Cat licking off fur

[Susan_W]

I have a cat that is almost 3 yrs old.  When he was 8 weeks old, he got into an ant bed.  I bathed him and got him all cleaned up.  Within a day he lost one of his front teeth, which made his main "fang" tooth grow straight out.  Other than that he has been a good cat, timid w/company around but always loving with me.  He lost his fur on his bottom a while ago, and then the underside of his tail. (I thought as a result of being "fixed")  He has lost all the fur on his belly over period of time.  In the past 2 months, he has licked all the fur off both of his sides.  He was starting to look pretty sad, but remained loving.  Although the hair loss has been subtle (since i have just noticed the obsessive licking) he has now licked his skin raw and has sores under his ears and neck.  Basically he now has a strip of fur on his back and on his head and sores from licking.  I am thinking maybe it goes back to the ant bites messing w/his nerve endings maybe?  I have started putting my hand between his mouth and body when he starts to lick and he has started hissing at me.  I am at a loss and unable to take him to a vet.  
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Susan

[KittyMama29]

What litter did you switch to? My cat has been sratching around her head and neck until she scratches the fur off. Have been to the vet several times for antibiotic shots, ointments, skin cleaning solutions, and prednisone. I'm at a loss as to what's wrong with her.

[Susan_W]

Been a long time since I've needed to come on here.  I had to post in the "orthopedics" section this time b/c I broke my leg :(
Anyway, I thought I post that T.T. has been doing great for several years now and no longer loses his hair. (knock on wood cuz the leaves are just now starting to fall this yr)
All my fur babies are currently happy and healthy.

Susan

[teddybears4ever2]

Glad to hear TT is doing better.

[Jade59]

Hi Susan, wow, just a simple thing like changing the litter!  That's great to hear TT is doing better, I'm so glad.  As long as the sores appear to be healing up, TT should be all set.  Do come back at a later time and give us another update.  

Take care and good job!

[Susan_W]

Hey, just a quick check in.  T.T. seems to be doing much better since changing the litter.  I have also kept him in the house, not letting him in the woods to stalk squirrels etc.  The little sock thingy I used on his neck has been helping as well. (I do take it off to get fresh air.)  He seems so much calmer.  I hope he continues to improve. Thanks so much for ya'lls comments and advise.
Susan

[Jade59]

Hi Susan,

Glad to see you removed the sweater.  I'm quite sure he hated it, lol.  Cats stay pretty warm without assistance due to their built in fur coat :)  The sock thing around his neck sounds better, but I would check it and move it up or down so those sores will be exposed to the air and heal; you don't want an infection.  That's great you got the litter changed!  We'll see what happens and hope that's the answer.  And good to hear you eliminated the chicken!  

I'm glad to hear TT (right?) seems to be feeling better.

[Susan_W]

Thanks so much! I will keep you posted. I will continue to watch and love my boy TT!
Susan

[opus88]

Good for you!!! I sure hope this leads to a solution for the boy, keep us posted...I have my fingers crossed..
Do the food change GRADUALLY, for one he probably won't like the taste and secondly a rapid change in diet can cause diarrhea, so add the new food to the old about 25% at a time.
It takes awhile for cats to learn to like the venison, if he absolutely refuses it try duck. EVO or WELLNESS are 2 good brands, a pet store can tell you some other ones too I'm sure or we can here...

♥Opus

[Susan_W]

opus
i read your link, thank you.  taking chicken treats away and will be looking into venison food for him.
let ya know soon w/our progress
susan

[Susan_W]

Opus
Thank you for your link, I am going there now and will let ya know!

[Susan_W]

Jade
I only had the sweater on him long enough to take the picture..he hated it.  I thought I would try it to see if he would tolerate it when it gets cold, not so much to keep him from scratching.  I have gone to the pet store and changed the litter, the one i was using was scented.  Looking back, it started on his butt, underside of tail and belly which is in contact w/ the litter.  Also, he usually only goes out as far as on the back porch, but lately, over the past 4 weeks or so he is hanging out around  the front yard, and a ditch area. (he is stalking squirrels &lil chip munk looking critters)  I started thinking maybe the fallen leaves, grass or just being in the woods he may have an allergy.  Anyway, I have started w/litter change, trying him on all chicken cat treats for now.  I have cut the end off of an ankle sock and put it on his neck.  It looks like hes wearing a dicky.  It doesnt seem to bother him at all and he isn't scratchin his neck area.  He hasn't been outside in two days and already I can tell he isn't in a panic mode as he has been.  
So I hope it will be a simple allergy to woods or litter.
thanks so much

[Jade59]

Hi, I was looking at the pictures of your kitty.  He looks very much like my cat.  I also see you put a sweater on him and while I know your heart is in the right place and you will do anything to help your boy not to scratch, may I suggest you remove the sweater since kitty can get overheated as well as very frustrated from not being able to scratch what itches.  Imagine if you had horrible itching that you couldn't get to.  You need to find out WHY he is itching rather than making it impossible to do so.  

Did you read the link Opus left for you?  First, let's start with changing the litter since that's the easiest place to begin.  Kitty may have an allergy to the litter you're using - it's very common so let's start there.  You're putting flea control on, right?

Please find a way to get your cat to the vet, Susan.  Call and see if they'll accept a payment plan.  Since your boy has scratched to the point of open wounds, you're now looking at possible Secondary infections which are not only painful, but will need antibiotics to heal.  

[opus88]

hi, myboy..what your kitty has is unfortunately very common. its a condition called allergic dermatitis or can also be eosinophilic granduloma complex(with or without the scabs)

its very common to pick up an ALLERGY to an insect FOLLOWING a bite....the allergy will exist even if the cat is never in contact with another insect, in his can another ant.

I will give you some reading, some will pertain to your boy and some won't but its all related to excessive licking and hair loss......an allergy that begins from one allergen can spread and kitty can than become allergic to many things, ranging from food to all the airborne chemicals..such as cleaners,hair or room sprays, dust, candles, litter dust etc.
read on the sites recommended in the link I will give you and see if that info helps, your poor little guy, imagine how miserable he is with all the itchies.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/My-2-yr-old-cat-is-overgrooming/show/1359160

BTW welcome to our site!