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Cat licks off hair and scratches all the time :(
My 10 year old male cat, Buster, licks so much that he is bald on his belly and the underside of all four of his fore arms. He is always after himself in some way... if he is not licking himself bald he is scratching himself. He has scabs in front of his ears that he scratches at all the time.
I am embarassed to say that the licking all started 6 years ago when i brought home a kitten. Buster is a needy cat... he needs attention all the time, so I thought I'd get a friend for him. The kitten brought mites but wasn't bothered by them... though Buster was. I found out that some cats are just more sensitive than others... it doesn't surprise me that Buster has sensitive skin. The problem was though that he was after himself all the time. After taking him to the vet and treating him and the kitten for the mites, Buster did get better though he continued to lick himself a lot... he always preened a lot so i didn't think much of it until i noticed the bald spots. When I took him to the vet I spent about $100 and found out nothing. They did tests which were negative and said that he could have an environmental allergy, a food allergy, or he could have anxiety. I walked away with nothing more than what i knew before, other than less money.
So, now we have moved a couple times and for a year now we have been in our newly built home with mainly laminate flooring and only carpet in the bedrooms, which one of the bedrooms in the "cat room". So my point in that is I really don't feel as if it's environmental... but if it is, what would I even take away from his environment?
I have had the cats on Natures Balance Green Pea & Duck Hypoallergenic dry food for a couple weeks now and they hate it... it took them about 4-5 days to actually eat it, even when it was mixed with their previous food, which they liked. Finally when they did start eating it, I don't feel as if they eat as much as they used to or as much as they should. I also have noticed within the last few months that Buster is loosing weight. A few years ago he used to be like 14 LBS. and now he is about 7LBS.
I have taken away all treats and even cat nip so that the only thing he is digesting is the hypoallergenic food and water. sometimes he'll try to eat the dog food, which only happens once in a great while, or sometimes he'll lick a dirty dish in the sink.. again, that doesn't happen too often.
The scabs on his ears started about 6 for so months ago... around the time that we got a puppy who likes to play with Buster. When they play Buster's head is usually in the dogs mouth but the dog is not rough, though I could see how the dog could puncture his skin and then maybe Buster just keeps scratching at it... I don't know. Is it possible for Buster be allergic to the dog or the dog's saliva, or even the other cat for that matter? I have tried putting a .05 cortisone spray, for cats, on not only his ears but also his paws and stomach. Even though it seems to relieve him a bit, mainly on his ears, he still licks at the sprayed bald spots causing him to vomit. And whenever he see's me with the spray bottle or the cotton swab he runs away from me... he hates it... I don't know if it hurts his scabs or if he just doesn't like me holding him down to put it on.
Even though I would gladly take him to the vet if it meant that he would even be partially relieved of his scratching and/or licking, but I am afraid that we will again pay money for nothing. Today I am going to buy the anti-anxiety plug in and collar to see how that works. If anyone has any thoughts or opinions on this matter please help... it breaks my heart to see him uncomfortable pretty much all the time.
P.S. I took his temperature today and it is normal.
I am embarassed to say that the licking all started 6 years ago when i brought home a kitten. Buster is a needy cat... he needs attention all the time, so I thought I'd get a friend for him. The kitten brought mites but wasn't bothered by them... though Buster was. I found out that some cats are just more sensitive than others... it doesn't surprise me that Buster has sensitive skin. The problem was though that he was after himself all the time. After taking him to the vet and treating him and the kitten for the mites, Buster did get better though he continued to lick himself a lot... he always preened a lot so i didn't think much of it until i noticed the bald spots. When I took him to the vet I spent about $100 and found out nothing. They did tests which were negative and said that he could have an environmental allergy, a food allergy, or he could have anxiety. I walked away with nothing more than what i knew before, other than less money.
So, now we have moved a couple times and for a year now we have been in our newly built home with mainly laminate flooring and only carpet in the bedrooms, which one of the bedrooms in the "cat room". So my point in that is I really don't feel as if it's environmental... but if it is, what would I even take away from his environment?
