Published on: June 10, 2023 • By: Andrewhon88 · In Forum: Cats
Ask our vets a question or search our existing threads. If you've got a question about your pet, this is the place to get an answer.
Author
Topic
Andrewhon88
Participant
June 10, 2023 at 06:21am
Hello Vets! Please help!
My cat has been over-grooming in a few areas as you can see in the pictures from all of her legs and even some stomach area. I used to think it was separation anxiety or potentially fleas, but the treatment that I've given her doesn't seem like it is helping her condition. I do not think it is allergy because she only stays inside and this recently just happened and I've never changed her food. She is also not on any medications. I can not afford to see a vet so any advice or help here will be greatly appreciated. Is this a bacterial skin infection? What medicine can I purchase to help my cat out? Thank you so much in advance.
Hello - I can now see the pictures. You don't say how long your cat has been doing this for or whether they are speyed, but another possibility for your list is that this could be reproductive behaviour - specifically, nesting if pregnant or even sometimes when not pregnant. There are some conditons whereby cats lose fur, usually without itching e.g. demodex mites or some hormonal conditions. These would be fairly unusual but they provide alternative differentials to those already given.
Hi Liz,
Thank you for your response. She has been doing this for about 1-2 months now and she is speyed. I adopted her from a shelter about 3 years ago. I've checked her for termites/ticks and she seems fine. I got her a tick/flea collar and also have been using a vet home spray, but it doesn't seem like it was effective. I am not sure what else to do since it seems like this issue isn't diagnosable :(
I apologise if Ive given you the wrong impression, but this will definitely be diagnosable. However, diagnosis is a process, not an instant answer, because many conditions present like this. Go to your vets, ask them to list possible differentials 'what this could still be' - and ask them to start ruling things out, usually starting with the most likely. There are some undiagnosable conditions but its usually connected with not goimg to the vets and asking.