Cats Information Station

posted by admin on Dec 20

Cats Information -- Cats Grooming

Cats grooming -- what's to know?  Cats & grooming go together like hand & glove.  Cats love to be well-groomed.  They are often fastidious and like for their living space to be kept clean, particularly the litter box.  While most cats are not big fans of water, they will still allow you to occasionally clean their fur with a warm, damp cloth.  You will also need to provide a scratching post for your indoor cat so that claws can be kept to a safe and healthy length.  Having said that, there are times when cats can become too concerned with grooming.

Over-grooming is a stress-related condition that can be compared to obsessive-compulsive disorders in humans. Over-grooming can be very dangerous, so if you see symptoms of this disorder in your cat, talk to your vet right away.

Over-grooming sometimes starts when there has been a big change in your cat’s life, such as a new baby or pet in the house or a move. Cats naturally groom themselves often, and this activity is like a massage that cats love to do. So if your cat is stressed out about a change in his or her life, your cat may groom as an attempt to remain calm. Over-grooming takes place with the cat excessively licks or pulls out fur, resulting in bald spots. Commonly, the areas affected by over-grooming at the inner thighs and forelegs.

If you see bald spots on your cat, your first step is to call your vet and schedule an appointment. There are other things that can cause balding in a cat and these other medical conditions can become quickly fatal if left untreated. Thyroid problems, allergies, fleas, mites, ringworm, and bacterial pyoderma can all cause bald patches in the fur.  Your vet can examine and diagnose your pet to determine the specific cause.

If your cat is suffering from over-grooming, there are a number of things you can do to help him or her heal. First, identify what has triggered this reaction in your pet and eliminate this if possible. However, this may not help, as the cat’s behavior may be a habit by now. Try to take your cat’s mind off of grooming by regular play and stimuli. Consider a cat video or a fish tank, which can entertain your cat when you have to leave for more than an hour, and when possible, take your cat wherever you are going.

Your vet can also recommend certain medications to help your cat stop over-grooming. Anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications could do the trick, and your vet can help you learn positive reactions for your cat when you she that he or she is over-grooming. Together, you, your vet, and your cat can put an end to your cat’s grooming problems.  Cats grooming -- they just have to know when to quit.