Biting his tail diagnosed as YEAST INFECTION

[Magpie]

My cat was diagnosed with a yeast infection, he keeps biting his tail and lost all the fur on the tip. This might help some others who have the same problem. I had to go to 2 different vets to get this diagnosis, the 1st vet said they didnt know what it was, thank God for the 2nd opinion. Jaxi has to take antiobiotics for 10 days and cream on his tail, they said I can clean his tail with OXY 10, the stuff you use to get rid of acne? He still has to wear his collar but at least he is not bumping into things anymore

[emma_pen]

I'm glad its something so simple and relatively easy to treat, hope he gets better soon. Did the vet suggest that this will be it, or is he likely to have long-term recurrences?

Ems

[ospunkyo]

A yeast infection - I never would have guessed something like that could appear on a cat's tail.

Can you describe what it looks like? I'm curious because Pfeffa has been attacking her tail tip recently - I thought it was just stress, but have noticed that the tip seems dry, and while she still has fur there, I think it might be thinner than in the past.

[Magpie]

Well, it just looks normal actually, if he keeps licking it, it will almost be a scaly red, like ezcema and very thin fur, not bald. The little pink tail pokes out at the end, looks like a worm! Thats the best I can describe it actually. You would never know it was yeast unless its under the microscope. I am going to attempt to give him some freedom tonight and see what he does when I take his collar off, its been 4 days on the antibiotics, if he goes straight for the tail, its going back on. I think he is getting depressed, he doesn't hardly move at all. I had to plonk him in front of the water dish this morning so he would drink, and he did, but he didnt eat anything. I know he is desperate to clean himself and he cant with that contraption on, poor thing. He cleans himself all the time, it must be very frustrating for him. You might want to take your kitty to the vet cos it might be a yeast infection, they will definately be able to tell you. Oh one thing I thought was weird, to clean the tail the vet told me to use those OXY 10 pads teens use for acne to clean the tail!! And rinse it really good afterwards, then put the cream on that they prescribed. weird huh?