Feline Stud Tail – Stud Tail in Cats
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Feline Stud Tail
Feline stud tail (seborrhea of the tail) is a condition that can affect non-neutered, long haired, male cats. Stud tail looks like a waxy buildup on top of the tail and is caused by an overactive sebaceous and/or apocrine gland which is located at the on the tail.
This is more common in non-neutered cats because the sebaceous gland can increase its reaction to the male hormones.
Feline Stud Tail Treatment
Feline stud tail in cats can be handled a couple of different ways:
- Keeping the area clean is a must. Try using an anti-seborrhoeic shampoo (dandruff shampoo) making sure to rub the soap in and rinse thoroughly. Always make sure to dry the tail completely on a cool setting of the dryer.
- Keep the area mat free is also a must. Clip the hair on the tail if need be. Groom the tail often making sure to remove any debris. Or simply shave it, so there is air and sunlight exposure (some studies have shown that fresh air and sunlight exposure help this condition.
- Neuter your cat. It might not cure the problem but could help curb some of the male hormones, giving the sebaceous gland a break.
In some extreme cases, male cats can be treated with female hormones. Make sure to be under a vet’s supervision during this treatment. These hormones may help solve the problem of stud tail but could open the door to other side effects.
A home remedy for stud tail in cats is to use corn starch on the area. Bush it through the fur making sure to remove any clumps of it. It will help take care of some of the greasiness and keep the area dry so it will not get infected.
Should you begin seeing signs of infection or if there is an odor that is accompanying the greasy residue, be sure get you cat into the vet. There are certain side effects such as bacterial infections that could cause problems down the road.
Feline stud tail does not always have a bacterial infection along with it, so although a vet may prescribe antibiotics, they don’t always work. There are shampoos made specifically for this condition that can be used often, some contain benzoyl peroxide.
Stud tail is an inconvenient thing to deal with but with proper care and grooming can be reduced or eliminated. Getting in a grooming routine will be beneficial to both you and your feline friend.
Additional Stud Tail Information
How to Reduce Stud Tail in Male Cats
One reader reported that she uses Virbac Sebolytic Shampoo on stud tail.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
I had never heard of stud tail until our neutered blue bicolor Ragdoll, Timmy. His is on his low back instead of his tail. I decided to have a groomer bathe both boys so Timmy would be good and clean and she is the one who told me what it was. Anne Thompson was our groomer and her mobile cat grooming business is “I Groom Cats”. I had her bathe both cats every 8 weeks because of it (so they would smell the same). She was a Certified Master Cat Groomer and is outstanding. We now live in a very doggy area and there are no cat groomers at all. The nearest would be 2 hours away in another state! I had her teach me basics, much of which was how to handle to handle the kitty for their own comfort as well as your access to do what you need to do. I also bought most of the products she recommended. Timmy also is our IBD kitty.
I have another topic for you: Pandora Syndrome in cats. I’ve been trying to read as much research and information I can find to see if there is something truly beneficial. In short, the cat experienced some kind of trauma very early in life (could even have been before birth) plus has a genetic predisposition to reacting strongly to changes. Louie has this. Our new vet and I are working through what may be most helpful to Louie. The current issues are new living situation (rented house while new one is being built), Timmy had an IBD flare, I’ve had to be out of the house most of the day during the week, and my husband is having to stay in FL, where we used to live, until 12/31 to complete his contract. He comes to TN to visit. Louie goes right to him and flops for petting, lets Ross pick him up like always. But, then he develops the symptoms: constantly in and out of the litter pan & licking himself. He may get in it once a minute. The best management would be to remove the stressors. Can’t do anything about the living arrangements, Timmy’s IBD doesn’t always remain stable (he’s in a flare right now that is taking some time to get back into remission), I still have a huge amount of work to do on selecting things to complete construction of the new house, and Ross can’t stay yet. The things I can control are keeping regular feeding and play times and providing enrichment. It isn’t enough though, so management currently requires meds: gabapentin and when severe, Onsier (an FDA-approved NSAID for cats & dogs). You can’t use the Onsior much because there is a risk of kidney failure as a side effect. We have a LR3 and I ordered a LR4 from Costco, although I don’t expect this to help. It was a great deal and the LR3 seems to be struggling.
Poor male kittehs! I had no idea this condition even existed. Thank you, Jenny, for the very great information (as usual)!!!!
Big hugs!
Patti & Miss Pink Sugarbelle 🙂 <3