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 Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 6:58 am
My kitty Pitter Pat has been over-grooming herself for about a month or two. I've heard it's usually caused by stress because grooming calms cats so if they're stressed they sometimes over-groom.
She is licking off so much of her fur that I have to give her hairball medicine every day. She has bald patches on her legs and her belly is practically bare.
I'm glad she can't reach her back or her head or she would look really bad. She seems fine otherwise, her normal self...I heard that even after whatever stressed her out is gone, the over-grooming could just be a habit now.
I can't afford to take her to the vet right now so I was hoping others had experienced this with their animals and could reassure me that she will be okay.
I've got coworkers who told me their dogs have even done it and they're not even self-cleaning animals. I would also like to know how to get her to stop so if anyone has any advice I would truly appreciate it.
Thank you! =^..^=
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:09 pm
Overgrooming can be caused by stress (cats can groom to comfort themselves). But there can be many other causes as well. Allergies are the most common cause for overgrooming. The most common allergy in cats is to fleas. So flea treatment should be first on the list. Other allergies could be environmental (anything new in the house?) or dietary (did her food change?). Treatment for allergies depends on the cause.
Overgrooming on the belly can also be caused by discomfort in the abdomen. So intestinal problems or urinary problems could be an underlying condition. Unfortunately, it would take a vet (in person lol ) to diagnose these problems.
Stress is kind of a diagnosis of exclusion (everything else has been ruled out). Anti anxiety medications can be used to help to deal with the problem if it exists.
I hope this helps.
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:01 pm
Thanks for the reply. One of these days I will get her to the vet.
I know it's not fleas because my four cats got fleas before (how indoor cats get fleas amazes me) and I knew it pretty quickly, especially because fleas LOVE me and if they were in the house I'd be getting chewed, plus I know to look for the flea "dirt", etc.
I just hope she's okay.
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:16 pm
Yes I have that same problem too! My youngest cat Samson over-grooms himself, he's lost the furr on his belly, and some on his back legs too. He hasnt got fleas, because recently all my cats had to go to the vets for de-worming and checks ups ect. and the vet checked samson for fleas. and said he hasnt got any. It could be stress. but im not too sure. he acts fine otherwise 3nodding
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