Cat with hyperesthesia bites tail despite cone. How to stop it?

Question

My cat was diagnosed with feline hyperesthesia after biting through an artery in his tail. Now he will not leave his bandaged tail alone even with a cone on. He bends til he reaches it and bites drawing blood. Can I ace bandage his tail to his back so he can't reach it til it heals? Like wrap the bandage around his belly.. Is this a horrible idea? Any other ideas? Please help! Thank you !

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor kitty! I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem - feline hyperesthesia can be a frustrating problem. I would not recommend trying to bandage his tail to his body, since there is a risk of cutting off circulation and causing severe damage if it's positioned awkwardly or wrapped too tight. I'm not sure what medications your kitty is currently on, but if he's still very uncomfortable and constantly biting his tail, I would recommend calling your vet on Monday morning to talk about what else can be done. Many cats with this disorder respond very well to some combination of prednisone, gabapentin, and/or phenobarbital, and may also do well with adjunct treatment options like laser therapy or acupuncture. In the meantime, I would go to the pet store and get a larger cone, so that he can't reach his tail and do further damage until you are able to get his medication adjusted to make him more comfortable.

Cat with hyperesthesia bites tail despite cone. How to stop it?

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