Stud Tail in Cats: Symptoms and Treatment
If you notice any abnormalities at the base of your cat's tail, such as greasy fur and an unpleasant odour, the four-legged friend may be suffering from a so-called stud tail.
Below we will explain what exactly this is and how a cat's stud tail is treated.
Stud tail in cats – the main points at a glance
- A cat's stud tail is caused by inflammation of the sebum glands on the tail and excess sebum production.
- The symptoms of a stud tail include, in particular, greasy fur as well as itching and reddening of the skin at the base of the tail.
- In principle, any cat can develop a stud tail, with long-haired and older animals being more susceptible.
- Since the skin of affected animals is prone to bacterial and fungal infections, a veterinarian should be consulted if symptoms occur.
- Washing with a degreasing cat shampoo is usually a good way to treat a cat's stud tail.
Stud tail in cats: What is it?
The so-called tail glands are located at the base of your cat's tail. These are sebaceous glands. In stud-tailed cats, the tail glands produce excess sebum and become inflamed. The term stud tail refers to the oily coat caused by the excess sebum build-up on the tail.
Causes of a stud tail in cats
In principle, any cat can develop a stud tail. Especially long-haired breeds like Persian cats are affected disproportionately. That being said, the older a cat is, the more likely it is to develop a stud tail.
It was also long assumed that unneutered tomcats are at an increased risk of stud tails. However, this assumption is only partly true. In fact, even neutered four-legged friends can develop a stud tail. Although neutering cats is recommended for various other reasons, it is questionable as a preventive measure for stud tails.
Symptoms of stud tails in cats
If your cat suffers from a stud tail, it becomes noticeable through various symptoms occurring around the base of the tail. In addition to greasy fur, the formation of dandruff, skin reddening and hair loss are among the possible signs of a stud tail in cats.
You will probably also find that the affected area smells bad and your cat excessively licks the base of its tail due to the itching associated with stud tail.
Treatment of stud tails in cats
The skin damage associated with stud tail makes your cat particularly susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. For this reason, it is very important that you take your four-legged friend to the vet. They will examine your cat to find out if it really has a stud tail and whether it has already contracted an infection.
The veterinarian will prescribe a degreasing cat shampoo to treat your four-legged friend's stud tail. You will need to wash the base of the tail with it to remove the excess oil from the skin and fur. In addition, the vet will probably recommend that you disinfect the affected area regularly to prevent infection.
If your cat already has an infection, it must of course also be treated, in which case a suitable antibiotic will be prescribed.
Can a stud tail be treated with home remedies?
If your cat's stud tail symptoms are only mild, you can try to eliminate them with cornstarch. The powder is massaged into the fur where it absorbs the sebum. It can then be combed out. If this does not achieve the desired effect, a visit to the vet is of course unavoidable.
Preventing a stud tail in cats
A cat can develop a stud tail at any time without there being a specific trigger. It can therefore be difficult to prevent it. Nevertheless, there are a few measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of it occurring. Regular visual inspection of the base of the tail is recommended, especially for cats with a long coat, as they are naturally more susceptible to a stud tail.
In this way, you can identify possible problems at an early stage, which makes treatment much easier. In addition, it can make sense, especially with Persian cats, to treat the base of the tail once a week with talcum powder as a preventive measure.
Stud tail in cats – our conclusion
As you can see, a stud tail in cats isn't a big deal at first. It is usually easy to treat. Nevertheless, it is important that you do not ignore any symptoms that occur and that you seek treatment promptly, since the stressed skin at the base of the tail is particularly susceptible to infections with skin fungi and bacteria.