My 11 year old cat has an licking problem. She is constantly licking and grooming herself! She doens't have fleas at all, I have bathed her twice within the past two weeks and fog bombed the basement part of the house where I live. So there shouldn't be any bugs or parasites that are bothering her. My other cat doesn't seem to have the same problem. But this cat has licked, groomed, and chewed herself so much that she has scabs everywhere and her fur is thinning out. I really don't think that she is sick...my next step will be to take her to the vet, but I wondered if anyone knew something that would help.
2007-05-31 08:53:42 · 16 answers · asked by jawjagal13 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Perhaps it could be hot spots? It's a kind of rash that happens when water gets stuck in their fur for too long. It would also explain the scabs. Take your cat to the vet, it sounds like hot spots but it could just be an obsessive trait.
Here is some information on hot spots:
http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/hotspots.html
(the pictures they show on that site are very exaggerated, it's usually only a bit of pink skin with some hair loss and scabs)
She could also have some sort of skin infection or allergy.
2007-05-31 08:59:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I took my cat to the vet just yesterday for almost the same reason. She was bitting her fur and her hair is thinning and even created a few bals spots!! So the vet gave did a skin sample and it came back negative. So she then gave her a shot of cortizone so she won't keep bitting herself raw. She also said it could be an allergic reaction to the food I've been giving her which has been the same for years!!! I guess this can happen, them developing new allergies. my dad has a cat who is older and what she does is exactly what your cat does! she is allergic to fleas ans he uses Revolution treatment.when it gets so bad where her skin becomes so raw and even scabbed he then has to take her in for a cortizone shot!!
Good luck honey, take care of that kitty!!!
2007-06-01 01:58:04 · answer #2 · answered by sunshine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should take her to the Vet, there are many reasons for Cats to over-groom, some easily remedied like over-heating caused by central-heating or unusually hot weather, to the hard to cure 'compulsive behaviour' with no obvious cause.
You may have over-done the Flea treatment and she has developed an allergic reaction to whatever was used, or you may have introduced something into the house which is an allergen for her. Mine is allergic to perfume releasing air fresheners foe example.
Good luck finding and curing the cause, the poor thing must be really uncomfortable!
2007-05-31 09:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by willowGSD 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My cat has this problem. He does have an allergy to fleas, which can trigger it. Make sure you are using a flea treatment on your cat - bathing her will not get rid of fleas for good. My cat never looks like he has fleas but just one is enough to start his whole itch scratch cycle.
On top of that our vet also thinks he has a food allergy so he is now on a special diet. When he gets really bad he pulls his hair out and lick and chews himself until he has raw patches on his body. When this happens he usually has a short course of steroids (and antibiotics if he needs them) and this stops him itching long enough for things to settle down. I also put evening primrose oil in his food which helps keep him skin in good condition.
Good luck and I hope you get to the bottom of the problem.
2007-05-31 21:43:13 · answer #4 · answered by Badgrl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your poor little cat! i would take her to a vet - i know they cost but she is worth every penny! i imagine if she doesn't have some sort of skin problem already the bathing won't have helped. cats are very clean animals and unless they are hospitalised require no other washing or cleaning than that which they can do themselves. they will of course spend hours washing! but if she is biting, etc then she has some sort of irritant! get her to the vets is my advice and don't bathe her again! :o))
m x
p.s. pet insurance can be relatively cheap (i'm not going to spam the one i use here!) so shop around for next time and your other cat!
2007-05-31 09:45:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some cats are anxious therefore over groom.
It could be a skin disease..
Only a vet trip WILL tell you the truth..
Find out soon before her over licked scabs get infected..
2007-05-31 09:02:13 · answer #6 · answered by Spay-n-Neuter-Your-Pets 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Years ago, I had a cat who licked himself raw too. I took him to the vet and was told to give the cat prednisone. You can get prednisone really cheaply over the internet (like $20 for 500 taps).
You can look up the dose, but as I recall it was 1/2 of a 5mg tab once a day.
2007-05-31 09:01:24 · answer #7 · answered by mikeburns55 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Might be an allergic reaction to the stuff you sprayed the house with. Might have nothing to do with it. Take it to the vet see if it is allergies if not at least the vet can give you something for the scabs.
2007-05-31 09:00:51 · answer #8 · answered by thezooqueen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't bathe her, use frontline once a month. my cat does the same the vet said she could have an allergy or behaviour prob,feliway diffusers don't work i tried them and she is on low dose of steroids-prednisilone every other day as this seems to calm the irritation in the skin,she rips her fur out.Take her to vet a routine apt is fine it's not urgent or life threateneing no need to worry too much
DO NOT BUY DRUGS OVER INTERNET U DO NOT KNOW WHAT U R GETTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-05-31 12:56:05 · answer #9 · answered by Miss Karen Roe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds very much like what our cat was doing when she had worms. She licked and groomed herself in to a state. Has she had anti-worming pills? Think you should take your cat to the vet ASAP to get it fixed.
2007-05-31 09:02:17 · answer #10 · answered by Kirsty P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