Why is my cat over-grooming/shaving himself?

Question

He's been doing this for quite a while... and I'm not sure what his problem is. It isn't fleas b/c he's been checked and I think it might be an anxiety disorder. He constantly over-grooms and bites the hair off his hind legs, his abdomin, and some parts on his front legs. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

my cat has done thids his whole life the vet said its just stress and anxiety ( why a cat would have stress in its life beats me) you can either live with it or put the cat on tranqulizers. i didn't want to medicate my kitty so i just let him have bald legs.

Answer 2

I think you have to rule out an allergy - possibly in food or environment.

If you want to try a stress remedy I suggest you go to www.spiritessence.com and read about the use of flower essences. Dr. Jean Hovfe has an "Obsession Remedy" which I used on one of my cats and I feel it has reduced her over-grooming to a one more normal
for a cat.

A bottle is just $16.95 - no shipping or handling. You have to use the flower essences intensely as they are not drugs or medicines as people generally know them. You simply shake the bottle well and apply three to four drops to the fur between the cat's ears. You do it four or five times a day. You will have a whole bottle and it will last over a month most likely. So don't be discouraged, you just get in the habit of putting the drops on in the AM and at night and a couple of times during the day.

Rescue Remedy would not be applicable here. As its name implies the RR is more for an immediate, acute problem with injury, trauma, pain etc. Other flower essences are used for more chronic situations, such as the licking and over-grooming.

Answer 3

We had a similar problem with our cat and the vet suggested that the over-grooming was the result of lack of stimulation. We tried buying some interactive toys, which didn't help all that much and then eventually purchased a cat condo on eBay. He loved the cat condo and when he sits on the highest perch, he doesn't have room to lick himself so the problem went away. The behavioral specialist at our vet told us not to yell at him when we observe this behavior but rather to distract him. Yelling will only encourage him to overgroom under the bed or out of our sight.

Answer 4

Hi there. My dog actually does the same thing. We took her to the vet and it turns out that she is allergic to grass. Our friend's cat has the same problem. You could be right, however, in thinking that your companion may have an anxiety disorder. Stress could do it, as could bordom. I echo the woman above me: take him to the vet and see what they think. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

This could possibly be stress. This might be a perfect time to try the Bach Rescue Remedy (original flower essences)

Answer 6

Cats pick to keep themselves sparkling. once they devour they do a by way of washing and anytime they imagine they pick somewhat contact up. Cats spend 0.5 their days napping some thing ingesting washing himself or basically prowling round.

Answer 7

sounds like stress. They sometimes get allergies, too. Why don't you take your animal companion to the vet and leave the diagnosys to him?

Answer 8

is he an only kitty?? sometimes boy kitties do that when insecure about another kitty in the house.

is he eating foods with fillers in them???? i know of kitties who are allergic to wheat gluten, corn, corn starch, etc--make sure his food is filler -free.
how dry is his skin?????
do you feed him food with oils in???? these oils are good for kitty--keepm his sklin moist--supplement his dry food with 1 3-oz can of wet food--filler free-- every day to every other day--add 1 drop of flavorless cod liver ouil to his food every day for 1 week. you should notice his fur getting softer and his picking and scratching lessens noticeably.
good uck with kitty---i hope this solves your problem.
wellness makes a filler-free dry food--i feed my allergic kitty fancy feast--there are onlty 2 kinds she can eat--one has sardines and other fish FILLETS in ASPIC----the other is whitefishFILLETS in aspic with some othe rkinds of fish fillets--no fellers, no thickeners----good for kitty. try this---you should notice the difference within a few days.