My Cat is losing fur from overgrooming. How can I Stop Him licking himself bald?

Question

I have taken him to the vet and they said it was from the stress of moving. Now that we are settled and he is still doing it the vet said it has just become a habit and wanted him to go on kitty prosaic lol. Does anyone know how to stop a cat overgrooming without medication???? Plz

Answer 1

A friend of mine had the same problem with her siamese. It wasn't from moving, he just became neurotic and started pulling his own hair out. He was put on Valium.

There are herbal calming remedies for pets now. The one I always hear about is Rescue Remedy. It can be put in their food, water, or directly on their head between their ears.

Basically, your cat calmed his anxieties by pulling out his hair...so now it's habit. Even if the anxiety from moving is gone, he's in the habit of pulling out his hair (basically just like a person biting their nails). I wouldn't put anything on his fur to keep him from doing it since this could also deter grooming.

You can find Rescue Remedy at pet and holistic stores, and online:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3550&N=2002+113757

Answer 2

An herbal mixture, such as Rescue Remedy, could help. There are other mixes made by a company called Azmira that may work, as well (do a Google search).

Also, get Comfort Zone. It is a plug-in diffuser that emits a synthetic pheromone to reduce anxiety.

Consider keeping the cat confined to one room for a few days. Most cats prefer to be in a smaller area when they are stressed. Give him a bed or closed cardboard box with a hole in the side (put a pillow or towel in it) for him to sleep in. Turn on a radio to play classical music for him (studies show it reduces stress).

Spend at least 15 minutes each day doing whatever he finds most relaxing: groom him, massage him, just pet him in a quiet room, etc.

If these things don't work, you probably will need to use medication.

Answer 3

Yes, I give my cat dry food that says hairball on it. Ever since I started giving her this food, her fur stopped shedding and I see no fallen fur on my chairs, rugs and cushions. In fact, her fur has grown and become shiny.
Now if your cat has grown a habit, you have to condition her to stop. Observe her for a few days, every time she starts licking too long, blow in her face or pull at her ear gently. After several times, she will stop doing that.

Answer 4

Sounds like your cat may have a skin irritation that causes him to constantly lick himself. Or maybe its a anxiety issue. Either way take him to a vet to make sure its not ringworm or something else that is infectious.

Answer 5

Vineger? We use it to keep the puppy from going potty in the house and from chewing on things. Or go the pet store and look at things there. Or talk to your vet, tell them that you don't want to give your cat prozac and you would rather treat this problem without drugs.

Answer 6

I had a cat with the same problem. As far as I know there's nothing more you can do except to put him on the kitty prosac. It really does help the problem big time.

Answer 7

(rolling on floor laughing, banging my head on desk, tears in my eyes, peeing in my pants) I'm sorry, I can't help it, the kitty prosac put me over the edge, (I was close anyway) You gotta love a cat to even think of a question like this.

And sorry, I don't know the answer, but I will tell you that once I took a screaming cat 1000 miles, he screamed all the way, despite the kitty prosac we gave him. We really loved that cat. Bless his heart, he's in kitty heaven now, licking himself as much as his little heart desires.

Peace.

Answer 8

I find it very difficult to believe over grooming causes hair loss. If that were so, our more efficient methods of grooming them would also create hair loss. Instead it improves hair & skin condition. In other words, the grooming is an attempt by your cat to cure its problem with hair loss.

The moving stress itself can cause hair loss, as can many other factors, such as allergens present in the new home not present in the old one, or a disease picked up along the way. Also did the vet

My first move would be to find another vet. Even if the hair loss is because of stress, your cat would fare better with extra reassurance & attention. Prozac is wonderful stuff, but for animals? c'mon!!!

Answer 9

u have to buy him/her a shampoo that wouldn't attrackt him to do that