Help! Cat Licked Bald Spot on Stomach?

My cat got neutered about a week ago, he was fine and wasn't licking at all. Today I noticed he was cleaning himself like normal and I didn't think anything of it, I took a shower and when I got out he somehow managed to lick a somewhat large spot bald on his stomach, about the size of a dollar coin.

He is acting fine and hasn't licked the spot since, it looks a litte pink but not irritated or anything.

A few days after he go fixed, we moved to a new apartment, maybe he got stressed from the move? We finished moving on Sunday, weird that it started today.

He has been on the same foods since we got him, we alternate between the friskies foods, either indoor delights or signature creations, sometimes they're sold out of one or the other.

What should I do?

I would first start by a trip to the Vet. As it was only a week ago that kitty was neutered, perhaps they'll not charge you for the appointment and consider it just a routine "follow-up" appointment since the neuter. The Vet should prescribe some type of ointment to help with the irritation and perhaps itching that's there, like Panolog. But the next key thing is for them to give you an E-Collar (one of the plastic cone/funnel type apparatuses) for kitty to wear so that he can't keep licking at this area as he'll end up licking it raw and then it could get infected and it will be very difficult for it to heal. Could be stress that's caused him to lick, could be something else. Have them check his neuter area, too. You should have a look at it as well, look for any redness to his "ball" area :-) I know when my male cat was neutered a year ago, he kept licking "down there" to the point where things were so red, I had to apply the above cream and make him wear the e-collar until everything had healed. Maybe kitty is licking abdomen because of the inflammation there?

Do you have an e-collar at home?

One of my kitties is allergic to people (so we say) but really she is allergic to fleas and has Spring and fall allergies. If she doesn't have her shot on time, she licks the hair off her back stomach, butt, whatever she can reach because she is so itchy. She has the shot every 3-6 months and it works well and she is a lot happier and not half as cranky LOL.

If it continues your vet will probably prescribe the shot for your man as well.
However, I hope you do not have to, it can be costly, and maybe he is a bit stressed!

Keep us updated!

Any ideas how much a vet visit should cost? I am out of money til payday (Friday) but might be able to come up with something.

I don't have a cone for him, but I can get one tonight hopefully (if there is enough in my checking acct!).

It depends on your area. But I would safely guess $35-50 per office visit and another $30-50. It could be cheaper, but plan for $100 minimum.

I would call the clinic in the morning to see if you get a free "post neuter check-up appointment." If so, book it and then ask about the spot. I know at my clinic, whenever they do any kind of surgery or dental, you get a free re-check appointment in 7-10 days. Ask if your clinic has this. Explain too that your cat never had this area he's been licking at until AFTER the neuter.

I am going to give them a call in the morning, see if I can get a free check up done, thanks for the tip/

Could be razor burn...

If he's licking his stomach, it could quickly turn to licking his scrotum, which is very bad, so an e-collar is definitely warranted.

Some cats have flea allergies, like an above poster mentioned, so I'd also recommend flea prevention (it's okay to put it on even after the neuter).

Some cats may also have an OCD disorder, and lick themselves bald, in which case antianxieties are needed.

Good luck!

Okie

Originally Posted by Okie89

Could be razor burn...

If he's licking his stomach, it could quickly turn to licking his scrotum, which is very bad, so an e-collar is definitely warranted.

Some cats have flea allergies, like an above poster mentioned, so I'd also recommend flea prevention (it's okay to put it on even after the neuter).

Some cats may also have an OCD disorder, and lick themselves bald, in which case antianxieties are needed.

Good luck!

Okie

Click to expand...

He has never been outside, so if he has fleas, he must have got them when we took him in to get nuetered?

I forgot to mention, they also did a set of vaccines before the neuter, I thought they should do them at seperate times but they said it would be fine? He just got the basic 3 vaccines they always get.

Can he suddenly develop OCD? I think he is scared of the dark, as weird as that sounds, because when it's night out and we shut off the lights he starts meowing and goes and lays by the window, the only source of any light.

Fleas can be carried in on your shoes, and yes, it's possible he got them from the vet... VERY possible!

If it were a vaccine reaction, you would more than likely see swelling of the face, or irritation at the injection site, not the abdomen.

An OCD disorder can indeed surface later in life, and come on rapidly, normally there is a stressor with it though, which could very much be from the neuter!

Talk to your vet and see which option fits best for your kitty.

Good luck!

Okie

The vet can't get him in until next week, and today I woke up to find a red patch on his forehead, not really missing fur, but looks like he scratched it raw!

I think "M" has fleas.

Since he got them from the vet, they have to pay for the treatment right?

Originally Posted by PhxJosh

Since he got them from the vet, they have to pay for the treatment right?

Click to expand...

You would think so. But 1) you'd have to prove it. They could say it was your fault for not treating with a monthly preventive or that you could have brought them into the home. And you'd be relying on 2) that your vet truly cares.

If he's actually getting open sores you may just have to try another vet. In the meantime you can keep any sores clean and use a non-pain relief neosporin ointment on them to try to prevent infection.

Thanks for the reply, we took him into the vet today, they just suggested we use neosporin as well until it heals up. We got him a cone to make sure he doesnt like the neosporin off and get sick.

The spot is healing well, most of the hair is growing back besides about 1/2 circle now, about 1/4th the size it was when we first found it. The spot is not irritated, and the vet said he will be fine.

They couldn't find any fleas, so that's good I guess.