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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

441.0. "Greasy Tail" by POCUS::DRAKE () Tue Nov 17 1992 13:50

    Rocky, our seven-month old Maine Coon cat, has a problem I've never
    seen before.  A section of his tail towards the end closest to his
    body has a greasy look and feel.  At first, we thought he had somehow
    managed to get into some oil, but it recurred after I shampooed his
    tail.  I saw a passing reference to "grease tail" in one of the notes
    on another topic.  Is this a common problem?  Should it be checked out
    by the vet?  Shampooing doesn't seem to help, even as a temporary
    measure.  Any suggestions on how to deal with it?  Rocky is extremely
    healthy otherwise.  He will be neutered next month, and I plan to ask
    the vet then about this condition.
    
    Chris
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441.1SANFAN::BALZERMATue Nov 17 1992 14:155
     
    It is also called "stud tail".  After he is neutered you shouldn't have 
    the problem.
    
    
441.2JUPITR::KAGNOMom to the Wrecking CrewTue Nov 17 1992 15:3519
    Hi Chris.
    
    Yup, it is definitely "stud tail", and it means his hormones are
    beginning to rage!  The neutering will definitely cure him of this
    problem, but note it might take a month or two until his hormones
    settle down after the surgery.
    
    For now, try bathing his tail in blue Dawn dishwashing liquid.  You
    might also try purchasing some "Goop" (found amongst the soaps in
    supermarkets; it is sold under the brand name Goop and is a strong
    de-greaser) and rubbing it into his tail while it's still dry, then
    rinsing thoroughly and lathering with Dawn a few times.  That should
    help lots, but be careful not to overbathe his tail and dry out the
    tail hairs.  They are very fragile and take forever to grow back.
    
    Hope this helps!
    
    -Roberta
    
441.3SPEZKO::RAWDENTue Nov 17 1992 17:563
    I had a Persian who had what was called stud tail but believe me, this
    cat had no capability of being a stud!  :^)  Just thought I'd warn you
    that with some neutered males, the stickyness never goes away.
441.4:-)EMASS::SKALTSISDebTue Nov 17 1992 18:283
    So this isn't a problem with just whole males?
    
    Deb
441.5Not just in males ...MCIS2::MCGLORYFri Nov 20 1992 16:3814
    
    This is NOT just a problem with males, nor is it just a problem with
    Un-neutered cats.
    
    My female cat, Ivory, is 8 1/2 and has been fixed for 7+ years.  She
    has had stud tail for the last 2-3 years.  Because of her temperment,
    she is impossible to shampoo, so the vet shaved the area instead.  It
    came back, but certainly not to the extent it was before the shaving.
    (the only time Ivory's been 'washed' is when she had fleas and they had
    to tranquilze her to do that!!).  Incidently, she's an extremely clean
    cat....always cleaning herself and doesn't go outside.
    
    BjM