Cat licking her hair off - allergies or stress?

[Samson_Delilah]

My female cat has started licking off her hair on her paws and legs and possibly is starting on her belly - they are long hair and it's kinda hard to tell until a definite bald patch appears.  This has been happening since before Christmas.  At first I thought it was due to the loss of her beloved "Cat tree" but I got her a replacement - although I'm not sure she likes it near as much.  The Vet thinks it's an allergy - probably to food - but I can't get her to eat the $35 per 8lb bag of Green Pea and Duck food I bought for her.  She went days without eating and I finally gave in - as I didnt want to deal with those complications too.  So, I have just ordered another type of food - Venison and Green Pea - hopefully she'll like that a little better.....and I've ordered the stop itch wipes and lotion from Dr. Fosters and Smith.  I am hoping one of those will help.  The other issue is that I travel A LOT for my job - often gone at least 3 or 4 days.  I started travelling this heavy in September and her hair loss started after Thanksgiving.

Any ideas or things I can try.  I was thinking of trying the Feliway diffuser - but after just ordering over $50 of food and itch relief - I am going to hold off before spending $30 on an air diffuser.

Any comments are appreciated.

[Rosieglowing]

Similar problem to you. What I've done that has all contributed to cure is:-
a) provide entertainments ((cat videos, interactive toys, music, cat trees) when we're away.
b) change cat litter to hypoallergenic.
c) Changed feed to Hills z/d dry (read the reviews on Zooplus).
Each change made my cat happier but the bit that seems to be stopping her constantly licking the fur away from her tummy and back legs is the change in diet.
Hope this helps.

[pinkymink5]

Hi - I came across your posts/site when searching for hair loss for my kitty. I adopted her, but she is a full breed Marble Bengal - her name is Sammy. She just turned 5 in Jan. I adopted her in Jan from a woman who had a whole house full of cats/dogs/birds and various other animals. I adopted her because she had other kitties and truly this little girl is a one person bengal (as many are). We are good together - she is my second bengal I have had so I am very famuire with their breed and personality. Samantha is a little high maintenence, her meow is high pitch like so dramatic it cracks me up. I can tell she was probably tortured in this home with all of the animals. So when I got her, the lady smoked I knew right away when I walked in to get her, amogst all of the animals - and I saw right away some patches of fur were missing. Mostly on her underbelly, inside of her hind legs and a few small patches on her front paws ver similar looking to when a vet takes blood and they shave a patch.....so I figured she was just very sensitive and stressed. Sammy had only ever known this home she was in, so coming to me it is just her and I. I work from home, she is with me all day - she is a lover so sweet. I took her to my vet, and my vet was not overly concerned as she has been my vet and knows how I care for my animals and there were no sores, it is really just like her underbelly hair is gone, barely peach fuzz. She was eating Kit N Caboodle dry and friskies wet - which is not a good diet for her, but I did not want to introduce too many changes for her...so the food she eats well and she is very healthy, not skinny//actually her last mom called her Sammy Spaulding because she does truly look like a football with legs (lol). She is perfect in every way, I was just curious reading through your posts if you had a suggestion as to what I should try to adjust first. My vet said let's give her some time to settle in. She does like stop and lick almost incessively at random times, and sometimes if she is not wanting to be petted she can shake her paw almost jerk it and lick it really fast, or roughly. I think she could be an over groomer, or from what I have read possibly food allergy. The litter as well I did not change which is Tidy Cat - I never used it prior either but again not wanting to introduce any changes to minimize her acclimating well with me. I would be grateful for any thoughts you may have. I am happy to send you a pic or so if you think that would help. My last bengal I fed Eukeneba and I had him for 12 years, he did very well on it, but they are scaling back on their food line and when I did try to change my boy's food, he was very sensitive to any new foods. Sammy is picky, she likes dried chicken and the Salmon chunks as treats and they are low calorie. She could care less for the cheap treats or even Temptations - no dry treats kibble - looks at me like I put dirt in her bowl :) Sorry so long  - just thought if you had any thoughts where I should begin given the years of advice you have given and shared with your followers.
Thank You - Anna

[pinkymink5]

