Why is my cat biting all his fur off his stomach and inner back legs?

Question

I have taken him to see the vet many many times but he still keeps doing it and he is very bald and sore looking there now. Help.

Very good advice down there. You asked for more details well.... It's not fleas, the vet said it is hormonal, but not sure what that means really. He put him on tabs that are good but not recommended for long (worri
ying). Otherwise he is a happy cat with no obvious changes in his environment that I can see.

Tried Hypo Allergenic food, been wormed, his sister is fine, he is the boss, he is 13

He has been vaccinated for all that he can since a baby (kitten) and had yearly boosters.

Answer 1

Even though flea and food allergy have been ruled out, there is still a possibility that an allergy is the culprit. Cats can be allergic to anything, just like humans. In fact, cats can be allergic TO humans! When cats have allergies, instead of sneezing and runny noses, they tend to show it through itchy skin.

Someone else suggested boredom or anxiety. That is also a possibility. A more enriching environment could help if this is the case. Think HIGH. Make sure kitty has lots of places to climb. Cat furniture, scratching posts, laser dots to chase, fish tanks (make sure kitty can't get to the fish though!), bird feeders just outside the window - these are all things that can help. Make sure you're spending enough time with kitty too!

One common skin condition we see a lot is called Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex (EGC). No one knows for sure what causes these but they are probably immune related. Corticosteroids are usually the treatment of choice. Many pet owners are nervous about putting their cats on steroids because of their bad rap. Yes, steroids can cause potentially serious side effects, but the good news is cats are far more resistant to these side effects than humans and sometimes steroids are the only treatment that bring relief to the cat.

Also - make sure your veterinarian does a complete blood profile on your cat. The skin issue could be related to any of a number of other conditions that can be diagnosed with a few cc's of blood.

Never be afraid to seek a second opinion from a different veterinarian. We get second opinion kitty clients all the time! :-)

Answer 2

I used to work for the cats protection and I have seen many such cases. Most were due to a flea allergy. Some cats are very sensitive to flea bite and can resort to pulling out their own fur in an attempt to stop the itching. Another cause is Fox Mange. If you live in quite a rural area or even an area with a lot of urban foxes then the mange can be passed on to domestic animals. The vet would perform a dermatalogical scrape to test for mange.
I also came across a case of a young female cat who had suddenly started pulling all the fur out of her back end, half her body was totally hairless! After numerous visits to the vets for different tests it turned out that the problem was not physical but psychological. They had recently moved and there were lots of dominant male cats in the area who were bullying the new female whenever she went outside. The sudden onslaught from all these cats had made tha poor little female so insecure that she started pulling out her fur in a nervous reaction to it. The owner decided it would be kinder to keep her in and within 6 months her fur had grown back.
So firstly try a good flea treatment such as frontline and if it continues take them to the vets and if all else fails try to see if their have been any changes to the environment which could trigger this behaviour. I hope everything turns out for the best.;)

Answer 3

I would ask the vet to continue to try to search for physical causes; if there is none, I would do some research. If it's an issue with behavior/stres, surely there's a solution...or at least something that would alleviate it somewhat.

I have had two cats with severe flea allergies. Both have licked excessively and literally pulled out tufts of fur. The allergies seem to be worse during certain seasons.

Although there's not a flea in sight, the vet says that even one flea can cause them to do this. Use Advantage or Frontline, as directed.

My cats have to get cortisone shots from time to time, and I give my female a quarter portion of an OTC antihistamine tablet meant for humans. Please be advised that this was per my vet's instructions. NEVER give your pet medicine unless your vet tells you to, and follow his/her instructions to the letter.

I bought a product called Calm Coat at a local feed store. The liquid is very oily and can be used on horses, dogs, and cats. For cats, only a drop or two is needed. It seems to help my cat.

Ask your vet about natural supplements/ products such as fish oils that might help itchy skin conditions by increasing oil consumption. A bit of tuna, mackeral, or salmon in its natural oil might be of benefit.

Good luck with making your kitty more comfortable!

Answer 4

There are a few possible reasons why your cat may be doing this. Over-grooming can be a sign of stress in a cat - is your cat highly strung? Have there been any changes in the household recently, for example building work, new person or animal in the house? Another cause could be bladder problems, some cats have chronic problems with cystitis or problems urinating. If your cat is older, arthritic pain may be causing him to groom too much where it is hurting him. Cats tend to show less obvious signs of stiffness or lameness than dogs but they do still get painful joints as they age. If your cat is having difficulty jumping or getting around they may have arthritic pain. The other cause could be skin problems, either due to fleas or other parasites, or skin allergies to food, household products etc.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would have the vet run a blood test. My cat had the same thing, but she literally chewed the fur off of her from mid back to her tail to the point of open sores. My former vet told me she was high strung and gave her valium. She had no fleas, I tried topical ointments and nothing cured it. Needless to say, he is no longer my vet.
One day, I looked in her mouth and her fangs were inflamed to the point to where they almost fell out. This occurred while she was still under treatment from my former vet. I called another vet, they ran a blood test and found she had lymphocarcoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes. I was extremely upset because this is fatal. The only thing is that this type of cancer is linked to feline leukemia, which she did not have. This was unusual, but thankfully, the vet caught it in time and she went into remission. The life expectancy with this disease is a few months. With drug treatment, her life went another 8 yrs and she died of old age. I don't want to scare you, but get a blood test done and fast.

Answer 6

if possible, get another vet to look at him. He either has an allergy, a flea problem, or a nervous condition. He can be treated with either shots, baths (done at the clinic; you don't want to try and bath a cat all by yourself; they don't care for that mostly), or salves. But the salves and creams get messy, and he has to wear a silly cone around his neck so he doesn't like the stuff off. Good luck dear. It's toughest when a little furry part of the family is sick.

Answer 7

This happened to my cat & the vet said she may allergic to something in the house try a flea spray for around the house first and then try changing the food its a process of elimination

Answer 8

I know that this sounds really silly, but are you sure that he is a HE? Queens (female cats) can sometimes get broody and make liners for their young from the soft hair on their stomachs and under the back legs, failing that,I am afraid that a skin irritant is the only answer, or just maybe a bad reaction to processed food??? may be worth a change.
hope all is well
Paul H

Answer 9

Stress is a factor but so is low grade cystitis- which can also be due to stress. cats can find the most random (to us ) things stressfull and you will not always find the cause. I suggest taking a freash (within an hour) urine sample to your vet so they can check for blood/bacteria/crystals. I would also ask your vet to refer you to a behaviourist if this test is negative. You can get special non absorbant litter from your vet or online pharmacy (katkor) which makes urine sampling easy. It can be due to hormones as well so you vet may try an oestrogen based medication, or steroids to reduce the itching. If your unsure of anything speak to your vet/vetnurse who will happily explain.

Answer 10

My cat used to do the same thing so I took him to the vet. She gave him a shot of something and his nasty rash cleared up within 2 days. His fur grew back normally within a week. He is now "cured" and does not scratch there anymore :) I can't believe I waited as long as I did to take him because it was a simple treatment and cost about $50. Good luck!! Take him NOW.