Cat overgrooming is caused by excess fur in the tail, which is usually seen on Persian and FUR types.
Since the tail contains a lot of hair, it’s difficult to clean thoroughly. If it’s not removed, it might affect the cat’s calmness, causing problems in the behavior.
So, why is cat overgrooming base of tail?
Cat overgrooming base of tail usually affects Persian and FUR types. Since the tail contains a lot of hair, it’s difficult to clean thoroughly. If it’s not removed, it might affect the cat’s calmness and the behavior.
If left untouched for a long time, it might develop into a condition called “seborrhea dermatitis” or “hairy tail”. This makes the cat restless and irritable.
The matted hair can also block the urinary tract and cause infections. To get rid of the hair in the tail, a cat groomer or veterinarian can gently separate the matted hair and clean the affected area using a special solution.
Why Is My Cat Overgrooming the Base of His Tail?
Your cat may be grooming the base of his tail because he’s trying to clean himself; he can also be doing it due to an endochrine gland tumor.
Excessive licking at the base of your cat’s tail can be a sign that something is seriously wrong with your cat.
Overgrooming is often caused by fleas, allergies or other skin problems.
Furthermore, if your cat is sensitive or allergic to medications or flea treatments, he may use the base of his tail as a place to relieve itching.
This is due to the irritation caused by the pesticides or chemicals in his medications.
Although fleas cannot be confirmed as the cause of overgrooming without testing, if you see fleas on your cat’s coat or in the carpet, or if your cat is scratching, perhaps your pet is being infested with fleas as well.
A veterinarian may need to provide extra medication for certain skin conditions or perform a blood test to rule out reactions from medications or allergies.
How to Stop Your Cat From Overgrooming the Base of Your Tail
Change the Bedding
You should make an extra effort to clean the bedding as often as the cat’s paws touch it to ensure it remains flea-free.
The idea is to locate all flea feces and remove them immediately.
This involves changing the bedding and ensuring there are no remnants of fleas in your carpeting or furniture.
Even if this is not the primary source of the overgrooming problem, it would prevent your cat from licking at the spot again.
It will assist to restart things and remove any lingering fleas and eggs.
Replace the Litter
When it comes to these home remedies to stop your cat from grooming the base of your tail, one way is to replace the litter you are using in your cat’s litter box.
A simple modification in the litter you use in your cat’s litter box could help a lot to stop your cat from grooming the base of your tail.
Because the cat will be resting on the litter, if it contains any flea feces, the cat will lick or groom this area and ingest the feces.
A little alteration in the litter you use in your cat’s litter box can stop this problem.
A cat that is allergic to the litter you use in your cat’s litter box is likely to be licking or grooming the base of your tail to get rid of the itching sensation caused by the allergy.
You don’t want the issue to deteriorate so you need to get to the root of the cause and replace the litter you use in your cat’s litter box.
Take your time and replace all soiled beddings.
Use Specialized Wipes to Clean the Area
If a cat is overgrooming its tail, it is likely due to an underlying medical condition.
Purchase cat-specific wipes and do a thorough cleaning of the area to stop your cat from grooming the base of your tail in reaction to an allergy or infection.
This will assist to enhance the condition quicker and your pet may cease grooming the tail entirely.
It will also prevent the bacterial spores and allergens from spreading to the rest of your home when your pet licks its paws.
Examine the Situation
When you see a cat licking its paws and licking and biting its tail, the first thing you need to do is evaluate the issue quickly to avoid setting off a more serious issue later.
This must be the initial step to stopping your cat from licking or grooming the base of its tail as a reaction to the itch caused by an allergic reaction or infection.
Many individuals are unaware of how serious cat licking and biting can be.
Fleas are one of leading cause of cat itching and scratching and sometimes, it may lead to cat tail licking as well.
This may irritate the base, which leads to more licking and biting to try and relieve the itching sensation caused by the fleas.
This makes the cat desire to remove, lick or clean the fleas with its tongue and teeth to relieve itself of the painful sensation.
You must remove the fleas from your cat’s body immediately and this will include cleaning its paws and tail.
This condition will persist until the fleas are eliminated from your pet’s fur.
The same is true for any allergic reaction or infection in the base of your cat’s tail.
Also See: Do Maine Coons Need To Be Groomed?
Conclusion
These are the elements to consider to stop or reduce the licking and biting of the base of your cat’s tail.
Fleas or an allergic response might induce your cat to lick its tail and paw.
This may be caused by the scratching and licking of their skin to remove the irritation caused by fleas or allergies.
It is important that you investigate why your feline companion is licking and biting its own tail and paws before you can eliminate the problem completely and permanently.
It is very advised to clean the cat’s paws and tail regularly and to remove any fleas or dirt from the furs.
This will guarantee that the paws and tail of your cat are very clean, healthy and free from any infections and allergies that may lead to paw licking or tail.
Simply cleaning the area will relieve the cat of itching and scratching and it will know that this is not the case anymore.
Otherwise, it will continue with the same behavior that is abnormal for a cat like the licking and biting of its paws and tail.
This may be avoided by cleaning the base of a cat’s tail and paws regularly and making sure that the cat has a proper diet that does not contain excessive chemicals and materials.