New to this site and worried about my cat who keeps licking her fur off to the point of red/raw/swol

diane m

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Try putting her a new organic or homeopathic chicken or fish food. No supermarket, or cheap foods with fillers, first ingredients and second MEAT!! not corn etc  hope this helps.Food allergies, and cheap purina products just don't cut it for our beloved family members, but try my suggestions or even look up the "Raw DIET": mine love it, Best of luck,Diane
 

lyndacolleen

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I haven't seen a post from you that was recent---am I to assume your cat is healed from licking himself raw?  I have a black female cat who is 13 years old.  About 3 years ago, out of nowhere, she started licking herself, and has done so continually ever since.  She is bald on her belly, the inside of her legs, her rear, and now she is twisting herself around, trying to get at new fur on her back.  I have been to the vet, she tested negative for allergies.  I have shampooed her with all kinds of medicated shampoo.  I have changed her food.  Changed her cat litter.  ARGH!!!  I feel to bad for her and don't know what to do.  Any suggestions from your experience, or from anyone else out there?  Lynda 
 

lyndacolleen

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Yes, I use dryer sheets, but I have been using them for years. My cat is 13 and only started licking herself bald 3 years ago.  Why do you ask?
 

taters

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Lynda, have you found out the cause and/or a solution?  My ex-feral cat Scooter is experiencing the same thing--licking her belly and hind legs bald.  She is now taking Elavil (amitriptyline) for anxiety and it is helping a little bit so far.  Dietary intervention did not help--her itching was not related to fleas or allergy, my vet decided after different experiments.  I think my cat is upset by the presence of our two other cats (both male ex-ferals).  She feels threatened by them at times (those SHE is the alpha cat) and she licks worse when she is alone for extended periods (when we are on vacation).

There are several other threads that address this issue:  you might try searches  using the  words "belly" "hind legs" "bald" and "itching" for input via other discussions.
 

lyndacolleen

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Yes, I found a vet who is wonderful.  She actually LISTENED to me when I said I had tried everything and it is still going on after over 3 years.  The vet ran a slew of tests (already done in the past, but she wanted to rule everything out)  Sure enough: no allergies, no skin diseases, no thyroid problems---her blood work came out perfect.  She said this is a form of OCD--definitely a behavioral issue.  She gave her a long-lasting (30 days) shot of steroid (prednisone), and said the cat will need another after the 30 days.  It may take up to as much as 3 doses (3 months).

Already, just after the first shot, I see a decline in the frequency of the licking.  Finally! I will let you all know what happens after the 3 months.

Lynda
 

taters

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THank you so much Lynda for the new diagnosis!  I am so glad you found a Vet with compassion.  My scooter had two steroid shots (a month apart) but I was told she should not have any more, hince the medication for psychogenic (OCD) anxiety,....   I am converting her from solid tablets (that stuck in her throat) to a liquid formulation beginning tonight, and will let you know how it goes.  Take care, and I hope cat "heals" and may not need more meds after the series of steroids. Maybe breaking the cycle is the solution.
 

anne louise

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My cat had been licking her belly bare for nearly a year and then started on to the inside of her hind legs. The vet did tests and diagnosed Idiopathic cystitis - a common bladder infection.
She advised changing her diet to to make her pee more which would help flush out the infection. This was in November last year 2013. (She also had several teeth out at the same time. No chewing on small mammals had caused her top teeth to rot. Very common because of modern western indoor cat diet.) Nothing changed until a few weeks ago (3 months after the teeth removal and change of diet) when we noticed that she had stopped licking her belly and the fur was starting to grow back!!!!
Now she has a lovely covering of hair and we are so thrilled!!! The cat food (obtained from the vets) is Medi Cal Urinary SO by Royal Canin. She has no kibble or crunchies just a can a day of the Medi Cal. (I thought she would miss the variety of her previous cat food but apparently cats don't need variety and my cat happily eats her Medi Cal each day.) So there is hope if your cat has the same condition. I was so concerned that we were going to have a progressively bald cat but no longer!! Good luck to all you out there who are going through the same thing. But give it time to work - 3 months was what it took before the infection was flushed out.
 

anne louise

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It worked!! My cat had been licking her belly bare for nearly a year and then started on to the inside of her hind legs. The vet did tests and diagnosed Idiopathic cystitis - a common bladder infection.
She advised changing her diet to to make her pee more which would help flush out the infection. This was in November last year 2013. (She also had several teeth out at the same time. No chewing on small mammals had caused her top teeth to rot. Very common because of modern western indoor cat diet.) Nothing changed until a few weeks ago (3 months after the teeth removal and change of diet) when we noticed that she had stopped licking her belly and the fur was starting to grow back!!!!
Now she has a lovely covering of hair and we are so thrilled!!! The cat food (obtained from the vets) is Medi Cal Urinary SO by Royal Canin. She has no kibble or crunchies just a can a day of the Medi Cal. (I thought she would miss the variety of her previous cat food but apparently cats don't need variety and my cat happily eats her Medi Cal each day.) So there is hope if your cat has the same condition. I was so concerned that we were going to have a progressively bald cat but no longer!! Good luck to all you out there who are going through the same thing. But give it time to work - 3 months was what it took before the infection was flushed out.
 

my little love

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My cat Princess has been licking her fur for over one year.  I  have taken her to so many Vets, I really don't know what to do next.  I have spent so much money and so much time trying to force medicine down her throat, I am sick and tired of trying to get my cat healthy and happy. 

I did introduce another kitten approx. 2.5 years ago into my home, another girl. and she is most jealous.  I give each of my cats as much love as they want.  But my new kitten sits on top of me and wants more attention than Princess.  So, Princess licks her full constantly.  Then I go to Princess and give her more love, and the new cat, comes up to me and wants attention.  What should I do.  I am most confused.  But. all I want is for my cat, Princess to stop licking herself all over.  It started with her front legs. then it went to her back legs, her back, her belly and she is moving all over her body.  Can someone please help me and find a cure for my 13 year old cat.  I just ran out of answers and out of money. 

Thank you for all your help. 

My little kitty
 

pushylady

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Some posters above have had success with monthly steroid shots, so that's worth a try if you haven't already.
 
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