Stud tail in a Maine Coon cat (video)?

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This is a home video showing what looks like stud tail in a Maine Coon. That was not the intention of the video, but my eyes were drawn to the indentation near the base of this superb, plumed tail.
 

Please note that this is an embedded video which may stop working as it is held on the Reddit.com servers. I can't control that. I have included a screenshot of the video in case that happens.

This is an interesting and, in some ways, charming video of a Maine Coon cat playing on the Reddit.com website. I love to see domestic cats playing enthusiastically. However, I noticed that this cat's gloriously plumed tail (for which the Maine Coon is famous) was missing fur towards its base.

Does this Maine Coon have stud tail?
Does this Maine Coon have stud tail? Image: Screenshot from video.

My mind immediately turned to a not uncommon feline health condition called stud tail. I do not know if this attractive Maine Coon is suffering from stud tail, but it looks likely from the video. That is all I can say at the moment. Note: Maine Coon cats are not predisposed to stud tail.

I think it is educational to discuss this health issue.

What is stud tail?

So, what is stud tail? It's a condition which is described as being similar to acne as it is due to over secretion of the sebaceous glands.

It would be present in this Maine Coon cat if the owner parted the hair at that indentation in the tail where the fur is thin (and near the base of the tail) and saw an accumulation of waxy brown material.

The hair becomes matted and greasy, and it may fall out hence the thinning of the fur. My assessment on observing the video is that the hair has indeed fallen out in that particular location.

The condition is most common in unneutered males, but it can occur in neutered males and spayed females.

The treatment as suggested by my textbook on home veterinary treatments, is to wash the tail twice a day with a medicated shampoo designed for cats and to sprinkle corn starch or baby powder on the base.

If the skin has become infected, you can treat the area as if it were an abscess. The essential treatment for an abscess is antibiotics because they become infected with bacteria.

If the condition is occurring in an unsterilised cat, neutering the cat may relieve the condition.

This is a chronic condition, and it requires daily management. Sometimes the advice of a veterinarian is required.

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