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#1
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Bullwinkle's tail
Hi, everyone: The last few days, I have noticed something very strange:
Bullwinkle's tail has gotten quite skinny. He is a medium-to-long-haired tuxedo cat, and his tail has always been rather thick, especially at the base. Overall, it doesn't seem as if his fur has gotten thinner on the rest of his body, but he must have lost fur on his tail. I can't think of any other reason his tail would seem thin, unless the tail itself has withered, but I couldn't imagine that. He has lost some weight but that may be due to the fact that he has been on Purine OM (overweight management) cat food. We needed to start buying that because Alex had diabetes, and the vet said it was okay for all the cats to eat it especially since Alex and Bullwinkle were both a little on the chubby side anyway. Alex has lost weight as well. It's hard to know if the cats have lost weight because they're getting old or because of the cat food. Both Alex and Bullwinkle are around 15 years old. Bullwinkle is due for a checkup anyway, so I will be bringing him in to see the vet next week. I would bring him tomorrow, but we are currently in the midst of a snowstorm. Nothing else seems to be amiss with him, and he's behaving normally and his appetite is fine. I'm really very worried about this tail thing. Has anyone ever heard of a cat's tail suddenly getting skinny before? Best regards, ---Cindy S. |
#2
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Bullwinkle's tail
On 15 Feb, 00:03, "cindys" wrote:
Hi, everyone: The last few days, I have noticed something very strange: Bullwinkle's tail has gotten quite skinny. He is a medium-to-long-haired tuxedo cat, and his tail has always been rather thick, especially at the base. Overall, it doesn't seem as if his fur has gotten thinner on the rest of his body, but he must have lost fur on his tail. I can't think of any other reason his tail would seem thin, unless the tail itself has withered, but I couldn't imagine that. He has lost some weight but that may be due to the fact that he has been on Purine OM (overweight management) cat food. We needed to start buying that because Alex had diabetes, and the vet said it was okay for all the cats to eat it especially since Alex and Bullwinkle were both a little on the chubby side anyway. Alex has lost weight as well. It's hard to know if the cats have lost weight because they're getting old or because of the cat food. Both Alex and Bullwinkle are around 15 years old. Bullwinkle is due for a checkup anyway, so I will be bringing him in to see the vet next week. I would bring him tomorrow, but we are currently in the midst of a snowstorm. Nothing else seems to be amiss with him, and he's behaving normally and his appetite is fine. I'm really very worried about this tail thing. Has anyone ever heard of a cat's tail suddenly getting skinny before? Best regards, ---Cindy S. is he possibly overgrooming it and causing the fur to fall out so making the tail look thinner? |
#3
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Bullwinkle's tail
"bookie" wrote in message ups.com... snip is he possibly overgrooming it and causing the fur to fall out so making the tail look thinner? -------------- This morning, there was a big fight between Bullwinkle and Tux (our foster cat who can be aggressive). I had to break up the fight and there were some small clumps of Bullwinkle's fur that had come out in the process. They could have come from his tail. After that, I think I saw Bullwinkle cleaning his tail. Before Tux came, we never had cats that would fight like that. (Yes, Tux is neutered). These fights aren't happening every day, but they have happened several times in the several months we've had Tux. A few months back, Tux had a fight with Alex. By the time I was able to break it up, it looked like a murder scene. Alex's ear had a deep scratch with blood all over the place and clumps of Alex's fur. I'm really thinking Tux should go back to the rescue group. He is a foster, not a permanent cat, although we had been thinking of adopting him permanently. Now, I don't think that would be such a good idea. He's only two years old and he's strong and active, and he's intimidating my elderly cats. At any rate, could this be the explanation for why Bullwinkle's tail suddenly seems so skinny? Best regards, ---Cindy S. |
#4
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Bullwinkle's tail
On 15 Feb, 00:28, "cindys" wrote:
