Pulling Fur

shem · Jan 24, 2006

Moss has always pulled his own fur out and it didn't seem such an issue before but just recently he's been pulling more and more out and now, this morning, I've noticed he's starting to get a few bald patches. He's free to come and go as he pleases so I don't think it's boredom. He eats Purina Gourmet and has Hill Science Plan for Sensitive Skin.

rosiemac · Jan 24, 2006

Linsey has Moss had a check up for it?!

shem · Jan 24, 2006

No because it's never really been an issue before, he's always done it

It's just now he's started with not exactly bald patches, but his fur is a little thiner in places. He will not tolerate being brushed at all.

rosiemac · Jan 24, 2006

It might be worth taking Moss to see the vet then just incase he can prescribe a powder or something else for him?!.

shem · Jan 24, 2006

Yes Susan, I think I will. I just wondered if anyone else had had this happen to them...

He doesn't appear to be scratching anymore than usual and I Frontline him once a month all year round. I also wormed him last month and he seems generally happy in himself.

rosiemac · Jan 24, 2006

I wondered about fleas but knew that you would automatically do Moss

Linsey i've just done a search in the health forum and there was a similar thread and the cat was stressed?!

shem · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by rosiemac

I wondered about fleas but knew that you would automatically do Moss

I'll get hubby to check him over tonight and see what he thinks. Moss is actually due to be Frontlined tonight so I'll get him to double check his fur. My Step Mum said it could be that he's moulting and his fur isn't coming out easily, causing him to want to pull it out with his mouth. We do have the heating on practically all the time now and the flat is very warm. I'm really going to have to see about finding ways to brush him....

shem · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Linsey i've just done a search in the health forum and there was a similar thread and the cat was stressed?!

Oh gosh

I hope he's not. We have been have intruders again

rosiemac · Jan 24, 2006

Rosie was never one to be brushed until i bought a proper grooming brush and she loves it now.

Before that though i used to have to give her a couple of treats with one hand and brush her with the other

Sophie doesn't like it much because she trys to grab the brush off me

rosiemac · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by Shem

Oh gosh

I hope he's not. We have been have intruders again

Really!, it's a thought, especially if Moss is timid

shem · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Really!, it's a thought, especially if Moss is timid

Aye, one came in today when I was actually in and another (Moss' 'best friend') came running out when I opened the front door the other week

I really hope it's not that

But then, I don't want him to be poorly either

rosiemac · Jan 24, 2006

Oh do you mean kitty intruders?!. I thought for a moment there a burgler tried to get in!

Numpty that i am

shem · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Oh do you mean kitty intruders?!. I thought for a moment there a burgler tried to get in!

Numpty that i am

Aye, kitty intruders

sar · Jan 24, 2006

Awwww, Lynsey! I just saw this!

I hope that Moss is just helping himself moult and it's not stress related!

Let us know what you find out and how the double check goes!

jasper · Jan 24, 2006

My cat sarah was doing the exact same thing, to the point she had bald spots on her back. I took her to the vet, and she had no fleas, or ringworm, so it turned out it was just allergies. she was given a steriod shot, and put on antibiotics. last week I noticed she was doing it again, and her fur had just grown back in, so she went back to the vet for another shot, and a new medication that is supposed to keep her from pulling it once the shot wears off. the shot only lasts about three weeks.

animaluvr35 · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Oh do you mean kitty intruders?!. I thought for a moment there a burgler tried to get in!

Numpty that i am

you both are funny,especially the one part where you thought intruders were coming in. and she was meaning flea intruders
sounds cute how you said that.

I hope your kitty is better now

AbbysMom · Jan 24, 2006

When we adopted Abby, her back had a long shaved strip down it. No one could tell us why. As it grew in, she started to pull it out. When we first brought her to the vet, she was checked for fleas. She didn't have any. She had a flea treatment at the shelter. We were given an allergy medication to give her for a few weeks as well as an oil supplement to put in her food. That did seem to help a bit.

At the suggestion of a few members here, I tried some different foods. That also seemed to help.

Our first weekend away, we came back to a cat that hadn't eaten and had ripped big patches of fur out.

Abby rips fur out when given certain foods, or she is stressed. She had been doing great for months, but after our last vet visit, she ripped out more fur than I have ever seen her do before. I bought a Feliway diffuser and that seems to have helped.

It would probably be a good idea to bring him to the vet. Some cats also pull fur when they are in pain.

animaluvr35 · Jan 24, 2006

did you check out this posting for pulling fur.
I did not even know cats are known to pull out their fur
wow. awful it sounds like.

have you seen these:

http://www.vetinfo.com/cathair.html

http://www.grandtimes.com/catsecrets.html

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/knowyourcat.html

animaluvr35 · Jan 24, 2006

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

When we adopted Abby, her back had a long shaved strip down it. No one could tell us why. As it grew in, she started to pull it out. When we first brought her to the vet, she was checked for fleas. She didn't have any. She had a flea treatment at the shelter. We were given an allergy medication to give her for a few weeks as well as an oil supplement to put in her food. That did seem to help a bit.

At the suggestion of a few members here, I tried some different foods. That also seemed to help.

Our first weekend away, we came back to a cat that hadn't eaten and had ripped big patches of fur out.

Abby rips fur out when given certain foods, or she is stressed. She had been doing great for months, but after our last vet visit, she ripped out more fur than I have ever seen her do before. I bought a Feliway diffuser and that seems to have helped.

It would probably be a good idea to bring him to the vet. Some cats also pull fur when they are in pain.

I never even knew cats did that. I am so sorry to hear that sweety.
well if I ever see my cat do that,I will know.
I am greatful of the tips I get on here.
I love the trips I get on here.
god bless you all

shem · Jan 25, 2006

Originally Posted by animaluvr35

you both are funny,especially the one part where you thought intruders were coming in. and she was meaning flea intruders
sounds cute how you said that.

I hope your kitty is better now

I was meaning other cat intruders

Moss does seem fine today. I think when I thought I so those thinning patches yesterday, it was just how his fur was laying. I've just been playing with him and had a look, I can't see any now he's walking around. Hubby checked him over last night and couldn't see any either. I think it is moulting related

He's obviously much more lathargic when the heating is on and I now think that's what's making him pull his fur as we do have the flat very warm. Like now, the heating hasn't been on over night, it's very cool and he's charging about like a mad thing and not pulling his fur and looking at him again, I can't see any bald or thin patches. I will be keeping a very close eye on him though

Thank you everyone for your help and advice.

Pulling Fur

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At Abby's beck and call

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