Hi - I came across your posts/site when searching for hair loss for my kitty. I adopted her, but she is a full breed Marble Bengal - her name is Sammy. She just turned 5 in Jan. I adopted her in Jan from a woman who had a whole house full of cats/dogs/birds and various other animals. I adopted her because she had other kitties and truly this little girl is a one person bengal (as many are). We are good together - she is my second bengal I have had so I am very famuire with their breed and personality. Samantha is a little high maintenence, her meow is high pitch like so dramatic it cracks me up. I can tell she was probably tortured in this home with all of the animals. So when I got her, the lady smoked I knew right away when I walked in to get her, amogst all of the animals - and I saw right away some patches of fur were missing. Mostly on her underbelly, inside of her hind legs and a few small patches on her front paws ver similar looking to when a vet takes blood and they shave a patch.....so I figured she was just very sensitive and stressed. Sammy had only ever known this home she was in, so coming to me it is just her and I. I work from home, she is with me all day - she is a lover so sweet. I took her to my vet, and my vet was not overly concerned as she has been my vet and knows how I care for my animals and there were no sores, it is really just like her underbelly hair is gone, barely peach fuzz. She was eating Kit N Caboodle dry and friskies wet - which is not a good diet for her, but I did not want to introduce too many changes for her...so the food she eats well and she is very healthy, not skinny//actually her last mom called her Sammy Spaulding because she does truly look like a football with legs (lol). She is perfect in every way, I was just curious reading through your posts if you had a suggestion as to what I should try to adjust first. My vet said let's give her some time to settle in. She does like stop and lick almost incessively at random times, and sometimes if she is not wanting to be petted she can shake her paw almost jerk it and lick it really fast, or roughly. I think she could be an over groomer, or from what I have read possibly food allergy. The litter as well I did not change which is Tidy Cat - I never used it prior either but again not wanting to introduce any changes to minimize her acclimating well with me. I would be grateful for any thoughts you may have. I am happy to send you a pic or so if you think that would help. My last bengal I fed Eukeneba and I had him for 12 years, he did very well on it, but they are scaling back on their food line and when I did try to change my boy's food, he was very sensitive to any new foods. Sammy is picky, she likes dried chicken and the Salmon chunks as treats and they are low calorie. She could care less for the cheap treats or even Temptations - no dry treats kibble - looks at me like I put dirt in her bowl :) Sorry so long  - just thought if you had any thoughts where I should begin given the years of advice you have given and shared with your followers.
Thank You - Anna

[Ecaps1]

Thanks for that, I'll go on the hunt for some decent grub for the little mite now. We have 5 cats in total, so guessing this will get realllllly expensive but if it works, it'll be a treat. :-)

[garrettmarvel]

Just like others suggested, it could mean she's either lonely or bored, it doesn't have to be something to do with her skin or sudden allergies. If you can't adopt a new cat, you can try cat park if you have something like that where you live. Or if you know someone who owns cats, you can arrange 'cat play dates' and see how that changes her.

You'll start ruling out causes when you try different things.

[opus88]

welcome to our site, I hope we can be of some help....I will copy  and paste a reply I gave above...this can definitely be FOOD ALLERGIES...it can certainly be an allergy or reaction to all the flea meds and treatments you are OVER treating him these topical and injectible treatments are very strong chemicals!!! shame on any Vet that keeps giving these treatments when there are no visible fleas please read thru the following and open the link at the very end of the post....good luck, keep posting so we can help:(

copy

.than I'm 99% certain its food allergies....particularly to GRAINS...most cat foods are full of grains because they are cheap..much cheaper than meat...and most cats are intolerant to grains..
even if her diet hasn't changed, like us humans allergies take a while to develop and some will be more affected than others..

also dry kibble has tons of preservatives and other chemicals that canned food doesn't, even has mites due to long storage after bagging.
I strongly suggest you try changing her food to a GRAIN FREE CANNED FOOD...there are many available a good pet stores (not walmarts or grocery stores!!!)
It is more expensive, however you will find kitty won't be as hungry when she's on a good diet with more protien rather than grains...and you will save all the Vet bills and she will look and feel so much better, can you imagine how uncomfortable she is with all the itching..

