If you’re a cat or dog owner, you’ve probably watched your pet run in circles to catch its tail. This attitude, entertaining for humans, is common among young canines. “We also observe it in cats, and again, it is a very juvenile behavior. However, it is not over-represented compared to another type of play,” confirms Jessica Zoccoli, veterinary doctor in Île-de-France, in an interview for Géo. As the animal ages, it plays less and generally stops chasing its tail. However, sometimes dogs and cats resume this behavior later in life, which could indicate health problems.
As Jessica Zoccoli points out at Geo, it’s not normal for adult dogs and cats to chase their own tails. This may therefore indicate that the animal is suffering from a physical problem. “When there is an underlying health problem, the behavior is quite intense and, above all, it is sudden. A dog or cat that will never, or very rarely, have done this during its life, will start to turn around several times a day,” explains the veterinarian. She adds that the main cause of this behavior is often flea scratching. In fact, animals infested with fleas tend to scratch at the base of their tail, in the lumbar area. “The other major cause is inflammation of the anal glands. Located on each side of the anus, (…)
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