Need help! Cat is literally pulling fur out!!

lilandsophsmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
7
Purraise
1
Lately we have been having trouble with our youngest cat, Sophie. A few weeks ago she knocked over lamps and pictures in the house and just tore it up, so we started shutting her and our other cat into a room while we left the house. We noticed that shortly thereafter she started licking her stomach nonstop and the hair begin to thin out. Her nipples had the appearance of pimples and her skin was red. About two weeks ago we left for a weeklong trip and had a friend visit the cats while we were gone. When we came back the situation was worse. Sophie was licking herself to the point where big clumps of fur were coming out and she even starting pulling the fur out with her teeth. So we bought her Animal Aloe Herbal Skin Treatment from an organic store nearby and gave her a flea bath (she has a few) and we also let the cats roam freely while we are gone. Her condition was slowly but surely getting better. Then today Sophie has been nonstop pulling fur out and it's gotten worse because now where she pulled some off today, there is what looks like an open sore. She isn't displaying any signs of pain from the irritated skin. I did switch their dry food a few days before we left for the trip, but the behavior began before then, and I switched their wet food after we came back. Any ideas?
 

webmiss

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 22, 2015
Messages
44
Purraise
5
Have you tried feliway? It may be stress related and the feliway diffuser can help reduce stress.

My kitty pulls his fur when he's stressed.
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
It sounds like alopecia.  I did a quick google, and came up with this article.  http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/psychogenic-alopecia-in-cats/

There were several links for home treatment and such, but you probably will need a vet and medication.  It really isn't curable, but it is, to a very large extent, controlable.  IF this is the problem, it is a form of OCD, and a method of anxiety control.  Best of luck with your Sophie!
 

Alicia88

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 25, 2016
Messages
3,917
Purraise
10,616
Location
Kirksville, MO
Fleas are really bad this year, and my boys got some more before they were due for their next 30 day flea treatment.  I'm not sure how they keep getting them because they NEVER go outside and they aren't in the apartment or I'd be getting eaten alive.  Anyway, they scratched the heck out of their chins and caused open sores there.  I rubbed some olive oil over the area a couple of times a day and they were healed in no time.

I don't know what to tell you about the rest of it.
 

tlco

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
66
Purraise
16
Location
Texas
I have a female cat that doesn't same thing.it's usually stress-related but you should get it checked out by your vet to be sure.I found several sites showing putting a onesie on your cat backwards to prevent her from licking the area I'm there some good places that will show you how to put it on but basically you put it on with her tail and bottoms in the neck hold her feet to the front arms. Make a small cut in the part that would normally go between the baby's legs and button with the snaps for her had to go through.for my cat this helps some but because of her size she kept wiggling out of it.if you check Walmart Petco or PetSmart there are some stress medications that you can get your cat that might help hope this helps good luck
 

basschick

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Messages
603
Purraise
487
 
Fleas are really bad this year, and my boys got some more before they were due for their next 30 day flea treatment.  I'm not sure how they keep getting them because they NEVER go outside and they aren't in the apartment or I'd be getting eaten alive.  Anyway, they scratched the heck out of their chins and caused open sores there.  I rubbed some olive oil over the area a couple of times a day and they were healed in no time.

I don't know what to tell you about the rest of it.
fleas can ride in on your pants or shoes if there's ANY animals, pets or wild, in your area.  they can also come from the vet's.  our indoor cat hasn't been outside got HORRIBLE fleas this year, and the only place he's been is the vet's, but we do walk around our complex where there are cats and dogs.
 

Geoffrey

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
521
Purraise
387
Location
Sydney Australia
I am a human doctor, not a Veterinarian. The symptoms are so disturbing that I advise you strongly not to mess about with over the counter medications but to consult a vet as soon as possible.
 

