Over Grooming
Over Grooming
My cat has started to over groom himself. He licks and scratches all the time. I've looked and he doen't have fleas. He's going to be bald. Could it be dry skin since I've turned the heat on? What can I do for him?
Re: Over Grooming
How old is your cat?
Is he indoors only?
Is it one specific spot he is tending to?
Was he bit by anything in that spot?
What does he eat? Has he been eating it all along? Could be an allergy to the food.
It could also be that something is up in that area, causing him pain and/or discomfort.
My suggestion would be to get him to the vet.
Is he indoors only?
Is it one specific spot he is tending to?
Was he bit by anything in that spot?
What does he eat? Has he been eating it all along? Could be an allergy to the food.
It could also be that something is up in that area, causing him pain and/or discomfort.
My suggestion would be to get him to the vet.
Re: Over Grooming
Vet NOW, you know this isn't normal, and only a VET can determine upon an exam and diagnostics. Go NOW. If kitty is older than 6, get a full blood profile done, including urinalysis and thyroid function testing.
..........Traci
Re: Over Grooming
I have a cat who had this problem. He was constantly licking/grooming himself bald! I took him to the vet. My vet determined that it was basically a psychosomatic problem meaning that the physical problem was based in an emotional (or in this case stressful) problem.
This isn't as weird as it sounds. I have four cats and over the years I have found that stress makes cats do odd things. Since they can't speak they act out. My Jack's problem was his 2 sisters who were tormenting him. They just wouldn't accept him and would gang up on him. I didn't realize this until some time later when I took in another stray who buddied up to Jack and like a miracle Jack stopped the licking and hasn't done it in years.
During the time he had this problem, my vet administered a very, very low does of steroids. I took Jack every 3 months or so when I noticed he would start up again. The medicine really helped.
Is it possible that something is upsetting your kitty?? I mean after you rule out physical cause. Jack is a very sensitive guy. He had a tough life on the streets prior to joining us. I have to keep him on a strict diet because he tends to get colitis and every so often needs flagil for it. He does fine with medicine.
This isn't as weird as it sounds. I have four cats and over the years I have found that stress makes cats do odd things. Since they can't speak they act out. My Jack's problem was his 2 sisters who were tormenting him. They just wouldn't accept him and would gang up on him. I didn't realize this until some time later when I took in another stray who buddied up to Jack and like a miracle Jack stopped the licking and hasn't done it in years.
During the time he had this problem, my vet administered a very, very low does of steroids. I took Jack every 3 months or so when I noticed he would start up again. The medicine really helped.
Is it possible that something is upsetting your kitty?? I mean after you rule out physical cause. Jack is a very sensitive guy. He had a tough life on the streets prior to joining us. I have to keep him on a strict diet because he tends to get colitis and every so often needs flagil for it. He does fine with medicine.