14 yr old cat chasing tail for 1st time ever, obsessively? (male, food)
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My 14 year old male cat has never chased his tail in the entire 12 years I've had him. But for the last 3 or 4 days, it's been an obsession. He doesn't stand and chase it, but will grab at it playfully while it waves in front of him while he's sitting or lying down. It's kind of cute, but the tip of his tail is starting to lose hair. He's been alternating tonight between doing that and just staring at it, almost hypnotically, while it waves.
Has your cat ever changed so suddenly like this? Is it a sign of dementia, perhaps?
Has your cat ever changed so suddenly like this? Is it a sign of dementia, perhaps?
It could be a sign of horrific boredom. Does he have a few windows to look out? A cat condo or two? Do you have interactive toys and play with him every day?
It very possibly could be that something physical is going on with his tail and he just doesn't understand the feeling and is trying to stop it by attacking it. It could be something painful or a tingling sensation in his tail - I doubt it's dementia as if he's thinking "what is this new thing?" when his tail is moving about. The tip's fur either falling out or being pulled out is an indicator that something is going on, especially since it's a brand new quick-onset behavior. If he'll let you, I'd examine his tail from tip to hip. Try to look at the skin for a bite (spider? fleas?) or for a rash or crusty skin. Try to feel the bones, feeling for anything unusual. While you're doing all this, watch his body language for a reaction.
Our late Tucker used to play with his tail from time to time, but he did it his entire life, but it wasn't that often.
Is he due for a vet visit/wellness exam? I would certainly ask about this. If you can, take a short video to show your vet, because he probably won't do it on the exam table.
His long time best buddy of 12 years died this summer, so now he's the only cat in the house and alone during the day while I'm at work, but that was 7 months ago, and this behavior just started a few days ago. He's doing it while sitting next to me, so he's not bored. I don't see any bites that I can see, and he doesn't really flinch when I touch it any more than normal.
You were correct, mawipafl. She said it was likely that he's getting some sort of sensation in the tail and he's trying to make it subside or go away. She said just to keep an eye on it, didn't give him anything for it.
Thanks for the update! Let us know if the tail-chasing has gone away. Sometimes these weird things come and go and we never know why.
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