Geoffrey

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
521
Purraise
387
Location
Sydney Australia
 
Lately we have been having trouble with our youngest cat, Sophie. A few weeks ago she knocked over lamps and pictures in the house and just tore it up, so we started shutting her and our other cat into a room while we left the house. We noticed that shortly thereafter she started licking her stomach nonstop and the hair begin to thin out. Her nipples had the appearance of pimples and her skin was red. About two weeks ago we left for a weeklong trip and had a friend visit the cats while we were gone. When we came back the situation was worse. Sophie was licking herself to the point where big clumps of fur were coming out and she even starting pulling the fur out with her teeth. So we bought her Animal Aloe Herbal Skin Treatment from an organic store nearby and gave her a flea bath (she has a few) and we also let the cats roam freely while we are gone. Her condition was slowly but surely getting better. Then today Sophie has been nonstop pulling fur out and it's gotten worse because now where she pulled some off today, there is what looks like an open sore. She isn't displaying any signs of pain from the irritated skin. I did switch their dry food a few days before we left for the trip, but the behavior began before then, and I switched their wet food after we came back. Any ideas?
I am a human doctor, not a Veterinarian. The symptoms are so disturbing that I advise you strongly not to mess about with over the counter medications but to consult a vet as soon as possible.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

lilandsophsmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
7
Purraise
1
Thank you for your suggestions so far everyone!

Update: Sophie is really targeting her back and very big parts of her back are now exposed. What I noticed was that up until Monday Sophie had not moved from one of the couches except to eat and use the litterbox. Since her good day on Monday she has been hanging out everywhere in the house. Loud talking seems to make her get worse.
 

Geoffrey

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
521
Purraise
387
Location
Sydney Australia
Update: Sophie is really targeting her back and very big parts of her back are now exposed. What I noticed was that up until Monday Sophie had not moved from one of the couches except to eat and use the litterbox. Since her good day on Monday she has been hanging out everywhere in the house. Loud talking seems to make her get worse.
It may well be that stress is contributing to her problem if she is worse during loud talking.  You really should see the vet, otherwise you may have a bald cat!
 

darkhorse321

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
316
Purraise
74
Funny thing about fleas. They are sneaky little bugs.

I have 2 indoor kitties who have had fleas 2x in their lives. How? ME! I work with horses and I teach out in sand rings and in grass rings, as well as I ride and train horses. But, the vets said that fleas live on grass and likely caught a ride on my boots and got into my house, then found my kitties. UGH! How RUDE! ;)

Now, my male cat? Show no signs of being bothered, but my female? She was allergic to their bites, and like your kitty, was pulling out her hair in clumps with sores because her skin hurt.

I highly recommend Revolution or Advantage from the vet clinic. I found it the BEST! No odor, no reaction to my kitties and kills the fleas AND ticks. 

I have since become diligent in wiping down my riding boots after teaching or being in grass to prevent this and so far, so good.

Good luck!
 

tinalakepia

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Oct 15, 2015
Messages
20
Purraise
8
I had a very similar problem with my cat Luna, her belly and her sides were very nearly bald. Turns out she has a flea allergy and even the bite from just one flea can make her itch and lick like crazy, so I have to by hyper vigilant about keeping on flea meds, even though my cats are both indoor. Like someone else said, one or two can ride in on your shoes or pants and the next thing you know they're everywhere!  
 

Alicia88

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 25, 2016
Messages
3,917
Purraise
10,616
Location
Kirksville, MO
 
Funny thing about fleas. They are sneaky little bugs.

I have 2 indoor kitties who have had fleas 2x in their lives. How? ME! I work with horses and I teach out in sand rings and in grass rings, as well as I ride and train horses. But, the vets said that fleas live on grass and likely caught a ride on my boots and got into my house, then found my kitties. UGH! How RUDE! ;)

Now, my male cat? Show no signs of being bothered, but my female? She was allergic to their bites, and like your kitty, was pulling out her hair in clumps with sores because her skin hurt.

I highly recommend Revolution or Advantage from the vet clinic. I found it the BEST! No odor, no reaction to my kitties and kills the fleas AND ticks. 

I have since become diligent in wiping down my riding boots after teaching or being in grass to prevent this and so far, so good.

