My cat licks constantly....

carrisa

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I am new to this forum... Im just trying to get some information about my cat. Shes about a year and a half old, and has had some strange things going on with her... *lol* When we first got her as a kitten, she sucked on blankets all the time. And I figured, we must of taken her away from her mother to soon- although her brother didnt do anything like that, and they are from the same litter! Now, she is constantly licking herself... Im not exaggerating, if shes not being held or eating or going to the bathroom, shes usually licking herself. Why would this be?
 

mamacat

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Originally Posted by Carrisa

I am new to this forum... Im just trying to get some information about my cat. Shes about a year and a half old, and has had some strange things going on with her... *lol* When we first got her as a kitten, she sucked on blankets all the time. And I figured, we must of taken her away from her mother to soon- although her brother didnt do anything like that, and they are from the same litter! Now, she is constantly licking herself... Im not exaggerating, if shes not being held or eating or going to the bathroom, shes usually licking herself. Why would this be?
You are probably right about her being taken from her mother too soon and that is why she sucked on the blankets. As for her always grooming herself, sometimes it just seems that way--cats do groom a lot. Just keep an eye on her. If you start to notice that her fur is gone in patches, then she is overgrooming and should see a vet--it could be any number of things, such as a skin condition that's making her itchy, pain in some part of her body (cats will lick an area that hurts them), or nerves (some cats do this as a reaction to stress). Have you noticed that she is licking one particular spot, or is it all over?

Oh yes, welcome to TCS!
 

okeefecl

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Carrisa, hi and welcome to TCS. I've moved your thread to our Behavior forum, where you should get advice on your kitten's licking. Also, take a moment and stop in the New Cats forum and introduce yourself-we love hearing from and about our new members.
 

hissy

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If your cat is constantly licking herself, she is already over-grooming herself. It could be behavioral, but you should rule out health issues first, flea reaction, dermititis? perhaps she has lice? If you take her to the vet, he will examine her and do a skin scraping to see what the problem is. If she comes up with no health issues, THEN you look at behavioral issues. But licking herself constantly, whether she is long-haired or short-haired, puts her also at risk for hair balls, and if they don't pass out of her system, then you are looking a real serious problem.
 

ldg

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Welcome to TCS! Cats are amazing animals - and I'm so glad you found TCS to help you figure them out.


The most important thing to remember is that cats are great at hiding pain and problems - so whenever you notice a change in behavior, or whenever you observe "strange" behavior, it is ALWAYS best to be safe rather than sorry and take your kitty to the vet. Most behavior problems are actually health problems. For instance, peeing outside of the box is most often because of a urinary tract infection, or bladder infection. The licking, as hissy pointed out, could very likely be due to a skin problem. Many cats have very sensitive skin, or allergies, and there are quite a few foods available on the market to meet these needs.

Obsessive licking can be a sign of stress, but you have to rule out medical problems first.

Also, the blanket sucking is sometimes a genetic thing with cats, and may have nothing to do with being taken from mom cat too early. Were the blankets wool? There is, actually, a "wool sucking gene" in some cats! We rescued a stray that loved to knead, would drool like a maniac when being petted, and sucked on blankets and wool. If they do not ingest the wool, the sucking is not a problem - other than needing to wash a few things more frequently.

But because she exhibits this behavior, and if it turns out there is no medical reason for her grooming habits, then perhaps it is related to the stress this kitty for some reason is experiencing. Then please search on "obsessive licking" in this forum, and you'll find lots of suggestions and potential solutions.

We have a kitty that began stressing out - we moved into a new home, brought home a new kitty after a few months - and she already had some issues with an existing cat here that is a bit aggressive at times. We seem to have helped her through her stress by using a combination of play therapy, flower essences, and what I call "love" therapy - just spending a lot of time with her (she likes to sit on my lap and be petted) alone, with quiet music, petting her and reassuring her that she's OK. Any time I see her grooming "normally," I let her be. Whenever I notice her doing it obsessively, I approach her slowly, talking very reassuringly, and interrupt her gently - and she licks my fingers wildy for a minute and then calms down as I begin to pet her. She has no more bald spots, and this seems to be working.
 
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