Licking

[goddess40]

One of our cats licks the hair off his legs and belly. The vet has put him on prednisone twice and when he is on it he stops the licking. But he can't take that stuff for any length of time. He has been tested for mites and that was negative. We had him on an allergy diet but that didn't seem to make any difference. The vet thinks it might just be nerves. Our other cat, his brother, has no problem with this. Any ideas about what causes the licking and what to do about it?

[Tammie]

1. I hope you get some responses to this one

My 8 year old Punkin is doing the same thing. His belly is bare and he is now working on his rear legs. Changing his diet didn't help. He also started licking blankets, towels and flannel. I'll be interested in seeing suggestions on this one.

[demnan]

2. I'm no expert

but I'd do two things, first I'd get a second opinion from another vet (perhaps there are specialists?). Secondly I would go to an all natural diet using foods like Wellness. Check out this thread for ideas:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=4388&mesg_id=4388

But the most important thing is to get a diagnosis and try to get a less invasive treatment.

good luck!

[yellerpup]

3. Our dear Mr. Spitz used to pull out his belly and leg fur

We spent a fortune on vets and second and third opinions. Finally, everything was ruled out except for emotional issues associated with territory. He was the smallest of our three cats (one was his littermate). He would sometimes get better and sometimes get worse his whole life long, then we moved out into the country when he was 13. Once he began going outdoors, taking dust baths and chasing lizards, all that obsessive behavior stopped. He went from being the Barney Fife of kitties to Mr. Natural. Obviously, I don't know what your situation is, but I hope that sharing our experience with Mr. Spitz is helpful.

[haele]

4. Fleas /mitesand possibly nerves or something else developing

Moggy is mildly allergic to fleas and tended to thin out his belly and inner thighs during flea season, but when his thyroid started going wonky at about the same time we moved into an apartment (he hated apartment living, couldn't go out and sun himself on the porch...), he really started denuding himself, so much so that every summer, he wandered around with a bare belly. He only stopped pulling all the fur out when we got him on his thyroid meds. Of course, that could just be coincidence, that was also a year after we moved into the house.

Haele

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I had a cat who licked a big patch of fur off his belly.

The vet said it was probably an allergy and gave him a cortisone shot. Apparently what happens is an allergic reaction causes itching, so the cat licks the itchy spot, which irritates the skin even more. The cortisone made the itching stop, the cat stopped licking, and eventually his fur grew back.

[spooky3]

6. I have heard of vets prescribing anti-anxiety drugs for this with good results.

This is done after other possible causes are ruled out.

[Born_A_Truman]

8. I agree

it could be stress related. Anything changed around the house?

[prole_for_peace]

7. My mother's 12 year old kitty has just started doing this.

She has stopped going into the living room and mostly lives in the bathroom now and spends her day on the rug pulling hair out of her haunch. There are no other pets in the house so it isn't a territory problem and she has only been doing this for a few weeks.

I gave my mom Feliway but it hasn't helped.

[Tab]

9. You can get cats with OCD

Just like some humans pick at their skin or whatever.

You may have to hood her to keep her away until it heals. It can be self-perpetuating - maybe there was some bug or bug bite and she started to lick it and then licked it raw and now licks it because it hurts, long after any bug has flown the coop.