At any rate, could this be the explanation for why Bullwinkle's tail suddenly seems so skinny? Best regards, ---Cindy S. dunno, but if this new cat is creating loads of tension in the house then it may be causing bullwinkle and the other cat loadsof stress. Cats sometimes deal with stress with bizarre coping mechanisms and displacement activities such as over grooming one particular part fo their body until the fur falls out (my mum's old cat flossie use to over groom her tummy when she got stressed, so she had a bald patch on her tum tum at times). of course it could be something medical, I don't know, check with your vet. I woudl try to find another home for this foster cat if you can, soudnds like the situation is not a happy one for you own pussies and they need their home back let us know what happens, bookie this application form is not going to get done is it? and now jessie wants to play with the purple fuzzy thing on the end of the fishing rod |
#5
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Bullwinkle's tail
"bookie" wrote in message oups.com... On 15 Feb, 00:28, "cindys" wrote: At any rate, could this be the explanation for why Bullwinkle's tail suddenly seems so skinny? Best regards, ---Cindy S. dunno, but if this new cat is creating loads of tension in the house then it may be causing bullwinkle and the other cat loadsof stress. Tux has been with us for several months. It didn't seem like he was generally stressing out the other cats, but then again, I'm not a cat, and I can't read their minds. Cats sometimes deal with stress with bizarre coping mechanisms and displacement activities such as over grooming one particular part fo their body until the fur falls out (my mum's old cat flossie use to over groom her tummy when she got stressed, so she had a bald patch on her tum tum at times). of course it could be something medical, I don't know, check with your vet. Yes. I will be bringing him in for a checkup soon. I guess I really am very worried. I woudl try to find another home for this foster cat if you can, Well, all I have to do is return him to the rescue group. I wouldn't be allowed to place him in another home myself, even if one were available. All adoptions need to be approved by the group, and there is an adoption fee to offset the cost of the vaccinations and spay/neuter. I would be willing to foster another cat in his place (hopefully a cat with a milder disposition). soudnds like the situation is not a happy one for you own pussies and they need their home back Yes. It's too bad because we really had been hoping to keep Tux :-( But the needs of my permanent cats need to take priority, and it's not as if Tux will be put out on the street. He will just be living in a different foster home with someone from the rescue group. let us know what happens, bookie Thanks, Bookie. Best regards, ---Cindy S. this application form is not going to get done is it? and now jessie wants to play with the purple fuzzy thing on the end of the fishing rod |
#6
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Bullwinkle's tail
On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 19:28:12 -0500, cindys wrote:
"bookie" wrote in message ups.com... snip is he possibly overgrooming it and causing the fur to fall out so making the tail look thinner? -------------- This morning, there was a big fight between Bullwinkle and Tux (our foster cat who can be aggressive). I had to break up the fight and there were some small clumps of Bullwinkle's fur that had come out in the process. They could have come from his tail. After that, I think I saw Bullwinkle cleaning his tail. Before Tux came, we never had cats that would fight like that. (Yes, Tux is neutered). These fights aren't happening every day, but they have happened several times in the several months we've had Tux. A few months back, Tux had a fight with Alex. By the time I was able to break it up, it looked like a murder scene. Alex's ear had a deep scratch with blood all over the place and clumps of Alex's fur. I'm really thinking Tux should go back to the rescue group. He is a foster, not a permanent cat, although we had been thinking of adopting him permanently. Now, I don't think that would be such a good idea. He's only two years old and he's strong and active, and he's intimidating my elderly cats. At any rate, could this be the explanation for why Bullwinkle's tail suddenly seems so skinny? Best regards, ---Cindy S. It sounds like Tux would be happier as an only cat somewhere. MLB |
#7
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Bullwinkle's tail
"mlbriggs" wrote in message news snip It sounds like Tux would be happier as an only cat somewhere. MLB ----------- Yes. Now I understand why the woman from the rescue group told me he wouldn't do well around *timid* cats because he was *so playful.* Right. I didn't really think my cats were timid (except for Daisy who prefers to spend most of her time in her room/my office and rarely interacts with the other cats). I guess now I understand what the woman meant. He might be okay in a house with another cat or cats who are as aggressive as he is. But that's not my situation. He doesn't mess with Amanda though. After Molly died, Amanda rose to the position of alpha cat in the pecking order. She would whup Tux's tail if he ever tried anything with her (and he knows it ;-) Best regards, ---Cindy S. |
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