I'm pretty sure my cat Tigger has Stud Tail. On the very base of his tail there is an oily black thick substance. It doesn't stink and when I wash it off it comes right back again. I have no clue what to do?? Is this serious enough to take him to the vet??
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Tigger's Got Stud Tail...
- Thread starter peppurr
- Start Date
My *female* Maine Coon had this until I got her spayed, and it got better after that, so at least for her it was a hormonal thing (hence stud tail). What I did was wash the tail when it got really greasy (like someone had smeared butter on it), regular shampoo usually doesn't do the trick, since they don't remove oily substances very well, so using something that is used to clean hands (over here like Swarfega) or a hand dish washing liquid gets the stuff off- of course you have to rinse very carefully after. Or you can put baby talc (or potato flour) on it, and brush that off, it should take care of the worst. The skin can get irritated or even infected if it's not cleaned often enough, but it's not good to clean it too often either, that may make it worse, too. Sometimes the food they eat influence this as well, so maybe try changing the food and see what happens. This is what I read up on what to do about stud tail when I searched the net, and what my cat's breeder also told me, but of course I'm no expert, maybe others will have other things to say. Seemed to work, her skin was fine and the tail never got any worse.
At least I was told that there's really nothing even a vet can do (but the spaying) to make it go away, you can only manage it. My cat had both stud tail and feline acne before she was spayed, but luckily both problems went away after.
At least I was told that there's really nothing even a vet can do (but the spaying) to make it go away, you can only manage it. My cat had both stud tail and feline acne before she was spayed, but luckily both problems went away after.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
I have never heard of this! Is it something that happens with an un-altered cat?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
Here is some information on Stud Tail:
Feline acne and stud tail
Feline acne and stud tail are two conditions of the cat which are probably more common than is generally appreciated, as most cases are mild and pass unnoticed. More severe cases, however, may respond slowly to treatment and seriously detract from the appearance of the cat.
Two main types of gland are found in the dermis or skin of the cat - the sweat glands and the sebaceous glands. Contrary to popular belief, the sweat glands are found over virtually all of the whole body surface of the cat, although most of these are small and non-functional. Only the glands of the foot pads produce sweat, and wet, sweaty paw marks will often be noticed on the consulting table when a cat is under the stress of a visit to the veterinary surgeon. Most of the sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles and produce an oily secretion, sebum, which waterproofs the hairs and maintains the suppleness of the skin. In addition, a collection of much larger sebaceous glands are found on the chin, the lips, the sparsely haired temporal area (between the eye and ear) and the dorsal (top) surface of the base of the tail. The collection of glands under the skin is sometimes referred to as the submental organ and the glands around the base of the tail are known as the supracaudal organ.
The oily secretion of these larger sebaceous glands appears to have a role in territorial marking and cats will repeatedly rub their chin, lips, temporal area and base of tail over certain objects. In time the secretions build up on favourite marking objects and may be seen as black, greasy patches. Cat owners may have noticed that they are assiduously `marked' by their pets on returning home. Cats will also often mark certain objects at feeding time. The reason for this behaviour is not known.
Overactivity of the submental and supracaudal organs is a relatively common finding and is seen as excessive greasiness of the overlying fur and skin. This is particularly noticeable in the supracaudal region of white cats and appears as a yellow, greasy discolouration. There may also be flecks of black, greasy material on the chin which may be mistaken for flea dirt.
This overactivity of the sebaceous glands predisposes to feline acne and stud tail which are seen in varying degrees of severity. In mild cases, the associated hair follicles become plugged with the black sebaceous material forming comedones. This is similar to acne in man. Secondary infection may result, leading to folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles) and formation of papules and pustules from which beads of pus may be expressed. In severe cases of multiple folliculitis, pyoderma develops, with a mass of discharging tracts or sinuses. Cats with mild feline acne or stud tail show no associated clinical signs but in severe cases there may be severe inflammation and irritation of the overlying skin. The point of the chin may become grossly swollen and there may be an enlargement of the draining lymph nodes of the head and neck.
Feline acne is seen in cats of all ages and both sexes. It has been suggested that activity of the supracaudal organ depends on testosterone (the male hormone). Stud tail is most common in stud toms, but, despite its name, is also seen in neutered toms and female cats.
Information From Fab Cats
Feline acne and stud tail
Feline acne and stud tail are two conditions of the cat which are probably more common than is generally appreciated, as most cases are mild and pass unnoticed. More severe cases, however, may respond slowly to treatment and seriously detract from the appearance of the cat.
Two main types of gland are found in the dermis or skin of the cat - the sweat glands and the sebaceous glands. Contrary to popular belief, the sweat glands are found over virtually all of the whole body surface of the cat, although most of these are small and non-functional. Only the glands of the foot pads produce sweat, and wet, sweaty paw marks will often be noticed on the consulting table when a cat is under the stress of a visit to the veterinary surgeon. Most of the sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles and produce an oily secretion, sebum, which waterproofs the hairs and maintains the suppleness of the skin. In addition, a collection of much larger sebaceous glands are found on the chin, the lips, the sparsely haired temporal area (between the eye and ear) and the dorsal (top) surface of the base of the tail. The collection of glands under the skin is sometimes referred to as the submental organ and the glands around the base of the tail are known as the supracaudal organ.
The oily secretion of these larger sebaceous glands appears to have a role in territorial marking and cats will repeatedly rub their chin, lips, temporal area and base of tail over certain objects. In time the secretions build up on favourite marking objects and may be seen as black, greasy patches. Cat owners may have noticed that they are assiduously `marked' by their pets on returning home. Cats will also often mark certain objects at feeding time. The reason for this behaviour is not known.
Overactivity of the submental and supracaudal organs is a relatively common finding and is seen as excessive greasiness of the overlying fur and skin. This is particularly noticeable in the supracaudal region of white cats and appears as a yellow, greasy discolouration. There may also be flecks of black, greasy material on the chin which may be mistaken for flea dirt.
This overactivity of the sebaceous glands predisposes to feline acne and stud tail which are seen in varying degrees of severity. In mild cases, the associated hair follicles become plugged with the black sebaceous material forming comedones. This is similar to acne in man. Secondary infection may result, leading to folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles) and formation of papules and pustules from which beads of pus may be expressed. In severe cases of multiple folliculitis, pyoderma develops, with a mass of discharging tracts or sinuses. Cats with mild feline acne or stud tail show no associated clinical signs but in severe cases there may be severe inflammation and irritation of the overlying skin. The point of the chin may become grossly swollen and there may be an enlargement of the draining lymph nodes of the head and neck.
Feline acne is seen in cats of all ages and both sexes. It has been suggested that activity of the supracaudal organ depends on testosterone (the male hormone). Stud tail is most common in stud toms, but, despite its name, is also seen in neutered toms and female cats.
Information From Fab Cats
Thank you for that information. I learned something new today!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
