You may have noticed your cat playfully chasing their tail around and wondered their motive behind it. There are many reasons as to why your cat may be doing this which we will discuss below. 

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Are they Boredom busting?

Many cats, especially indoor cats, need stimulation throughout the day. Sometimes, a bushy tail can seem like a great toy to play with. If your pet is showing signs of boredom, they may pace around your house, play, and destroy furniture, some may even show signs of aggression. There are many different signs and behaviours which can be attributed to boredom. And it may be that you notice a slight change in behaviour or energy levels only. To increase the amount of stimulation in their environment, you could provide:

  • additional scratching posts
  • rattling toys
  • hiding spaces
  • climbing areas
  • window viewpoints
  • slow-release food treats. 

Whenever you buy any new stimulating toys, please check that it is stable and unlikely to break down. Broken toys are one of the common causes of intestinal obstruction (partial or wholly) in cats which lead to medical intervention and commonly require surgery. Additionally, buying any new foods and treats should be done with caution, gradually introducing this new food to your cat. This helps to reduce the risk of causing diarrhoea by affecting the distribution of gut flora.

Are they burning excess energy?

Your cat may need to burn additional energy they have obtained from their food which they are not using up in their day-to-day routine. This can be common in outdoor cats who spend a lot more time indoors during the winter or bad weather. If this is the case, opting for a low-calorie food (e.g. a metabolic or weight control diet) may improve the welfare of your pet. This approach requires obtaining a diet that fulfils the number of calories the cat metabolises throughout the day, and no more! The number of calories a cat burns will vary day to day. But you may see dramatic fluctuations throughout different seasons. 

Is their tail bothering them?

Some cats will pay more attention to their tail if it is painful or itchy. Common causes of an itchy tail or rectum include worms, impacted anal glands or allergies. When a tail becomes itchy or painful, you may notice fur loss (completely or thinning of the fur) on the tail due to them nibbling, licking or rubbing it. If a cat chews or rubs their tail excessively, the skin can become broken and likely to become infected. This may need veterinary attention, as it may require antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication in order to recover.

Allergies can present in many different ways; with symptoms commonly including itching of their abdomen, chewing their paws or itching their ears. However, allergies causing an itchy tail are not impossible, so it’s something else your vet will want to check.

Preventative healthcare

You should ensure that your cat is up to date with their worming and ectoparasitic treatment, as worms, fleas, mites or lice could be the cause of itching. All in contact animals will need to be treated if parasites are present, as well as the environment. It is important to contact your veterinary professionals if you are unsure whether you are getting full parasitic coverage using the products you have purchased if they are not from the veterinary practice. Some products are specific to one parasite and others do not work efficiently against all parasites. 

Other issues

If your pet is scooting their bum along the floor, as well as chasing their tail, they could have anal gland impaction. This can happen due to changes in diet, a recent history of diarrhoea, anatomical location, or due to inflammation caused by allergies. Your veterinary professionals should be able to gently empty your pet’s anal glands and assess the material produced; determining whether it is likely to be due to infection and whether it warrants further treatment or investigation. 

Are they stressed?

For some cats, it may be a response to stress, for example: additional noise levels within the household, new family members, new visitors, or new other pets. These cats may also begin to urinate in new places, scent mark, and spend lots of time in dark, solitary areas. When a cat becomes so stressed that they display clinical signs, it can be very difficult to manage.

Early attention and prevention are key

To avoid stress for your cat, you should keep as much routine as possible and remove the stressor from the cat’s environment. Remedies such as Feliway or Pet Remedy may be useful and can be bought as sprays or plug in diffusers.

Long-term, if you are unable to achieve positive results, rehoming the cat may, sadly, be in the cat’s best interest. Always seek veterinary attention, though, prior to making these big decisions and ensure the next owner is aware of these problems so your pet does not enter another household where similar stressors are likely to occur.

To conclude, cats chasing their tail is a completely normal behaviour, but if you do become concerned about any trauma your cat is causing to their tail, or if the chasing activity they perform dramatically changes in frequency or aggression level, please contact your veterinary surgeon. 

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