I will send you a site and you can look at the photos also read the causes of itchy/hair loss..

but I will say DO NOT follow the natural treatments mentioned, these are NOT good for cats...besides why spend money of medications and creams when a diet change works...

if you need more info I would be happy to help..I will mention most cats aren't crazy abt the taste of grain free canned food, because its lacking all the artificial flavoring that many other commercial foods have added. so you have to start feeding this slowly to get them used to the new taste..start with 1/4 of her feeding a new food and 3/4 of the old...than gradually increase the amount of new food...also by adding slowly she won't get any gastro-intestinal issues like diarrhea..

http://www.cat-health-guide.org/cat-allergy-symptoms.html

[Ecaps1]

I'm going insane, one of our cats is loosing fur and he looks a mess, eyes are bright though. We have 4 other cats, all fine. Thought it was fleas, he got the problem soon after we got 3 more cats... But I give flea treatments and it still affects him. Been to the vet about it twice, first time they said probably fleas and gave an injection to help.... That would last a month, but time went buy, can't say it cleared up perfectly, and he got bad again. Went back, another injection.... Might have lasted a bit but no real effect. Time passed again... Now it's been rubbish for over 6 months. We give them flea treatments, but don't want to go back to vet as it costs £50 for an injection which we don't know is linked to anything or just a temp fix (not even a cure, doesn't stop his licking but may be slightly better). Been trying 3 different flea treatments in case it's that but no way to be sure. Might be that, might not.... Irk!

[winterskykim]

my cats doing the same thing and we use tidy cat too!!! I am dumping it tomorrow and will check back!! I pray this is it.. poor kitty

[winterskykim]

my cats doing the same thing and we use tidy cat too!!! I am dumping it tomorrow and will check back!! I pray this is it.. poor kitty

[CML2014]

Hi twins,

I think the best thing would be to have your cat seen by a vet. A professional is the only one who can tell you what is going on, because they can see it and test it. This could be more serious than stress. Let's face it the cat themselves is not licking it , she has no other spots on her , and it is not getting better rather worse.

Time for a vet check. Please let us know what the diagnosis is. This is how we learn and can help others on the forum.

Good Luck and sure hope it is nothing serious
CML

[twinskidmore]

Did you figure out what was causing the sore?  My cat has one on the back of her head behind her right ear.  She can't reach it herself, but I think our other cat has been "grooming" it for her. The hair loss is about the size of a nickel now, and has been bleeding some from the surface of the skin.  I have sprayed with bactine and applied neosporin, but not sure if it's helping since it's still quite large and I have not separated the cats. It doesn't seem to be causing her any distress, though.

[lizg0762]

Hi Sarah,

I have a cat who is 16, hyperthyroid and skinny. We had a house fire in November and are now in a rental house with carpeting. He is licking all his fur off and I have the cone of shame on him. Thing is I can't take it off because instantly there is a new bald spot. Any suggestions?

[opus88]

hi and welcome, has your kitty been checked for fleas?
if not fleas...than I'm 99% certain its food allergies....particularly to GRAINS...most cat foods are full of grains because they are cheap..much cheaper than meat...and most cats are intolerant to grains..
even if her diet hasn't changed, like us humans allergies take a while to develop and some will be more affected than others..

also dry kibble has tons of preservatives and other chemicals that canned food doesn't, even has mites due to long storage after bagging.
I strongly suggest you try changing her food to a GRAIN FREE CANNED FOOD...there are many available a good pet stores (not walmarts or grocery stores!!!)
It is more expensive, however you will find kitty won't be as hungry when she's on a good diet with more protien rather than grains...and you will save all the Vet bills and she will look and feel so much better, can you imagine how uncomfortable she is with all the itching..

I will send you a site and you can look at the photos also read the causes of itchy/hair loss..

but I will say DO NOT follow the natural treatments mentioned, these are NOT good for cats...besides why spend money of medications and creams when a diet change works...

if you need more info I would be happy to help..I will mention most cats aren't crazy abt the taste of grain free canned food, because its lacking all the artificial flavoring that many other commercial foods have added. so you have to start feeding this slowly to get them used to the new taste..start with 1/4 of her feeding a new food and 3/4 of the old...than gradually increase the amount of new food...also by adding slowly she won't get any gastro-intestinal issues like diarrhea..

http://www.cat-health-guide.org/cat-allergy-symptoms.html

[Alf2013]

I have a 5 yr old part Maine Coon & Norweign Forest cat that has started biting the hair at his back-end, any ideas of what that is?

[opus88]

remember whatever you put ON a cat you also put IN a cat....b/c they lick anything and everything...
You need to be very careful of anything even shampoo's can be toxic when ingested.
excessive licking is b/c there is something bothering them and wht it is needs to be addressed.

something thats good for a cats skin to help stop the dryness and itching is Omega3 fatty acids...I will post a link to a good one thats safe for cats...many others are too, just be sure they contain NO salt, sugar, soy, preservatives, yeast....as pure as possible. pierce the soft capsule and squirt into their food or some will even lick it off your finger :)

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Neptune-Krill-Oil-500-mg-60-Softgels/14424?ic=2&flt=0100

[MikeBarkley]

Is there a cat shampoo that would taste bad to him/her that would discourage them from licking?

