PAMPERED PETS

QMY five-year-old male Siamese cat is behaving strangely. He will suddenly cry out, jump up and repeatedly lick the base of his tail. He swishes his tail, too, as though in discomfort although there is nothing there to see. What is your advice?

ACOMPULSIVE tail-biting or licking is a well-recognised problem, especially in Siamese cats. It needs nipping in the bud before any damage is done to the tail.

There are several causes, with flea allergy being the most common. A cat’s tail is where fleas most like to feed and this can cause itching and inflammation. Other allergies may need investigating too and your vet will be able to test for these.

But your cat’s problem may also be behavioural, as many experts suggest that tail-biting is a response to stress. To help with diagnosis, the vet might want to know if there has been any obvious change to your cat’s routine or threatening situation prior to the problem starting.

Feline hyperaesthesia syndrome is another possibility. This causes seizures in cats who will cry out and bite parts of the body. During an episode the eyes are often dilated but in between attacks the cat will seem normal. A feline behaviourist may be able to help, along with anti-anxiety medicines from the vet.

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