Why does my cat keep chewiing on himself & pulling his fur out?

Question

I've tried changing his food but it doesn't help, there are no signs of any ticks or fleas, Is there anything I can put on him to try and help without having to take him to vet first? Please help!!!!

Answer 1

Bring him to the vet and do a blood and fecal panel on him. He could either be highly stressed, allergic or have a immune deficiency. Let the vet tell you so you can bring your cat peace.
Blessings to you and your cat

Answer 2

My boy cat started doing that last year. Within a few days he'd licked a patch of skin near his tail raw. I took him to the vet, but he couldn't find any sign of fleas on either him or my girl cat. He suggested environmental allergies and told me to give him some Benadryl.

That didn't help, so I took him to another vet, and that vet found a flea. It turns out they can develop such bad allergies to fleas that even one or two can cause a very itchy reaction. A flea has to bite a number of times to get enough blood to reproduce.

The vet gave him a cortisone shot, and I dosed both cats with those flea drops you put in their fur, and it cleared right up.

One sign that it's fleas is if the irritation is around the base of the tail, where fleas like to hang out. Cats can scratch them off very quickly, and unless there are a lot of fleas, you might not see any of the droppings you're supposed to look for. My cats had been living inside for a year at this point. I'd treated them and flea-bombed the house before they moved in, and my cat has had fleas in the past without much of a reaction, so I was sure it wasn't fleas too.

You could try giving him and any other cats a flea treatment like Program, just in case. If that clears it up, then you have your answer. The vet said Benadryl is ok for cats, in small doses, but I didn't have much success with that. It's not a long-term solution anyway.

It'd be best to go to the vet though, in case it's something different.

Answer 3

There could be number of reasons why your cat is doing this. It could be an allergy, or stress, or just dry skin (which is quite common this time of year if you live in an area where winter is setting in).

Your cat could also have "hot spots". Hot spots are surface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance. They are generally circular patches that lose hair, can be swollen, and can be painfully itchy, causing cats to scratch, lick, or bite themselves. Here is the suggesed treatment for hot spots:
1) Trim the hair around the sore to prevent further spread of the infection and expose the edges of the lesion;
2) Wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or antiseptic;
3) Use antibiotics or cortisone. You buy these from Petco. This will also help if your cat is suffering from an allergy.

If this does not help, you gotta go to the vet.

Answer 4

It sounds like a skin allergy. Remember, a flea will only stay on an animal to feed. After that it drops off. Some animals who are allergic to fleas can get bit by one flea, and scratch for days. Seems like to me you're going to have to buckle down and bring your kitty to the vet. Best of luck to you.

Answer 5

Well i have heard of cats doing that, but every time i think the best solution is to go to the vet before it gets worse.

Answer 6

he may have a skin allergy or is stressed. stop changing his food...its hard on his tummy. also have you changed the type of litter you use? he could be allergic.or changed they type of detergent you useor added anything new to your home like carpet or furniture. It may also be ring worm. its not a "worm" but a fungus that causes fur loss and itchy skin. YOU ccan catch it from your cat and give it to others too.

Answer 7

he is shedding don't worry it is normal all cats do it there is a new medicine for that but i forgot what it is called, or give him a flea bath cause it might have fleas.

Answer 8

he must be changing his fur or might have flea