Expert: Jessica - 1/7/2010

Question
I have noticed my maine coon chewing off the hair at the base of her tails. There are NO sores and the skin is not showing but this is a recent bahavior. Should I be worried?

Answer
Hi Jennifer.  It is cause for concern.  It's possible that she's suffering from an obsessive compulsive grooming disorder.  Antidepressants are generally indicated for this.  

But it could also indicate that your kitty is suffering pain somewhere in her hind quarters.  One condition in which chewing fur at the base of the tail is commonly seen is Feline Hyperesthesia, or Rolling Skin Syndrome.  This condition causes episodes of extreme pain along the back, especially at the base of the tail.  Cats suffering from the condition chew at their tails (sometimes even causing bleeding), may dash around the house out of the blue, may hide or suffer mood swings, and sometimes appear to zone out.  Feline Hyperesthesia is not well-understood.  It appears that stress is the most common factor, and hence, antidepressants with anti-anxiety properties are often a helpful treatment.  Keeping the cat busy and on a structured schedule is also important.  But there is a similar brain chemistry between cats who have this condition and those who have a seizure disorder.  In fact, hyperesthesia can sometimes lead to apparent seizure activity.  So vets also find many patients will benefit from an anti-convulsant.

Maine Coons are also more likely to suffer from hip dyslplasia than other breeds.  It could be a possibility that she's suffering some hip pain that's causing her to chew at the area.  Your vet can feel for this or check her out with an x-ray.  If hip dysplasia is to blame, a pain reliever should be prescribed, and you should feed your kitty a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement such as Cosequin for cats or Zuke's Hip Action cat treats (my cats' favorites).

Itching may be a possibility, too, and the vet can determine whether it appears to be related to an allergy, parasite or skin infection.

Best of luck!

Jessica