Overgrooming in Cats ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

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Any health care links located here are NOT to replace a veterinarian visit; please take your cat to a vet immediately at any sign of odd behavior or any symptoms of illness or injury. Call your vet and describe your cat's symptoms with any of your concerns about the cat's well-being. Your veterinarian may discover changes in your cat's health that you have overlooked. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Overgrooming in Cats

What is over-grooming in cats?

Over-grooming is a stress-related disorder, and can be classified as obsessive compulsive behavior. Self grooming is relaxing to the cat, so it seems quite natural that when the cat becomes stressed he attempts to calm himself down by pursuing a relaxing activity such as grooming. Over-grooming may start out as a result of an environmental change (new member to the household, moved house, etc.,) but over time this behavior becomes compulsive, even if the original cause of the stress is no longer around.

This behavior may take the form of excessive licking at the fur or pulling out tufts of fur. The most commonly affected areas are the inside of the thighs, nearby abdomen and groin, and forelegs.

What should I do if my cat has bald patches?

The first thing you should do is take your cat to the veterinarian. It is important to rule out a medical reason causing either the over grooming or the baldness. There are several medical conditions which can also result in bald patches, such as: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, allergies (contact, food, inhalant, flea allergies), bacterial pyoderma, fleas or flea bite hypersensitivity, mites, Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex and feline ringworm.

Your veterinarian may take skin scrapings from the damaged area(s) to rule out skin parasites and fungal infections, flea comb the coat and may perform complete blood testing.

How is over-grooming in cats treated?

Your cat may be put on a trial diet to rule out food allergies.
If the cause is an underlying medical condition or parasitic infection, treatment will hopefully result in the behavior stopping.
Finding the cause of the stress and eliminating where possible. This may not always be possible, as has been stated above, the behavior may have started in reaction to a stress. However, it has become compulsive behavior now, even though the reason for the original stress may have been resolved.
Keep your cat's day as routine as possible. Make sure you feed, play, exercise your cat at the same time daily. Cats like routine.
Provide your cat a rich and stimulating environment. If you are out for long periods of time you could consider a cat video or a fish tank for your cat's viewing pleasure. When you are home, set aside a play date with your cat every day.
If it isn't possible to bring the cat's behavior under control by changing the stress and environment, then it may be necessary to try medications such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications. The goal is usually to give this medication until the behavior decreases, and then gradually taper off the medication.
If you do see your cat engaging in over-grooming behavior don't punish him/her, rewarding this behavior should also be avoided. Both punishing and rewarding can quite possibly make the problem worse.

Page URL: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/overgrooming.html

Resource References:
Much, much appreciation to Dr. Raymond Van Lienden, DVM of Clifton, VA USA for his extensive research in locating the material found on this page. Thank you, dear Doctor!