Why Do Cats Chase Their Tails?

So, why do cats chase their tails? A cat chasing its tail is relatively common, especially in young kittens. This is entirely normal and stems from a cat’s inherent hunting instincts and curiosity. While tail following is entertaining and fascinating, you have to ask if it is healthy. A lively cat’s tail may seem to be the ideal chasing toy it is always pursuing.

In an adult cat, though, sudden tail chasing might signify a medical condition. Understanding your cat’s normal behavior is the most straightforward way to determine if the tail chase is just something you like watching or a sign of anything more serious.

Why Do House Cats Chase Their Tales?

Chasing tails is a common recreational habit for kittens and even some adult cats. Adult cat chases their tail when they are bored or to practice their hunting skills. However, if the behavior appears out of nowhere, it might indicate one of several underlying health conditions. Being in touch with your cat and noticing the cat’s body language will aid you in determining the root of their tail-chasing behavior.

Home cats have a variety of strange habits, such as putting animal corpses on your front door. The majority of these behaviors have a hereditary foundation. However, it may be harder to describe why a pet cat does their own form of a gimbal. We’ll read some factors why a cat might chase its tail.

1. Some cats do playful tail chasing and regard their tail as a specially created toy for enjoyment. When your tail is always following you, staying bored is tough. Tails are the perfect spiral thing to jump on for newborn cats attracted by movement.
2. Adult cats may like following their tails, but most are far too graceful by the time they reach a certain age. Give your cat a scratching toy instead of chasing its tail if it is too polite to do so.
3. Adult flea bites and clusters towards the tip of the cat’s tail. Your cat is clawing further along its back, where the tail links to the body, which you believe is an attempt to grasp its tail. Other signs of flea infestation include patches on the cat’s skin after being bitten.
4. When brushing your cat, you may notice her clawing or scratching excessively and extra ‘dirt.’ You’ll almost certainly come across an adult flea or more if you clear your cat’s fur close to the skin. Your cat’s tail-chasing behavior should stop if you cure your cat and your environment for fleas.
5. Environmental or food allergies might cause scratchiness and dryness on your cat’s tail and tail area. This can send kittens in circles as they try to scratch the itch. On the other hand, allergies don’t necessarily appear as an itchy tail.
6. Additional symptoms include recurrent skin infections, redness, and itching in various body regions. You can use antihistamines to treat allergies, or your cat can avoid the allergen if you know what it is. Steroids may be necessary to reduce the itch and prevent the cat from scratching excessively in more severe situations.
7. Another irritation that may make your cat more concerned about its tail is infection. Infections can occur from various sources, particularly the anal glands in the rectum.
8. A gland infection caused by itching or a tail injury can occasionally cause them. The best strategy to clear infections is to deal with the root problem (for instance, stimulating the anal sacs), followed by antibiotic therapy.
9. Tail infection of the supracaudal gland is more prevalent in normal healthy cats. Hyperactive sebum at the tip of the tail causes the sickness. Sebaceous glands are glands that secrete lubricants that make your cat’s fur smooth.
10. Excessive natural oils can cause a waxy accumulation near the side of the tail, enabling the fur to cluster and produce an unappealing crusty coating. If the damage is serious enough, an infection may develop. The male cat is normally neutered, and the house is kept clean.
11. Feline Hyperesthesia syndrome is a known but rare disease in cat tails that we characterize by overactive nerve endings. If your cat is sensitive to touch, this might produce tingling in the region.
12. Cats with this condition may experience panic attacks, in which they race around wide-eyed and frenzied for 20 to 30 seconds until deep sleep as if nothing had happened. You should immediately report any strange behavior to a vet asap.

Why Do Siamese Cats Chase Their Tails?

For the same reason, all cats pursue their tails, and there is no precise explanation for Siamese cats chasing their tail has been discovered.

When Cats Chase Their Tails Do They Know It’s Their Tail?

A cat’s emotions (such as external pain) control its tail, whether physical or emotional. Therefore, your cat is entirely conscious of whatever they are doing with its tail at this time. One thing is sure. This is typical behavior, and it’s perfectly natural when it occurs.

Why Do Cats Chase Other Cats Tails?

Cats don’t always know whether to chase other cat’s tail or their own tail. It is a threat to cat lovers as it leads to a catfight. However, the kitty should not be disturbed unless there is an assault and no other issues.

How to Deal With Tail Chasing?

It’s okay if cats chase tails, but there are times when you require more attention. So here’s how to deal with chasing your tail.

1. Keep your cat occupied. You may assist the cat by attempting to keep the cat entertained if it is chasing its tail due to boredom. You may buy various interactive toys these days to make their lives more fun.
2. Having toys around the house will divert their interest away from the tail, causing your cat to pursue it. Any toy will do, but one that swings will be the most effective. Spend time together by playing games, hugging, or going on walks. You should never leave a cat alone, and you should make an effort for them to sense valuable.
3. Make Your Workplace Stress-Free Because cats can follow their tails when disturbed, maintaining strain-free living conditions may be able to prevent this habit. This means that you should gradually present new changes and introduce new pets cautiously.
4. If you’re relocating, make sure your cat has whatever she loves, including a separate area with water, a litter box, meals, and toys. Kittens are considerably easier to train than cats. As a result, you should expose your kitten to as many new people, noises, and sensations as possible while she is still young.
5. Visit a veterinarian if you have an infection, flea, stud tail, or Hyperesthesia condition. They’ll inspect the tail and run diagnostic tests to determine the exact reason and cure.

Final Words – Why Do Cats Chase Their Tails?

A tail chase now and then indicates that your cat is dissatisfied or needs to spend some pent-up energy via intense play. However, it becomes alarming when cat chase occurs daily and involves compulsive biting or biting of this fluffy appendage.

Take your cat to the doctor straight away if she develops this behavior, has sores around her tail (or at the tip), or shows indications of another medical illness. Unfortunately, you might not realize your cat has tail infections, FHS, or fleas until it’s too late.