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Cats/Over grooming

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Expert: - 12/7/2008


Question
Over the past few weeks i have noticed tht my cat has started to overgroom. I went away for a week and left her with my partner, who i live with, so there was no change in her routine. When I returned home, the baldness is considerably worse, I have tried bitter spray and bathing her with hibiscrub but nothing is seeming to work. She is from a litter and i still have the mother and 2 of her brothers, but none of them seem to have this problem, i have tried to stop her from grooming but the only other alternative i can think of is to keep her indoors so i can keep an eye on her but as she enjoys spending the night outdoors i really want to keep that as a last resort could you help me please???

Answer
Kirsty,

I think that it would be wise for you to have your cat assessed by your family veterinarian as hair loss can be a symptom of some medical conditions that wouldn't necessarily be present in the three related cats that you have aside from the kitty you are concerned about. Once you have ruled out medical causes you can ask your vet about treatment options from a behavioral/medical standpoint because anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medications are often used in small doses to deal with hair loss caused by excessive grooming.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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