Is it normal for a cat to chase its tail? Feline’s non verbal messages and communication clues are often puzzling. For centuries, cats have been regarded as unpredictable, mysterious and solitary. It’s essential to understand the reason behind the behavior and adaptations of cats. After various research, a cat’s tail is one of the most communicative in the animal kingdom. They have a number of different tail signs to communicate different feelings and emotions. But, most of the time, we have observed cats chasing their tails that made us feel a little cringe and funny at the same time. Here are some of the reasons why do cats chase their tails, tips to stop it.
Why Do Cats Chase Their Tails?
Some cats will chase and viscously attack their tails because it’s a type of play. They are often attracted to the small moving things. When they look at their tail moving, it’s a natural reflex and a reaction to chase it. Having this natural reflex is not a problem. But, most of them will do it for an extended period. Especially when they are young, you need to be careful because some animals will get into their compulsive disorder and do this for an extended period. Sometimes if they catch their tail, they chew it and damage it. If you find your pet cat doing it, you must visit a vet.
What Does it Mean When a Cat Chases its Tail? – Common Reasons
Fun
Cats start chasing their tails from a very young age. The first and most common reason cats chase their tails is because they like doing it. It’s a form of play. Especially when your cats get excited, they suddenly look at their tails and start to chase them awfully. If your cat chases its tail occasionally, it isn’t anything to be particularly worried about.
Obsessive Behavior
Cats sometimes obsessively chase their tail. They just don’t do it for a minute; they continue doing it multiple times a day. Cat behavior tail hard to know why this happens. But, as we believe in facts, the cats release some endorphin-like chemicals into the brain that makes a cat feel good, and this chemical gets them addicted to chasing their tails. Another reason for this obsessive behavior is ignorance. If your cat feels ignored, it starts chasing its tail to grab your attention, and that can reinforce a sort of obsession. It’s pretty tricky to undo once it has become an obsessive thing. In this situation feather cat toys will help your kitten to kill boredom and have fun.
Food Allergies
Allergic reactions in cats are one of the most common problems. According to cat care, cat health is an important factor that needs to be considered from all sides but, most cat owners often ignores cat allergies. Food allergies on cats are a real thing, so they deserve your attention and awareness. It affects the entire bodily system, mostly associated with the skin. And this leads the cats to scratch and chase their tails. Keeping a check on your cat’s nutrition can keep your furry friend healthy.
Stud Tail
Stud tail in cat is a medical condition for why chase their tails, and it often happens in male cats. This stud tail in cats result from an over-reactive sebaceous gland at the base of the pet’s tail. This gland will produce oil and wax that cats groom themselves to keep their hair soft and flexible. But, in stud cats, their sebaceous glands overproduce oil that looks like crusty clumps at the base of their tail. And a lot of owners confuse this as an infection but, it is mostly a cosmetic issue. In case of bleeding is observed then, proper hygiene and antibiotics can prevent stud tails.
Feline Hyperesthesia
Hyperesthesia is a somewhat strange condition that can sometimes cause cats to chase their tails frequently. It is a strange disorder that means “abnormally increased sensitivity”. It causes a cat to be hyper-sensitive to certain stimulation and can lead to unpredictable behavior. The skin from the shoulders all the way down to the tail is affected. Feline hyperesthesia is visible in some cats, but it can be harder to spot in others. Some refer to it as a form of OCD, and others say it is more closely related to a seizure disorder. When cats go through this condition, they react vehemently by scratching themselves, biting themselves, and, most importantly, chasing their tails.
Why Do Cats Chase Other Cat’s Tails?
Cats often shake their tails and then jump to catch the tail. Depending on their luck, they can pick their tail. Chasing another cat’s tail is a type of entertainment. Especially at the age of 11-12 weeks, if you find your kitten chasing each other tails, it just means that they are trying to figure out themselves, and it is called a critical phase of development. And the cool thing about kittens growing up together is that they get to learn these lessons. But, sometimes this turns into aggression and might hurt each other. If this continues for a long time, it is better to visit your vet.
How to Stop Cat from Chasing Tail?
- Walking: Cats often get anxious and start chasing their tails. Taking your kitten to walk and teaching them that the environment is more interesting than chasing their tail can break that obsessive behavior of chasing tails and allow them to relax.
- Stop reacting: If you see your cat chasing its tail, stop reacting to it. Do not try to give food to your cat to stop chasing its tail. It will increase its stress levels and worsen the situation.
Conclusion
Cats do not usually chase their tail until they are in a certain mood. We find cats making adorable and ridiculous acts around and, chasing their tails is one of them. But, it cannot be an act of play all the time. In several cases, chasing their own tail is a sign of a medical condition that irritates their tail. Taking them to a vet will help them cure better.