If pain is the issue, the licking is focused on the painful area, like in cases of disc disease or anal sac impaction. With itchy diseases, however, the licking is more widespread. Miller says. For example, compulsive licking at the tail head may indicate a flea infestation , while cats with pollen or food allergies may lick their backs, abdomens or other areas of the body.
Licking that causes excessive numbers of hairballs or hair loss is abnormal, Dr. Miller notes. If the cat gets more passionate about licking and abrades the skin surface [with its rough tongue], infection can occur.
Our veterinarian reveals why the payoff for your pet is well worth any extra work. The friendly and inquisitive LaPerm has an easy-care coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. Check out our collection of more than videos about pet training, animal behavior, dog and cat breeds and more. Wonder which dog or cat best fits your lifestyle?
Our new tool will narrow down more than breeds for you. If the video doesn't start playing momentarily, please install the latest version of Flash. Why Does My Cat Groom Excessively? By Dr. Cats groom themselves to remove debris off the fur and to help regulate their body temperature.
Join the Conversation Like this article? Have a point of view to share? Let us know! Psychogenic alopecia is a stress-related disorder. It is an obsessive-compulsive behavior where the cats suddenly cannot stop licking or chewing at themselves.
Since grooming releases endorphins hormones that make the cat happy , they will often partake in this pleasurable and relaxing ritual to help calm themselves. There are endless sources of possible stressors to cats. They are especially sensitive to change, so anything new, moved, or changed in their environment could potentially be upsetting to our feline friends.
A generally chaotic home or a boring one might be a stressful environment for cats with certain personalities. Sometimes what started out as grooming to self- soothe for one particular situation can develop into OCD behavior even long after the original stressor is gone.
Cats with psychogenic alopecia will often focus on grooming or plucking out fur from their bellies, inner thighs and strips along their front legs, although they can groom anywhere. Psychogenic alopecia can occur in any cat, although it may be more likely to develop in a cat with a particularly high-strung personality.
If the over-grooming is witnessed, the cat should not be punished, as that would only create another source of stress. But we would start to become concerned when the grooming activity distracts the cat from his other daily functions eating, playing, interacting, sleeping.
Also a sign of concern would be areas of baldness, damaged or shortened fur shafts, or abnormal looking skin. There are a variety of ways to attempt to treat psychogenic alopecia. First, remove the stressor if possible. This may take considerable thought since it may not always be obvious to anyone but the cat. This could be a sign of arthritis, pain, or dental problems. Cats who are taken away from their mothers too early may also not know how to properly clean themselves.
To encourage your cat to begin grooming, start by brushing her daily. Brushing stimulates the skin and blood circulation, and rids her of fleas and ticks. When she starts grooming, try not to interrupt her. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement.
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