerobic exercise twice a day to be healthy, and interactive play with a fishing-pole-style toy that burns some major calories can cool her jets. A tired kitty is a well-behaved kitty!

Bobbie, sometimes there are multiple factors involved. The cat chewing her tail until it bleeds concerns me the most, and I wish you the best in getting the proper diagnosis and help for your special kitty.

Best wishes, Amy