Good luck!
I wonder if my boys might be allergic to flea bites.  They scratched their chins completely raw.  But just there.  So I don't know.
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
The more I hear about Sophie, the more I think this is psychogenic alopecia.  If this is the problem, it will not clear up with shampoos or ointments or sprays or wipes.  It is a psychological issue, and will require anit-anxiety meds.  Many cases can be controlled very well with the right meds, although high-stress situations may cause short relapses.  Get your girl to a vet.  She is, no matter what the reason, miserable.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

lilandsophsmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
7
Purraise
1
Thanks again everyone. I sadly can't get her to the vet until the middle of September. She is doing well today, I haven't given her any medicine since last night. I am still completely dumbfounded, though. Sometimes loudness or tension causes a flare up, but since she does very well on bath days I believe it could be a flea problem. Sometimes the aloe treatment works, other days it doesn't faze her. Our other cat, Lilly, does not have any fleas and the only time she has a few are when she's been cleaning Sophie a lot. I'm not sure how only one of them has fleas. Also we have trees all around our house and thick grasses, there have been massive amounts of fleas, mosquitos and flies this year. Sometimes I go outside and suddenly a flea is on my arm or mosquitos all over my legs. Please keep the experiences and suggestions coming!
 

katiekat 143

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Aug 15, 2016
Messages
7
Purraise
3
I'm new here, but my Katie she has nibbled the hair on her front lower leg into a 1 inch by 1 inch bald spot. I catch her sometimes pulling the hair off her belly too. What's odd is that she nibbles on her leg if you scratch her back. She had a neurological episode about 12 years ago, but she did not appear to have had any issues until about 3 years ago after having been put under anesthesia for a dental cleaning. She started nibbling on her leg where the catheder was placed. She has no other issues except obesity. My vet suspects neurological, too. She's a happy kitty so I've decided not to put her through any type of testing. Just food for thought.
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
The good news is that the middle of September isn't that far off now.  Living on Social Security, I am so aware of the cost of vet bills, and how difficult it can be.  This isn't a life-threatening thing, so just try to keep her stress levels down as much as you can till the visit.  ~thinks to self..."just how do you give a cat a spa day?"~  I know you will do your very best for her..    You know, you could give her small doses of chamomile tea.  You can find it very easily at the grocery store now, and it's perfectly safe for cats.  About a half a teaspoon.  I'd start with once a day, in the morning, then if that isn't enough, add an evening dose, and you could go to three times a day if you had to.  I'd brew a fresh cup of tea every other day, just to be sure it's good.  It is also good for tummy upsets.  In fact, I do a lot of herbal medicines and I base most of them in chamomile because it is so relaxing to humans and cats,  it lets the other ingredients work better.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

lilandsophsmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
7
Purraise
1
Update: Sophie has been doing very well! She is still pulling out fur here and there but she mostly sleeps and will get up and eat, walk around, and try to sneak outside too. We also brought home a cat tree yesterday to see if that would continue to help. Not sure what changed for her, maybe because someone is home 24 hours of the day basically but I still am left to wonder what incited this?
 

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Oct 16, 2015
Messages
31,132
Purraise
67,603
Location
North Carolina
I'm now pretty much willing to bet that it was anxiety-driven.  Or one HECK of a seasonal allergy that is no longer in season.  But I really am leaning towards anxiety.  If she's still doing some plucking, I'd give the tea a try.  Could knock it out with one dose a day, and you'd know to increase the dosage if she got the willies and picked up the pace.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

lilandsophsmom

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
7
Purraise
1
 
I'm now pretty much willing to bet that it was anxiety-driven.  Or one HECK of a seasonal allergy that is no longer in season.  But I really am leaning towards anxiety.  If she's still doing some plucking, I'd give the tea a try.  Could knock it out with one dose a day, and you'd know to increase the dosage if she got the willies and picked up the pace.
Thank you for your kind suggestions, we are going to look for the tea tomorrow!
 
Top