Why is my cat licking bald?
In short, the cat is licking off all his or her hair. Often the belly is nearly as bald as if it were shaved. The answer is almost always much simpler: cats lick off their hair because they itch and it is important not to launch into treatment with psychoactive drugs until causes of itching have been ruled out.
Why does my cat keep licking her bald spot?
It’s not uncommon for cat owners, alarmed to find a bald spot near a kitty’s belly or armpit, to ask their veterinarian for advice about handling excessive grooming. Contrary to popular opinion, licking off entire patches of fur isn’t typically related to a behavioral problem in felines,…
What to do for cats that won’t stop licking?
Help — make the itching stop! If your kitty spends more time licking and scratching at her skin than she does napping or batting around her toys, something definitely needs to be done to give her some relief. Bring your itchy feline friend to the vet to determine a treatment plan for her irritated skin.
What causes a cat to lose a lot of hair?
Shedding also varies by breed. The biggest difference between normal shedding and hair loss that isn’t normal is when new hair doesn’t replace any thinning hair or bald patches. A cat that is losing hair has multiple potential causes including flea allergy, excessive licking, mange, ringworm, stress and thyroid disease .
What to do if your cat is washing himself bald?
My cat is washing himself bald! If your cat over-grooms so much that he’s going bald, follow vet Elise Robertson’s advice. (Q) My cat over-grooms, sometimes to such an extent that his tummy and back legs are bald. The vet keeps giving him steroid injections but they never seem to help.
Why does my cat groom constantly?
If a cat has started compulsive grooming, it may be a sign of a health problem or obsessive compulsive behavior. The most common triggers of excessive grooming in cats include allergies, skin infections, fleas, parasites, wounds, fractures, pain, stress and depression.
Why does my cat keep cleaning himself?
Cat Stress. For the most part, cats lick themselves as a means to stay clean. However, in some cases frequent grooming can also point to another problem — stress! Some common culprits behind kitty stress are lack of attention, the introduction of another household animal, separation anxiety and environmental changes.
Why does my cat keep licking her belly?
When a cat licks the fur of her lower belly because she grooms a lot it is almost certainly going to be psychogenic alopecia which is compulsive self grooming rather than a hormone deficiency causing a loss of hair. Grooming is often a response to stress by cat.
Why does my cat keep licking himself raw?
Lick granulomas in cats are often caused by a combination of different factors. Generally, there is usually an initial reason for the cat licking the area, this can include: A small cut or similar injury. Underlying allergies.