Expert: Jessica - 1/25/2010

Question
m a dentist frm bombay india, my cat is 13 months old she is a local breed (street rescue) and approx 35 days back she got lost for a few hrs n when we finally found her she was wounded and had lost her tail sensation completely...we immediately took her to the vet...she has taken 2 antibiotic injetions and 2 steroidal injections since then...also she's been given vitB complex shots...her sensation has improved very little n mostly her tail keeps dropped down all the time...its affected her balance n ability to jump from heights like she used to..now the vet has also given her some homeopathic medicine called Rheotox 30...which we started 4 days back...i would like to know if her sensation will return and what can we do to help her...
please help us
would be really obliged if you reply
charu khosla


Answer
Hello Dr. Charu.  It's unlikely that your cat will improve much at this point.  Most cats who are going to experience improvement from tail paralysis due to an injury do so within a few weeks.  The steroids she received are probably the best treatment that could have been given to reduce swelling and inflammation and encourage sensation and function to return.

However, most cats acclimate wonderfully to the loss of tail usage.  It may take her several weeks, but as she gets used to maneuvering without her tail, she should learn to balance and climb just as before.

As long as her tail isn't dragging on the ground, there is generally no need to remove it.  However, if it does drag, she may develop abrasions and subsequent infections.  Some cats will even experience a truly dead tail, and blood supply is cut off.  The tail begins to necrose.  In these cases, a tail amputation is the best option.

Good luck to you both!

Jessica