Cat licking its fur off?
Discussion
Our 15 year old cat Murphy has bee licking the inside of his front leg constantly and has licked all of the fur off a section of his leg about 2 inches long.
It's now totally bald and looks red raw but other than licking it it doesn't seem to bother him at all.
I've heard it could be caused by a food intolerance but not sure as he eats pretty much the same stuff he has always eaten. He does eat lots of chicken though.
Looks like a trip to the vets next week but is there any antiseptic cream I can put on it to try and calm it down? Sudocrem? Germoline?
Any ideas? Bex?
Thanks
It's now totally bald and looks red raw but other than licking it it doesn't seem to bother him at all.
I've heard it could be caused by a food intolerance but not sure as he eats pretty much the same stuff he has always eaten. He does eat lots of chicken though.
Looks like a trip to the vets next week but is there any antiseptic cream I can put on it to try and calm it down? Sudocrem? Germoline?
Any ideas? Bex?
Thanks
At 15yrs it could be pain association (or sometimes dis association ie pain in another area of the body but can only reach the leg to lick to try and relieve the discomfort)
Only cream I'd advise is sudocrem but really I'd avoid anything until it is checked. It also may have developed into chronic habit due to an initial irritation that has since passed.
It may need to be seen before next week if he has done that much damage to his skin already.
I don't think it'll be food intolerance at his age.
Only cream I'd advise is sudocrem but really I'd avoid anything until it is checked. It also may have developed into chronic habit due to an initial irritation that has since passed.
It may need to be seen before next week if he has done that much damage to his skin already.
I don't think it'll be food intolerance at his age.
Edited by bexVN on Thursday 29th August 22:10
Sounds like he's got stressed over something to me. Pepi over grooms when he is stressed, and that can be over the slightest disturbance! 
He needs a collar so he can't lick it, which will stress him more - try plugging in a Feliway or Pet Remedy diffuser near his favourite hang outs in the house, and some Zyclene on his food for a few days to help him settle.
He needs a collar so he can't lick it, which will stress him more - try plugging in a Feliway or Pet Remedy diffuser near his favourite hang outs in the house, and some Zyclene on his food for a few days to help him settle.
Our tabby has had exactly the same for around 3 years now. Sounds like dermatitis.
Came out of the blue originally. After many trips to the vets various blood test and allergy tests. She is allergic to fish and grass. Helpful when she is an outside cat.
Tried the plug ins, changing food, atopica nothing worked.
So now every 4-5 weeks she goes to the vet for a steroid injection which stops it from reoccurring.
Came out of the blue originally. After many trips to the vets various blood test and allergy tests. She is allergic to fish and grass. Helpful when she is an outside cat.
Tried the plug ins, changing food, atopica nothing worked.
So now every 4-5 weeks she goes to the vet for a steroid injection which stops it from reoccurring.
LeftMuffin said:
Our tabby has had exactly the same for around 3 years now. Sounds like dermatitis.
Came out of the blue originally. After many trips to the vets various blood test and allergy tests. She is allergic to fish and grass. Helpful when she is an outside cat.
Tried the plug ins, changing food, atopica nothing worked.
So now every 4-5 weeks she goes to the vet for a steroid injection which stops it from reoccurring.
How old is your cat? It is dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) but there are many different causes, I just think 15 is a bit old for food allergy etc (unless secondary to something else) so interested to know how old your cat was when it started. The other more common cause is fleas, stress as well (already mentioned) but the specific area still makes me think it's a pain response.Came out of the blue originally. After many trips to the vets various blood test and allergy tests. She is allergic to fish and grass. Helpful when she is an outside cat.
Tried the plug ins, changing food, atopica nothing worked.
So now every 4-5 weeks she goes to the vet for a steroid injection which stops it from reoccurring.
. I'm glad hers seems under control.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff