Cat's tail severed in door

I am posting not so much for advice on what to do, but for some "comfort" because I am feeling so horrible. Last night around 11 pm I was leaving the bedroom to come out and watch a tv show with my boyfriend. All of a sudden my one-year old male tabby (Max) very quickly attacked my leg, hissed, and skittered off. Unbeknownst to me, he was still exiting the room and he rubs the door ways and his tail was caught in the hinge side of the door when it closed. I was hysterical (never good in crisis) but BF confirmed the tip of Max's tail was gone. I was wailing and crying and then I saw it--a huge clump of hair in the door. And apparently, the end of his tail. OH MY GOD!!!!!

I have no words for how traumatized, guilty and upset I was and still am. We IMMEDIATELY put him in his crate (bagged the tail, what was left) and rushed him to the nearest e-vet (where we have been before with our other tabby who had a bout of hepatic lipidosis last yr and needed a feeding tube). Long story short, the vet confirmed the tail tip had been degloved and fur/skin removed and bone exposed (OMG...) and the only viable course of action is to amputate the damaged portion to prevent infection/necrosis.

So poor Max has lost about an inch or so (I think) of his beautiful fluffy raccoon tail. Because of me.

We left Max at the vet overnight, and received a call around 3:30 saying the surgery was a success, and 7 am call saying he was ready to go home. I had to work today so I am at work (after almost NO sleep) but BF is going to be picking him up and caring for him. From what the vet told me this is a common thing and cats are frequently getting their tails injured bc they get in the way. No matter what, I feel horrible and guilty that this was "my fault" and that I hurt my precious baby who I love more than anything (I don't have any human children).

I have every reason to believe he will recover from this but any words of comfort or stories you know of that are similar would be nice to hear.

Thank you <3

~Victoria

 I am so sorry for the trauma you and Max went through last night.  But don't beat yourself up.  It was an accident.  Max knows you love him.  as you said, the vet said the surgery is a success.  Maybe his tail won't be as pretty but he'll be fine.

I don't know any similar stories with cats but I know someone who has a three-legged dog.  I don't know how it lost its leg but it's very happy and well-loved.  My son loves to play with it every time we're over.  Max will probably soon forget his tail used to be longer.

I'm so sorry that this happened. I really think that things like us hurt us just as much as they do them. He's going to be OK. Please stop beating yourself up over it. They call things like this accidents for a reason. You obviously very much and you would never hurt him on purpose. He knows this too and he still loves you just as much as he always has. 

Your cat will be fine. Of course you are stricken with guilt. However if he had not attacked your leg you would not have slammed the door and this would not have happened. We call them accidents because no one planned for this to happen.

Not a cat, but a dog story. She was a beautiful black hound, lab X weimaraner, with a sturdy tail that was always wagged, forcefully. One day she must have wagged it into the edge of a door frame or something and cut it near the tip. Circulation is poor out there. She was on antibiotics, had it bandaged, I even made a small cage-type covering for the tip so she wouldn't break the scab as it healed.

Changing the bandage one day (a two person job as she weighed 72 pounds and did not enjoy this) and there was the smell of rotting meat. Gangrene had started.

No choice but to amputate. Now, I don't approve of docking but this was a different matter. I decided that just taking off the tip would look odd so had the vet dock her like a German short hair pointer. Major surgery as she was adult. But all went well, she healed beautifully, and the hair covered the small scar.

People would look at her and say, "What a beautiful dog! But I don't recognize the breed. What is she?" We would tell them she was a weimador, or sometimes a labaramer.

I did that when I first got my cat Bailey, probably in the first week I had her. She didn't lose her tail, but in reaction my sweet, gentle cat sunk her claws into my leg and drew blood through my jeans. I remember how awful I felt. However, in spite of this shaky beginning, she and I went on to develop a lovely tight bond and I miss her terribly. Subconsciously after that, I was always careful of her when she was near a door. I have made room for a new cat in my life and I actually noticed the other day that I am very conscious of her tail when she is near a door I am closing - I think I noticed because she is very kitten-like in her behaviour and I have to constantly pay attention to where she is and what she's doing, so when her tail is near the door - I remember what could happen. Anyway the point is - these things happen. You guys will move on from it. Take care.

Catapault said:

 
Your cat will be fine. Of course you are stricken with guilt. However if he had not attacked your leg you would not have slammed the door and this would not have happened. We call them accidents because no one planned for this to happen.

Not a cat, but a dog story. She was a beautiful black hound, lab X weimaraner, with a sturdy tail that was always wagged, forcefully. One day she must have wagged it into the edge of a door frame or something and cut it near the tip. Circulation is poor out there. She was on antibiotics, had it bandaged, I even made a small cage-type covering for the tip so she wouldn't break the scab as it healed.

Changing the bandage one day (a two person job as she weighed 72 pounds and did not enjoy this) and there was the smell of rotting meat. Gangrene had started.

No choice but to amputate. Now, I don't approve of docking but this was a different matter. I decided that just taking off the tip would look odd so had the vet dock her like a German short hair pointer. Major surgery as she was adult. But all went well, she healed beautifully, and the hair covered the small scar.

People would look at her and say, "What a beautiful dog! But I don't recognize the breed. What is she?" We would tell them she was a weimador, or sometimes a labaramer.

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Your story reminded me of something that happened to a dog of mine many years ago. We had a german shepherd mix and she liked to play in the woods behind the house. She came home one day with a bloody tail. She had gotten into a scrape with a raccoon. She ended up losing almost all of her tail. It went from a long, fluffy tail to what you'd see on a doberman with a cropped tail. She was 100% fine after it healed and she used to wag that little tail like crazy. Animals are resilient. They bounce back from these things. They really do. 

Hi Catapult - thank you for sharing your dog "tail." I am so sorry to hear that happened but it is good you had the tail removed before gangrene took over. So scary.

Oh and maybe I wasn't clear--he attacked my leg as/immediately after he was closed in the door. He was (obviously) extremely startled and I happened to be standing right there. I don't think either of us knew what was going on it happened so fast. He isn't a cat who would attack for no reason. Poor guy...

PicklesPepper said:

 I am so sorry for the trauma you and Max went through last night.  But don't beat yourself up.  It was an accident.  Max knows you love him.  as you said, the vet said the surgery is a success.  Maybe his tail won't be as pretty but he'll be fine.





I don't know any similar stories with cats but I know someone who has a three-legged dog.  I don't know how it lost its leg but it's very happy and well-loved.  My son loves to play with it every time we're over.  Max will probably soon forget his tail used to be longer.

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Thank you PicklesPepper. I hope you are right. In my opinion I think animals make better recoveries from trauma than humans do. They are troopers.

AbbyBaby said:

I did that when I first got my cat Bailey, probably in the first week I had her. She didn't lose her tail, but in reaction my sweet, gentle cat sunk her claws into my leg and drew blood through my jeans. I remember how awful I felt. However, in spite of this shaky beginning, she and I went on to develop a lovely tight bond and I miss her terribly. Subconsciously after that, I was always careful of her when she was near a door. I have made room for a new cat in my life and I actually noticed the other day that I am very conscious of her tail when she is near a door I am closing - I think I noticed because she is very kitten-like in her behaviour and I have to constantly pay attention to where she is and what she's doing, so when her tail is near the door - I remember what could happen. Anyway the point is - these things happen. You guys will move on from it. Take care.

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You're lucky Bailey was able to keep her tail. Obviously I will be careful (probably to the point of paranoia) with the cat near doors from now on. Not that I don't think that I wasn't being careful, I just didn't see him there...

TwoTabbies said:

 

You're lucky Bailey was able to keep her tail. Obviously I will be careful (probably to the point of paranoia) with the cat near doors from now on. Not that I don't think that I wasn't being careful, I just didn't see him there...

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I think in her case it was more a pinch than the whole tail being caught, but yes, it could have been worse. You will probably find that you check, even without being completely aware you are doing so, every time you close a door from now on. It isn't paranoia so much as it is something that becomes a very good habit. Both for him and for your legs.

Update: According to BF Max is home and doing well, besides being bothered by his cone. He is having difficulty with the litter box even with the top removed--the vet suggested a shallow baking pan.

I have yet to see him but he seems to be okay, according to BF's reports, and our other cat seems confused by the whole ordeal.

I really appeciate all of your comments and taking the time to read my post

What a traumatic event!  So sorry you had to go through this.  The good thing is, though, once he heals up and gets out of that cone, Max is really likely to be just fine and not hold a lasting memory of what happened.  As humans, on the other hand, we will always remember such an event.  Try to go easy on yourself.  Some number of people each day injure their pets in accidents like this, and you were just one of the unlucky ones this time.

2bcat said:

 
What a traumatic event!  So sorry you had to go through this.  The good thing is, though, once he heals up and gets out of that cone, Max is really likely to be just fine and not hold a lasting memory of what happened.  As humans, on the other hand, we will always remember such an event.  Try to go easy on yourself.  Some number of people each day injure their pets in accidents like this, and you were just one of the unlucky ones this time.

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Thank you--I do agree that it is in many ways harder on us than it is on them. Obviously if I did not love my kitty I would probably not be spending my time here posting. It has been a very difficult 12-14 hours since the event and I am hoping that in time we all can recover.

As everyone else has said - it was just an accident and will have no lasting adverse effects. The one thing I would add is that you immediately did the right thing. You raced your kitty off to the vet for treatment. I read a sad story where that wasn't done and the poor cat suffered longer than it should have - so give yourself credit for taking good care of your kitty.

I would feel awful, too. Accidents happen and he is alive and healthy!! You do owe him extra hugs and kisses, though lol

Glad to hear Max is home and doing ok.  

I had a bit of a scare myself a few months ago when I had the screen off one of my casement windows.  Ruby jumped up on the window ledge and I was scared she might try to jump out the window and I started cranking the window closed.  She suddenly let out a shriek and I realized her tail was getting jammed in the closing window. Fortunately I stayed calm, re-opened the window and released her tail. I had a few seconds of terror fearing her tail might be injured, but after feeling along her tail and not getting any painful response from her, I felt everything was ok.   It really scared me, and now I'm extra, extra careful when I am opening or closing the windows to ensure she is not around.

Another cat tail jamming incident happened many years ago with a family cat.  She was at least 10 years old, but possibly older when someone was going out the door, didn't see her following and the storm door closed on her tail.  Again we were lucky and there was no injury, however, it was the VERY FIRST time we ever heard her meow.  And once she discovered she had a voice she continued to meow like a regular kitty for the rest of her life.   Her purring, though, never got any louder, and we would only hear it when you pressed your ear right in her fur.

rubysmama said:

 
Glad to hear Max is home and doing ok. 

I had a bit of a scare myself a few months ago when I had the screen off one of my casement windows.  Ruby jumped up on the window ledge and I was scared she might try to jump out the window and I started cranking the window closed.  She suddenly let out a shriek and I realized her tail was getting jammed in the closing window. Fortunately I stayed calm, re-opened the window and released her tail. I had a few seconds of terror fearing her tail might be injured, but after feeling along her tail and not getting any painful response from her, I felt everything was ok.   It really scared me, and now I'm extra, extra careful when I am opening or closing the windows to ensure she is not around.

Another cat tail jamming incident happened many years ago with a family cat.  She was at least 10 years old, but possibly older when someone was going out the door, didn't see her following and the storm door closed on her tail.  Again we were lucky and there was no injury, however, it was the VERY FIRST time we ever heard her meow.  And once she discovered she had a voice she continued to meow like a regular kitty for the rest of her life.   Her purring, though, never got any louder, and we would only hear it when you pressed your ear right in her fur.

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Whew those are close calls, but at least you avoided the major trauma (unlike me)! I have definitely almost gotten him before, you would think I would be more careful but if I don't see him, I don't see him. I swear cats can be like ninjas sometimes!

The vet sent BF home with an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic that we have to give him periodically. From what I hear he is resting comfortably even with his cone. Poor guy! I can't wait to get out of work and see him, this Monday is even longer than usual.

When I was kid, my dad tripped over one of our cats and stepped on his tail. The last joint in the tail was always crooked after that. But he was still a happy, normal cat after that. So don't feel too guilty. You obviously didn't smash Max's tail in the door on purpose. He will be a happy, normal cat too as soon as he heals. Maybe you can just spoil him in the meantime to ease your guilt. He would probably love that! Glad to hear things went well at the vet.

Another kitty tail update, in case anyone is interested--

Max has been recovering well. The first night he got the cone off his head and loosened a stitch. BF took him to the vet and they assured it was okay and he only loosened one knot and there are many. He has to wear the cone until next Tuesday I think...

The spot on my leg where he grabbed me with his claws (puncture wounds) became infected...my coworkers noticed yesterday when I got to work. There was a huge patch of red around and it kept getting worse. Very swollen, painful. I went to an urgent care clinic and they confirmed infection and I am now on azithromycin to kick the infection, which has improved dramatically overnight.

But what an ordeal--for both of us!

PS: The end of his tail looks like a Slim Jim. It's so sad.

Glad to hear Max's recovery is coming along.  Had to Google "Slim Jim" .   Poor tail.  

Good thing your co-workers noticed your leg and you got the antibiotics.   Sending vibes for a continued speedy recovery for both of you.