Considerations

• Cats can spend up to half their day grooming themselves, and the worst that can happen is a fur ball or two. Sometimes, however, the licking and biting can seem almost obsessive, and tails are frequent targets. According to William H. Miller, V.M.D., professor at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, excessive licking or biting of a particular area often signals pain or itching.
  
  Thoroughly examine your cat's tail. The problem could be fleas or an animal bite that's become abscessed. Look for signs of either of these conditions and, if necessary, take action to control the fleas. For an abscess or a deep wound, your cat needs to see a veterinarian.
  
  

Location

• If you rule out parasites, think about the part of the tail she's after. If she bites the base, it might mean her anal sacs have become impacted or infected. Your veterinarian can make that diagnosis and may perform anal sac "expression," which involves carefully massaging the area, usually while the cat is under sedation. Spinal pain from arthritis or disc disease also can make your cat feel the need to bite the base of her tail. Check with your vet to be sure of the cause.
  
  

Infections and Allergies

• If your cat bites the entire length of her tail, it could be a sign of another underlying condition, such as a fungal infection or a food allergy. Again, your vet can make that determination and offer treatments. Incidentally, it's estimated that more than one-third of cats are allergic to ingredients in pet food, and so feeding your cat a non-allergenic food might help.
  
  

Stress

• For many cats who lick or bite their tails obsessively, the problem can be emotional or neurological. A condition known as feline hyperesthesia syndrome can be the cause. It can manifest itself when your cat is aroused--when you're petting her, for example. In these cases, stress or boredom can be a factor, and so plenty of stimulation is a big part of the remedy. Spend at least 20 minutes of playtime with her each day. To prevent future flareups, introduce anything that you know causes stress--such as a move or the addition of another pet--gradually.
  
  

Breaking the Habit

• Sometimes tail biting develops into a habit that's hard to break. Patience on your part, plus lots of attention, can help. When you notice your cat biting, redirect her attention to play or a toy. Never punish her for biting her tail. Of course, you can't always be near to work on the behavior. So help to reduce boredom by providing plenty of cat-safe toys she can play with when she's alone. Because biting can occur when she's stressed, make sure she always has a place to hide or feel secure. If behavior modification doesn't work, your vet may prescribe anti-anxiety medicine, just until she breaks the habit.
  
  

Extreme Treatment

• If your cat has developed an infection or abscess from biting her tail, your veterinarian can provide antibiotics to help. In very rare cases when cats simply can't stop biting and continuing infections threaten to harm a cat's overall health, veterinarians consider amputation. As horrifying as that seems, most cats are usually fine after the procedure. Again, though, only your veterinarian can make this determination.