13 yr old cat

Question
QUESTION: recently my cat began overgrooming herself. I took her to the vet and to my surprise she said she had fleas which she never had before and she gave her the stuff for the fleas. she has recovered but she continues to overgroom and half her underbelly has no fur and the insides of her legs. I am worried about her but cant afford at this moment to go back to the vet so want to know if there is another reason she would over grooming on her legs and belly. thanx so much

ANSWER: Hi Marlene.  I'm not sure how long it's been since the fleas were treated, but cats who itch this intensely from fleas usually have a flea allergy.  In this case, it can take 6 whole weeks after the fleas are gone for the allergic reaction to calm down.  

However, if it's been longer than that, it's likely she is either suffering from some other allergy or she has what's called psychogenic alopecia - hair loss due to obsessive compulsive grooming.  The allergies may be environmental or come from her food.  Food ingredients are the most common cause of allergic reactions besides fleas.  Corn is a very common allergen, so if her food contains any of this, you may want to consider switching her to something without corn (and also without wheat, which is another common allergen).  But make any food changes gradually over the course of 1-2 weeks to ensure she doesn't get an upset stomach.  I personally prefer grain-free foods or low-grain foods, since grains are the most common allergens.  However, rice is less allergenic than others.  Some cats have allergies to almost all food ingredients, including meats, and these kitties will need a prescription food.

Cats with such itching usually benefit from a cortisone shot, and this is really the best treatment for environmental allergies.  Many cats need only one shot, but some need to have them repeated every 4-6 weeks.  There are some antihistamines that can be used, but cats are generally very resistant to them.

If her hair loss is due to obsessive compulsive grooming, it could be caused by some sort of stress.  Changes in schedule, new people or pets in the home, or construction going on in the area, as well as other seemingly minor changes, can all be triggers of this behavior in cats.  To reduce anxiety, I recommend a product called Feliway.  I use the plug-in diffusers at all times in my own home.  Learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com.

You also may want to try a flower essence with her.  I like Spirit Essences, formulated by a widely known holistic vet and an animal behaviorist.  See www.spiritessences.com.  I think the Obsession Remedy would be ideal for her, and she might also benefit from the Stress Stopper.  If you can identify what might be causing her stress, but it's not a situation that can be changed, also consider the Changing Times formula.

Some cats ultimately need to be placed on an antidepressant to address anxiety when it is too deeply rooted for these more natural treatments.  Most cats only need to be treated medicinally for a few months, but there are a few who need long-term treatment.

Best wishes to you both!

Jessica



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The vet did say she was allergic to the fleas. I am guessing it could be both the stress cuz now there are two new animals on the premises and i cannot seem to find her usual food here (i moved from one province to another so I will attempt to find her original...Im not understanding the plug in diffuser thing you are mentioning though...thank you soo much for your suggestions and if you could explain this diffuser thing that would be so helpful.

Answer
Sure, I think I can help explain the diffuser.  

Most animals, cats included, produce hormones called pheromones.  Cats release facial pheromones through their cheek pads - this is why you will often notice them rubbing their cheeks along items in the home (and your legs!).  Not only does it mark the item with their scent, but pheromones also have a calming effect on cats.  Cats also release pheromones through their paw pads and in their urine.  During times of high stress, some cats can engage in behavior we find unacceptable, such as destructive scratching or spraying.  This is their attempt to fill their environment with more pheromones to benefit from the calming effect.

Feliway is a simulated pheromone, and it has the same calming effect as natural pheromones.  So people who have cats who are scratching furniture or urine marking often find the product beneficial - the cat has no need to engage in these behaviors when their environment is already filled with pheromones.  But cats who are exhibiting any kind of stress-related behavior, such as compulsive grooming or aggression, can also be helped by Feliway.

Feliway comes in a spray bottle or a plug-in diffuser.  The spray bottle is good for using on bedding, etc., but it is short-lived and must be applied several times daily.  So it's a good item for travel.  The diffuser works like a plug-in air freshener.  The electrical outlet heats up the solution in the diffuser so that it evaporates, filling the air with pheromones on a constant basis.  These are undetectable to us, but cats can sense them.

While Feliway doesn't solve the problems of every stressed out cat, it has really worked wonders for mine.  I didn't realize just how much it had helped until I ran out!  Now I make sure I have it plugged in all the time.  So, it's something I recommend people at least try anytime there is a stress-related behavior.