is this normal -- bare belly

xhevoice

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Hi all, My cat Milo is a 3 year old domestic short haired tabby. His fur on his chest is long, but his belly fur is so short you can see his pink skin and six nipples, at least I hope they are nipples. I looked at a photo taken when he was a kitten and now, I don't know if this is normal for this breed or if I should see a vet. He is not behaving sick or scratching too much, he actually enjoys me rubbing his poochie poochie tummy.

I have had a long haired female maine coon mix, and I currently have a female medium hair ragdoll mix. Both lady kitties were/are quite furry on the belly. With Milo being my first short haired kitty, not sure if this normal or a problem.

So, is this normal everyone?
.

Picture of Milo 9/2014 as a kitten
 
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Kieka

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Nope, that is not normal. 

Usually that happens with over-grooming which is typically caused by a flea or other skin related allergy, stress or a food allergy (tummy hurts, can't get to where it hurts but can get to hair above, think rubbing an upset tummy). I am currently dealing with my own overgrooming issues that aren't at the bald stage.

Typically you want to start with a trip to the vet for a general exam to make sure it isn't something more serious the culprit (skin fungus for example). Then your vet will start with making sure flea medicine is up to date and getting on a serious flea regiment because it only takes one flea to set off a reaction once an allergy develops. Next is a change in primary protein and diet. Making sure the cat is getting a high protein, low carb diet and preferably a novel protein source. The home environment is taken into consideration; any changes in chemicals around the house or a new plant? After the environmental causes are eliminated you move onto behavioral. Any stressful situations in the home or recent injuries or scares that have lead the cat to an over-grooming coping mechanism. You include the vet so that if everything else is ruled out or managed to prevent problems to the best ability possible you can move onto medications like anti-histamines. 

I am still on the flea possibility step. Allergies can develop at any point in life so just because there wasn't an allergy before doesn't mean it isn't an allergy now.

Usually it takes a few weeks between attempts to see if it is working before moving onto the next possible trigger. My cats are already on a duck/turkey high protein low grain food with the possibility to switching to rabbit because of a different cat having food sensitivity. I have also started adding in omega 3 supplements to see if that helps as it has helped me as a human with my skin related allergies. My problem is we are on the 4th different attempt at omega 3 supplements and the cats keep snubbing them. Going to try sardines next to see if they will eat those (just need to find a low/no sodium water canned one or order some plain dried ones from Japan). 
 

foxden

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I had a kitty who had been severely stressed when her family decided to adopt a pair of very large dogs.

Her mom gave her to me and I realized she had licked all the fur off her belly and the inside of her legs. She never scratched the skin, and there was no rash and no sores.

She had the stress of the dogs and then losing her family. She was about 7 years old when she came to live with us.

Tipper never allowed her fur to grow back. The area stayed the same, and the skin was never irritated. Tipper was easily excitable, and was never a lap cat for us.

She would NOT allow us to rub any part of her belly...

We had Tipper 7 more years, and we never found a specific cause for the overgrooming. She did not have behavior problems or litterbox problems. She tolerated the other 2 cats we brought home later, and was thoroughly the alpha kitty
 
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foxden

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Your cat seems to have an overgrooming problem. You may want to post in and browse through the cat behavior forum to see if there are more answers there for you
 
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xhevoice

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Thanks. I took Milo to the vet and after spending $101 the vet concluded it was psychological. So, I think he is feeding off my stress and/or overreacting to a bug bite.

I think it may have started with a bug bite and persisted over his being upset over not being allowed outside at night. I stopped allowing him in the yard at night after I had a dream he was hit by a car.

So, I'm trying to play with him more at night and take him out on his leash or the stroller. We are both still learning how to walk on a lead.

Heavy sigh -- could've saved the $101.
 

foxden

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Better a psych problem than a physical one.

I'm sure Milo is reacting to not being allowed outdoors, and playing with him more in the evening should help.

We never know whether to spend money at the vet. This way, you know there isn't an underlying problem.

Anxious "cat parents are us"
 
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