Pulling out hair?

Question

A couple of years ago my cat would have a problem. She would pull out her own fur like mad. We thought it might be the heat in the winter. It wasnt fleas because we have 2 other cats and they didnt have fleas or pull out there hair. My mom thinks that it might be the cat was threatened by the other cats there all females though. This was a couple of years ago. She doesnt pull her fur out anymore

We had taken her to the vet and he couldnt find anything wrong with her

Answer 1

You should really go see a vet. This might be cause by a physiological disorder.

Answer 2

My cat did that when her fur was really really dry. I put cod liver oil in her food and that cleared it up. I also changed her food from cheap stuff to something with more substance and less filler and that helped too.

Another friend of mine had an older cat that did that and it ended up that her cat because she was so old was going through cat menopause. If you felt the area that her cat would pull the hair out on it was very hot to touch (a "hot spot"). There is a spray that you can buy...i don't remember what it was called...to help with this.

Answer 3

If it was obsessive compulsive disorder she'd still be doing it. I had a cat that did that because she had dry skin, actuakky made herself bleed. Pulled all the hair out on her back by her tail. We got some cream from the vet and she was fine, but if your cat did it for a little while and never has done it since...it's probably something along these lines.

Answer 4

The behavior you describe could be caused by stress or some stress related emotional problem in the affected cat. Some cats are helped by catnip, others by anti-stress scents, others by calming meds from the vet. But you said your kitty is not doing this anymore (pulling out her fur), so it looks like she has adjusted well to her present living conditions.

Answer 5

Jackie, I have had only two cats in my lifetime, although i can tell you this: Cats can get funky and seem really neurotic and crazy. You cat may just be pulling its hair out out of fear or who knows.

If you really want to treat this problem
talk to a vet, or a cat psychiatrist (they DO exist)

love the silly animal peace

Answer 6

This type of behaviour is usually due to a stressor of some kind, like pain, itching, emotional stress, an underlying illness or infection. Since your cat is not obviously ill at the present time, i suspect itching (from allergies) or emotional stress or something as simple as matted fur if it is a long haired breed.

Answer 7

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.

Answer 8

It could have been a variety of non-fatal things, from fleas to skin disease to allergies, to compulsive behavior, to ringworm to bacterial infections.

Sometimes, a cat can have fleas even when they are not visible to the eye.

She most likely, though had an allergic reaction to something.

Answer 9

Its possible your cat has obbsessive compulsive disorder, where they constantly lick out there fur. You might have to take her to the vet and he might give her tablets to help calm her down.

Answer 10

it could b nerves ...ur mom might b right whether male or female...some cats dont get along with other cats! possibly if thier is a age difference!