I have had the cats on Natures Balance Green Pea & Duck Hypoallergenic dry food for a couple weeks now and they hate it... it took them about 4-5 days to actually eat it, even when it was mixed with their previous food, which they liked. Finally when they did start eating it, I don't feel as if they eat as much as they used to or as much as they should. I also have noticed within the last few months that Buster is loosing weight. A few years ago he used to be like 14 LBS. and now he is about 7LBS.
I have taken away all treats and even cat nip so that the only thing he is digesting is the hypoallergenic food and water. sometimes he'll try to eat the dog food, which only happens once in a great while, or sometimes he'll lick a dirty dish in the sink.. again, that doesn't happen too often.
The scabs on his ears started about 6 for so months ago... around the time that we got a puppy who likes to play with Buster. When they play Buster's head is usually in the dogs mouth but the dog is not rough, though I could see how the dog could puncture his skin and then maybe Buster just keeps scratching at it... I don't know. Is it possible for Buster be allergic to the dog or the dog's saliva, or even the other cat for that matter? I have tried putting a .05 cortisone spray, for cats, on not only his ears but also his paws and stomach. Even though it seems to relieve him a bit, mainly on his ears, he still licks at the sprayed bald spots causing him to vomit. And whenever he see's me with the spray bottle or the cotton swab he runs away from me... he hates it... I don't know if it hurts his scabs or if he just doesn't like me holding him down to put it on.
Even though I would gladly take him to the vet if it meant that he would even be partially relieved of his scratching and/or licking, but I am afraid that we will again pay money for nothing. Today I am going to buy the anti-anxiety plug in and collar to see how that works. If anyone has any thoughts or opinions on this matter please help... it breaks my heart to see him uncomfortable pretty much all the time.
P.S. I took his temperature today and it is normal.
He doesn't seem to be scratching and licking like he used to... The Vet said that if he has an allergy the prednisone could possibly help. So, it seems, as of now, that it's helping :)
The problem though now is the way he's acting... I moved the cat carrier from the laundry room, where one of the litter boxes is, to the "cat room". I'm trying to get him out of the litter box and back in the cat room... The cat room was where he and my other cat would pretty much hang out almost all day. Now I take him into the room and he almost seems frightened. After I talked to him a bit he finally turned around to see that the cat carrier was in the cat room... he went in it and is still there. I'm just happy that he's back in the cat room and not in the litter box. But he is just acting weird : / He doesn't play anymore either. :(
The problem though now is the way he's acting... I moved the cat carrier from the laundry room, where one of the litter boxes is, to the "cat room". I'm trying to get him out of the litter box and back in the cat room... The cat room was where he and my other cat would pretty much hang out almost all day. Now I take him into the room and he almost seems frightened. After I talked to him a bit he finally turned around to see that the cat carrier was in the cat room... he went in it and is still there. I'm just happy that he's back in the cat room and not in the litter box. But he is just acting weird : / He doesn't play anymore either. :(
yeah go figure, maybe his weight is now ideal however still doesn't explain the rapid loss...I don't think these Vets hear us very well at times?
its hard to know in a multi cat household whos doing what and when, if you need to do a check just isolate in a separate room(with a box and food/water of course, until you see some results..than you will know what his movements look like,on the other hand if he's in that room for days without a movement you KNOW theres a problem.
I hope it was just a case of constipation, time will tell. prednisone can give loose bowels so monitoring right now isn't a good idea.
Can't understand EVER why a Vet gives out antib's without a firm dx?? antib's should only be used when warranted just like with us......urrrrh.
So keep an eye on him, I do hope that this will be the end of his problems.
Does he still have the itchies? did the Vet address that at all?
later...♥
its hard to know in a multi cat household whos doing what and when, if you need to do a check just isolate in a separate room(with a box and food/water of course, until you see some results..than you will know what his movements look like,on the other hand if he's in that room for days without a movement you KNOW theres a problem.
I hope it was just a case of constipation, time will tell. prednisone can give loose bowels so monitoring right now isn't a good idea.
Can't understand EVER why a Vet gives out antib's without a firm dx?? antib's should only be used when warranted just like with us......urrrrh.
So keep an eye on him, I do hope that this will be the end of his problems.