[opus88]

Rebecca I also hope you have read this thread as there are many replies dealing with allergies...and links to follow..so read back on this thread too ok:) I know lots to read, but some of it is repetitive..

[opus88]

I replied to your last post with some info....please click on the link below to read, we'll keep it to that posting for any discussion so it doesn't get complicated with 2 threads..:)

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/stress-related-or-something-else/show/2004615

[Rebecca_M]

My cat is a having a lick-fest. She is coughing up hairballs. . .
She is a medium length coat torbie. I noticed it started as the weather got hot and she started to shed. She is an indoor cat and she doesn't have any housemates except myself and the children that are here majority of the time. As I've been searching for a reason I have wondered if it was a cleaning product. My cat seems to be content with her litter we've had since she was little (tidy cat). The I was thinking maybe she was in the bathroom while my daughter was using body spray. But her grooming hasn't stopped. She doesn't have sores and no flees. But the patches are starting to look ridiculous (back legs, front legs, tummy, around her rear, above her tail).
If there is an herbal supplement I can give her some one please tell me what it is, where i can find it, and how much it runs for. . .I thought the regular shedding was bad. At this point I'd rather come across hair that was shed instead of stepping in a fur-ball in the dark of night.

[joy73885]

Nature's Variety Instinct grain-free Rabbit Formula might help.  My Cat Mr Puss has been on it for 2 weeks and loves it but I'm not sure  he really has a food allergy.  The Vet mentioned Rabbit after all medical tests came back negative.  He is still grooming to much.  Good Luck.

[opus88]

sarahwilson hasn't posted for a long time, you may try and see if you can reach her by posting a private message.

have you read thru the entire thread, its full of ideas...mainly on ALLERGIES b/c thats the main reason for a cat that licks off his hair. I will copy and paste one of the reply's I gave recently...

I will also ask you why are you shampooing???? cats don't need baths and they are especially drying to their coats...dry coats can cause itching, perhaps that the BIG reason for your cats loosing hair, I would strongly suggest you stop ALL baths..
it may also be the reason he is so jumpy...she is afraid you are going to grad her and bath her again...cats HATE water!!!

Allergens

When a cat is allergic to something, her body is reacting to certain molecules called 'allergens.' These allergens may come from:

    Trees
    Grass
    Weed pollens
    Fabrics such as wool or nylon
    Rubber and plastic materials
    Foods and food additives such as individual meats, grains, or colorings
    Milk products
    House dust and dust mites
    Flea bites

The body's response to an allergen

Cat scratching earThe reason that all these allergens cause itchy skin is that, simplistically, when allergens are inhaled, ingested, or come in contact with the cat's body, they cause the immune system to produce a protein referred to as IgE. This protein then fixes itself to cells called 'tissue mast cells' that are located in the skin. When IgE attaches to these mast cells, it causes the release of various irritating chemicals such as histamine. In cats, these chemical reactions and cell types occur in appreciable amounts only within the skin.

Genetic factors and time influence allergies

Remember that pets must be exposed to the allergen for some time before the allergy develops. Exceptions may occur such as an allergy to insect bites, which may develop after only a few exposures. The pet's body must learn to react to the allergen. It is a learned phenomenon of the immune system that is genetically programmed and may be passed from generation to generation.
In pets, allergies usually start to develop between one and three years of age.

In pets, allergies usually start to develop between one and three years of age. They may start as late as age six or eight, but over 80% start earlier. To make matters worse, as the animal ages, she usually develops allergies to additional things and the response to any one allergen becomes more severe.

Diagnosing allergies

Most allergies are the inhalant type and are seasonal (at least at first). The cat may be allergic to a certain tree pollen that is only present in the environment for three weeks out of the year, or the allergy may be to house dust mites which are in the environment year round.

A definitive diagnosis of an allergy and determination of exactly what the animal is allergic to can only come in one of two ways:

    Allergy testing (intradermal or blood testing)

    Eliminating things individually from the animal's environment until the culprit is isolated (this method is most often used when food allergies are suspected)

In some instances, it may not be necessary to determine the exact allergen causing the problem. For example, every year, in the same month, the cat starts licking excessively and develops pinpoint scabs on her head and body (miliary dermatitis). The veterinarian chooses either a tablet and/or single injection that will suppress the allergy for the 3-4 weeks necessary. In two days, the animal is back to normal and only has to wait until the following year when he or she will be returned with the same problem.

