Most cats are meticulous groomers who spend a lot of their time licking and making sure their fur is clean. While this is typical cat behavior, when it is taken too far there may be cause for concern. Excessive grooming is something that can signify a problem with your cat’s health, which is why it is important to be aware of the signs and what you can do about it. Licking, scratching, and chewing behaviors are common amongst cats, but when these behaviors become compulsive, you may want to make an appointment with your vet.
It is estimated that cats spend between 30 and 50 percent of their day grooming themselves. Given the fact they sleep about 16 hours, this could be a good 4 hours spent cleaning their fur. For this reason, it can be difficult to determine whether your cat is simply performing regular grooming or has taken it into overdrive. Below we are going to go over some of the top symptoms of excessive grooming, as well as causes. Because excessive licking and other strange grooming habits can be a sign of stress or distress, it is important that you are aware of what to be on the lookout for.
Symptoms of Excessive Grooming
As we briefly mentioned above, a couple of the top signs of excessive grooming are compulsive licking and chewing. This can be difficult to notice for many cat owners, as cats don’t always exhibit this behavior while their human companion is watching.
However, if you notice bald patches, missing clumps of hair, open sores, excessive hairballs, or areas where the hair is chewed down, it may be indicative that your cat is over grooming. In the most serious cases an open sore or wound will lead to an infection, which can set up a vicious cycle. With all this in mind, it is important to identify the underlying cause of over grooming and then correct it.
Causes of Over Grooming
Sure, grooming in itself is normal behavior for cats. It is when this type of behavior turns excessive that you should be worried and contact your Sykesville vet, as your cat’s health may be compromised. There are numerous causes of over grooming, including:
- They have a spot that is itchy or painful
- They are stressed out. This can be due to numerous different factors, from moving to a new home or the introduction of another animal or family member
- They have parasites, such as fleas
- They are suffering from allergies
- They have dry skin
- They are in pain
- They are bored, have anxiety, or are suffering from a compulsive disorder
Regardless of whether your cat is suffering from a physiological or psychological problem that is causing them to over groom, it is imperative that you take action. Your cat’s health may be compromised if you do not contact your vet and get to the bottom of what is going on.
Your vet will be able to work with you and find a solution that will best fit your cat’s behavior and living situation. In most cases this will require consistent attention, love and affective, and routine. Please do not hesitate to contact us today if you would like to learn more about treatment options for excessive grooming in cats.
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