Does he still have the itchies? did the Vet address that at all?
later...♥
Yes, like I said it makes me feel better on some level.
I would say that his bowel was a bit hard before I took him to the vet and there was the possibility that he was straining, but now on Prednisolone it seems to be better. Even though he's not laying in the litter box he is laying in the cat carrier by the litter box. I put it there so he would have an alternative place to lay, near the litter box... at least it's not in the litter box. Maybe I should move the cat carrier?... now that his bowel is better maybe he'll move back to their "cat room"?
It's hard to say how often he's going since I have 2 cats : / I clean the litter boxes every day but I don't know who's doing what. and with him always by the litter box I don't notice when he goes, since he doesn't pass by me anymore to get there... he's just always in that room : /
He is definitely eating well... the vet recommended putting him on an all canned food diet so I feed him separately and he eats it all.
lol... and the funny thing about his weight... the vet said that he was very happy with his weight and he wouldn't recommend him gaining anymore. uggg... I was so worried about him loosing the weight and here the vet is happy with the weight loss : /
I would say that his bowel was a bit hard before I took him to the vet and there was the possibility that he was straining, but now on Prednisolone it seems to be better. Even though he's not laying in the litter box he is laying in the cat carrier by the litter box. I put it there so he would have an alternative place to lay, near the litter box... at least it's not in the litter box. Maybe I should move the cat carrier?... now that his bowel is better maybe he'll move back to their "cat room"?
It's hard to say how often he's going since I have 2 cats : / I clean the litter boxes every day but I don't know who's doing what. and with him always by the litter box I don't notice when he goes, since he doesn't pass by me anymore to get there... he's just always in that room : /
He is definitely eating well... the vet recommended putting him on an all canned food diet so I feed him separately and he eats it all.
lol... and the funny thing about his weight... the vet said that he was very happy with his weight and he wouldn't recommend him gaining anymore. uggg... I was so worried about him loosing the weight and here the vet is happy with the weight loss : /
well all I can say is as frustrating as it can be to be searching and not finding anything is better than the alternative....
Do you think he's constipated??? how often does he have a bowel movement? and are they really hard?
What did he give a prescription of?...............and is Buster still eating good?
♥
Do you think he's constipated??? how often does he have a bowel movement? and are they really hard?
What did he give a prescription of?...............and is Buster still eating good?
♥
Well, I thought I'd update you all on how things went @ the vet...
$200+ later we still don't know anything more than we did before :( The vet thinks that Buster might be a little constipated, and that's why he's laying in the litter box.
He did the regular exam of course, but he also did a "Comprehensive Blood Panel" test, a "Complete Blood Count" test, and a "Vet Scan T4/Cholesterol" test... all is normal.
Even though it makes me feel better on some level that his tests came back as "normal", we're really no better off than we were before. He did give Buster a prescription, which may or may not help him. It's just some more trial and error.
Sincerely,
Frustrated and getting torn up inside by watching Buster be miserable :(
$200+ later we still don't know anything more than we did before :( The vet thinks that Buster might be a little constipated, and that's why he's laying in the litter box.
He did the regular exam of course, but he also did a "Comprehensive Blood Panel" test, a "Complete Blood Count" test, and a "Vet Scan T4/Cholesterol" test... all is normal.
Even though it makes me feel better on some level that his tests came back as "normal", we're really no better off than we were before. He did give Buster a prescription, which may or may not help him. It's just some more trial and error.
Sincerely,
Frustrated and getting torn up inside by watching Buster be miserable :(
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Yes, some cats are more sensitive than others. Has the vet done a scraping to retest for mites on Buster? It may just be that Buster is a stressed out cat and between the new kitten 6yrs ago, then a new puppy six months ago, Buster's anxiety is through the roof. It's certainly possible an anti-anxiety med would benefit him. It couldn't hurt to try.
Our last cat had the same chronic licking problem and I mean All the time so I can relate to your frustration. It's heartbreaking to watch your kitty so uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I don't have any recommendations on how we handled it because we lost her at only 3yrs old.
I assume you mean that phermone (sp?) plug? I'm not sure about the collar you're talking about.
Hopefully someone else will have an idea for you since I don't believe I've been much help.