2006-10-24 23:05:15 · 21 answers · asked by loriel 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
A friend of mine had a siamese that started doing that. The vet couldn't find any medical reason for it, so he put the cat on valium. Cats can and sometimes do succumb to mental disorders like OCD. Dogs too.
2006-10-25 01:57:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could be behavioural - overgrooming in cats isn't uncommon as a result of stress- do you actually see her pulling the hair out as she grooms, or does she just seem to be losing hair? What areas of her body are affected?
Even if you've ruled out fleas, it may still be parasitic- e.g. demodectic mange or other mites - your vet can do skin scrapings to get a good idea of whether this is the case or not. Is she still being treated for fleas anyway? Even one single flea on a cat can cause skin problems if the cat is sensitive (called Flea Allergy Dermatitis- FAD)
How old is she? Cats are very prone to hyperthyroidism (also easily tested for by your vet), and this causes, among other things, poor coat quality and alopecia.
If it proves to be none of these, the vet can also take skin biopsies and send them away to a pathologist. There are, for example, a few odd neoplastic (cancerous) diseases that affect the skin without producing actual tumours.
Hope these suggestions have been of some use, though basically it all comes down to having a chat with your vet.
2006-10-24 23:38:40 · answer #2 · answered by Loz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of our cats does this periodically too. The vet says it is an allergy and has given her a steroid injection to stop the irritation. It is the constant grooming that causes this. Although we applied front line flea control only 4 weeks ago, the vet suggested we do it again and then continue every 4 weeks, as he thinks it is a flea allergy, but it could be caused by anything, even house dust!! I would take her to the vet as it is not very nice for her to be constantly itching, plus she will be needing her fur for the winter!
2006-10-25 02:33:08 · answer #3 · answered by deebradley2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this is bald patches down the backs and insides of her legs, possibly her underside too, and if she is neutered more than 2 years ago (usually around 4), and if there is no visible redness or irritation on the skin, then this could be the condition called feline alopecia.
As another poster said it can be helped with hormone tablets from the vet. However, if this is the case, be aware that you are essentially treating yourself and not the cat, as she is not bothered about the cosmetic appearance. I used homeopathy to treat mine very successfully on two occasions and a vet homeopath should be able to help you decide on the best treatment.
(Incidentally, our usual vet didn't know what it was but our vet homeopath friend did - they're real vets too.)
2006-10-25 05:51:39 · answer #4 · answered by crosbie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cat could have a skin condition. Or she could just be bored! Or stressed. Have you moved recently or been through a stressful situation. I know this sounds silly, but my parrot pulls out his feathers if he "thinks" he is not getting enough attention, and also when he is stressed. Suggest you phone your local vet and just check with them. Apparently, cats get skin fungus that is not obvious to the naked eye. Try Frontline or Advantage (we don't always see the fleas, but they are present) try these products for about 3 weeks according to the experts and if there is no change, let the vet diagnose her! Or try Chlorpheniramine (Chlortrimeton TM) 4mg, 1/2 tablet twice a day, it's a antihistamine.
2006-10-24 23:24:33 · answer #5 · answered by dragonfly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You say you have ruled out fleas, that's good but you know they can have a tick eat into there skin. It may not be the case but it would be worth getting your cat check out by the vet
2006-10-24 23:14:22 · answer #6 · answered by chass_lee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah. Your cat is female. She's fixed? Older than two?
Something happened around her. She was exposed too a wierd that was beyond her understanding.
It's not uncommon for female kitty buddies too just "wierd out" like this. I'm assuming that she is notoriously skittish too.
Look... Get her too the vet. The vet will put her on a short coures of hormone tharapy and she will chill for a week and then just be "over" what ever "it" was.
She's fine. She's just wigging out a bit. She can't do her self any kind of serious harm but she is currently very very uncomfortable. The fix is normally very easy.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-24 23:15:43 · answer #7 · answered by refresherdownunder 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take her to the vet.
There are several reasons that cats pull out their fur. Sometimes it is a
behavioral thing but lots of times it is due to problems such as fleas,
mange, ringworm (a fungal infection), allergies, immune mediated disease
and bacterial infections.
2006-10-24 23:09:24 · answer #8 · answered by Trina 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Puss could have a form of mange and her skin is so itchy she is trying to bite the irritation and hence pulling her fur out. To the Vet with her immediately. How would you like to be constantly itchy and nobody helps you ?
2006-10-24 23:22:20 · answer #9 · answered by Joanne E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well firstly I would take her to the vet. But, yeah like me I would come in here and ask someone else in the meantime.
It could be a dermatitis, an allergy to something in the garden and I think maybe it could be a stress thing.
Good luck.
2006-10-24 23:09:14 · answer #10 · answered by Jan Frost 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