Excessive grooming

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orangecrush	Excessive grooming		Lead	[-]
Posts: 6 Oct 21, 2009 19:30:36	Tags : cats, grooming, excessive My 4 year old neutered male is grooming so excessively his belly and all four legs are hair less. He is strictly an inside cat and has no fleas. He has been to the vet a couple of time for the same problem, he has had a skin biopsy twice and both times it came back normal. I feed a good quality food with no by-products. When he starts a new spot it looks like he has kitty acne, and he just keeps at it until a small spot is a large patch. Has this happened to any one else? Or can someone give any clues on how ele to help this bald boy. Last Edited By: joanne r Oct 22, 2009 22:06:58. Edited 1 time.
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kelly0523		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 11 Nov 18, 2009 21:20:08	I have the same problem with both my cats. It started after my daughter was born. Like you, I took them to the vet numerous times to be checked and they have no medical issue as the cause. I attribute it to stress (from the baby 5 years ago) which turned into a bad habit. Since the baby was here to stay and the cats were not having any other types of issues (they were sleeping well, eating well, playing, etc...) I just decided to embrace the "bald is beautiful" mentality and accept that they look pretty silly now. I do check their bald spots regularly for sores or rashes, etc... and I tell them to stop licking (LOL) to no avail!
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joanne r		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5110 Nov 21, 2009 07:08:06 FF&F Staff Administrator Jo Down Under in Ozland	I have had this with a few cats that I have had in care,the vet has said stress each time and gave them a shot,it has worked in each case,as a cat foster mum,cats come in and often undergo stress for a time,they pull the hair out as a calming tool,which can become a habit. The medication our vet gives works to calm then in the short term ,so look into what has changed in your household and ask your vet to look at the problem from the stress angle,please keep us posted.
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joanne r		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5110 Nov 21, 2009 07:09:25 FF&F Staff Administrator Jo Down Under in Ozland	I have had this with a few cats that I have had in care,the vet has said stress each time and gave them a shot,it has worked in each case,as a cat foster mum,cats come in and often undergo stress for a time,they pull the hair out as a calming tool,which can become a habit. The medication our vet gives works to calm then in the short term ,so look into what has changed in your household and ask your vet to look at the problem from the stress angle,please keep us posted.
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orangecrush		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 Nov 29, 2009 19:16:47	Nothing has changed in our house. That is what boggiles me. The first time O'Malley went to the vet the vet prescribed a pill, I don't remember which one but it zoned him out so I refuse to do that to him, plus he still licked his legs and belly raw. My vet also said it was stress, but I really don't know what he has to stress over. I make sure all my furry children get equal attention and affection. I know kitties are very sensitive so I am careful about cleaners. I also don't know why O'Malley is the only one like this. We have 6 cats and 1 dog. Everything has been the same. I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can for my boy.
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kelly0523		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 11 Nov 30, 2009 09:49:21	I know how you are feeling, it perplexes me that 5 1/2 years later my cat is still licking himself bald. It really does become habitual I think (like nail biting in humans). As long as he is medically OK (per the vet) and is not developing sores or rashes from it, I would just groom him so he feels clean (maybe he won't lick as much) and learn to love your new baldy Really, I am not making light of it, but after awhile it just becomes a part of who they are.
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orangecrush		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6 Nov 30, 2009 10:58:35	Thanks for the support. I really pride myself on understanding "my kids" needs and cares, but I guess it is just one of those things I'll never understand. I can't get past the thought that maybe there is something else to try. I can't live with the thought of "what if".
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