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Expert: - 10/12/2010


Question
When my grandfather passed away in june i decided that i would take his cat come august. The problem is that she is contantly licking herself but has no fleas. There are absolutely no fleas on her, none on my dog, and no bites on any member of the family. I have checked the furniture and everything. She is losing weight and I have now tried to switch her food. I am constantly trying to stop her form licking herself because i think that it is starting to cause her to get sores at the base of her back near her tail. I am not sure what exaclty is going on. Could it be anxiety? An allergic reaction? Or something worse. I have not noticed any worms in either pets stool...what could this be?

Answer
Crystal,

Remember, I am not a vet, but I expect it is an allergic reaction exacerbated by the stress of moving.  It is also possible she has a hypersensitivity to body mites.  The latter can be taken care of by use of ivermectin. You vet can measure out 4 doses, to be given once a week orally (on the same day).  If this is the problem, relief will be within a couple of weeks.

If she has developed a food allergy, you can try her on a diet free of soy, wheat, corn or gluten.

I would have a complete check up by your vet to see if there might be something else going on. BTW, it is not a bad idea to use a topical anti-flea medication, periodically, like Frontline + or Advantage or whatever your vet recommends.

Please let me know what transpires.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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