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Cats/My Cat's Obsessive Licking

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Expert: - 12/8/2011


Question
For some time my 10 year old cat Genesis has been licking an inordinate amount of time.  A lot was going on when she began doing it so we thought it might be a response to stress similar to nail biting, but now it's gotten worse to the point where she is developing bald spots on her abdomen and legs.  I'm in a horrible financial situation and to bring her into the vet and pay $90 just to walk in the door if it's an allergy or something.....

She doesn't seem to be in any pain or have bugs, a rash or anything else....

I've even tried a "hot spot" spray w/ no luck.

Can you just give me your thoughts/opinion?

I can give you any additional info/pics you need.

I hope to hear from you soon.


Amanda

Answer
Amanda,

The bad news is you may have to go to the vet. Usually, this type of behavior can be attributed to an allergy (and those are hard to track down). They can also be due to body mites, or other external parasites. This overgrooming can be behavioral because something major changed in the household: a 2 legged or 4 legged addition, a strange cat hanging around the household, or some other relatively major event. It takes a fair bit of detective work, if this is, indeed, the case.

Please come back to me, if you have further questions.

Seasonal 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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