Unfortunately, things just do not always go that well. A more common scenario in a cat, for instance, would be the development of eosinophilic plaques that develop in an older cat. The lesions may tend to wax and wane, but they never completely go away. Many visits to different veterinarians and the use of various treatments never completely resolve the problem.

Treating allergies

Avoidance

This can be a very important part of managing atopy. While it may be impossible to completely eliminate all of the offending agents, many can be reduced with minimal effort on the part of the owner. For avoidance therapy to have any benefit, the offending agents must be identified through intradermal skin testing. Avoidance is rarely a complete treatment in itself, but is used in conjunction with other treatments.
Allergen Avoidance Suggestions
House dust


House dust mites






Molds






Pollens

Keep pets out of room several hours when vacuuming
Change furnace filters regularly

Use a plastic cover over pet's bed
Wash bedding in very hot water
Avoid letting pets sleep on stuffed furniture
Avoid stuffed toys
Keep pets in uncarpeted rooms
Run air conditioner during hot weather
Change furnace filters regularly

Keep pets out of basements
Keep pets indoors when the lawn is mowed
Avoid dusty pet foods
Clean and disinfect humidifiers
Use dehumidifiers
Avoid large numbers of houseplants

Rinse the cat off after periods in high grass and weeds
Keep pets indoors during periods of high pollen season
Use air conditioners

Topical therapy

Topical therapy consists of shampoos and rinses and topical anti-itch solutions. Topical therapy offers immediate, but short-term relief. Cats can be bathed, and many do not resent it as much as you think they will. I recommend using a hypoallergenic shampoo or colloidal oatmeal shampoo. Hydrocortisone shampoos may also be used.

Topical solutions containing hydrocortisone offer some relief. They are the most practical in treating localized itching. Cats tend to lick off these preparations. But the use of creams or salves on areas the cat cannot lick, e.g.; top of the head may be useful. After applying these preparations, it is recommended to get the cat involved in some activity to prevent him from licking the treated area. These products are very poorly absorbed into the bloodstream, and when used in moderation, do not create long-term side effects or problems associated with injectable or oral steroids.

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS

Fatty acids have been recommended for years to improve coat quality and shine. Recently, new research has shown that certain fatty acids - the omega-3 fatty acids - are also very beneficial in the management of allergies in dogs and cats. Omega-3 fatty acids work in the skin to help reduce the amount and effects of histamine and other chemicals that are released in response to allergies. Not every allergic pet responds to omega-3 fatty acids. Some pets show improvements, others have a complete cure, and others show no change after being on the omega-3 fatty acids. Most pets need to be on the omega-3 fatty acids daily for several weeks to months to notice significant improvement. Omega-3 fatty acids are very safe and have very few side effects. Studies show that when omega-3 fatty acids are used in conjunction with other treatments, such as antihistamines, the use of steroids can often be decreased or discontinued. Be sure to use an omega-3 fatty acid supplement derived from fish oil. Other types of fatty acids (such as omega-6 fatty acids) can actually make some allergies worse. It is often best to use the omega-3 fatty acid supplements in conjunction with a diet lower in fat.



good luck post again if you have any questions

[kathyd302]

What did you do for your cat,as we have one that licks the fur off of her back sides and has started up her back. We have changed her food and the shampoo we bath her with,she also jumps like she has donesomething wrong ,when we approach her in the hallways or other rooms.

[opus88]

have you read through all the post just above this one??? that will give you all the suggestions I have. it is very likely he had a reaction to the flea mediation and is now hypersensitive to many chemicals. read all the recent posts above and especially try the Omega3 fatty acids as this is very good for their skin....esp dry itchy skin.

[luvzmekitty]

I have a long hair domestic cat that has started licking off all of his hair and throws up a lot. The hair issue started when I was just about done using a cheaper type of flea meds, which he was fine up til that time (about 10 or 11 months). He looks weird from behind as he has licked all of the hair off the underside of the bottom part of his tail near his bum and his hind legs and even on the sides of rib cage and underneath him. He is constantly licking himself! He is a skinny cat but still weighs 10 lbs. like when I first got him. He has always threw up but I figured it is because he eats to fast and too much, so I give him less food more often during the day, which includes once before I go to bed. That seems to help that issue as he has not thrown up in a few days since switching to that method. Any ideas of why he over grooms himself... I can say he is rarely alone, so I don't think it is due to being lonely and I must add he is very sweet and loving and usually is always purring!