A variety of physiological or medical factors can cause cats to groom themselves excessively. In today's post, our Baltimore explain what might be behind your cat's overgrooming habit and how you can curb it.
Overgrooming in Cats
When cats spend an unusually significant amount of time grooming themselves, we call this overgrooming. The habit can cause health issues like fur loss and skin sores, which can lead to various skin infections and conditions.
A cat's brain releases natural neurotransmitters (endorphins) when they lick themselves. These endorphins induce feelings of comfort when your cat grooms themselves. Therefore, if your kitty is dressed, they may instinctively try to comfort themselves by grooming.
Many cat owners say they don't think their cat is grooming excessively, but this may be because their cats feel comfortable in the owner's presence and don't feel the need to groom obsessively while in their company. However, the cat may start grooming again when the owner leaves the room.
If you do catch your feline friend overgrooming, don't punish them, as this will only make your cat feel more stressed and could make the issue worse.
Causes of Overgrooming in Cats
Cats may overgroom for both psychological and medical reasons. When psychological issues such as stress and anxiety cause a cat to overgroom, this is called psychogenic alopecia.
Stress is the most common cause of overgrooming in cats. Various stressors like permanent changes in your cat's routine and/or environment can result in psychogenic alopecia. Examples of stressors that may be triggering your cat's excessive grooming include:
- Their owner being gone for longer hours
- Rearrangement of furniture
- Kitty litter being moved
- A family member moving away
- Being in a chaotic household
- A death in the family
- A new animal in the home
- Moving to a new home
Medical factors that can cause your kitty to overgroom include:
- A wound on their skin
- Itchy skin
- Ringworm
- Bacterial or fungal infections
- Hyperthyroidism
- Allergies
Consider any changes you have made to your cat's environment or food to determine why they might be overgrooming. If you suspect the increase in grooming may be due to an allergy, contact your veterinarian, who can test your cat for any allergies and definitively diagnose any allergic reactions. Your vet may also refer you to a veterinary dermatologist for further diagnosis and testing.
Signs of Cat Overgrooming
If your cat is excessively grooming, you will notice a stripe or line that resembles a cat buzzcut on your cat's body. However, overgrooming marks are most often found on a cat's belly, at the base of their tail, on the foreleg, and inner thigh. If your cat's overgrooming habit is serious, its skin may also be sore, red, dotted with scabs, and/or otherwise damaged.
How to Stop your Cat From Overgrooming
If you notice your cat overgrooming, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with your vet so they can rule out any underlying medical conditions.
At your cat's appointment, your vet will likely perform a complete physical examination of your cat to look for any obvious health issues like injuries, parasitic infections, or symptoms of internal conditions, including hyperthyroidism. The vet can also perform a skin biopsy or other laboratory tests that may be required, then prescribe treatment for your cat's specific condition.
While you wait for your appointment, try to figure out if there is anything that could be making your cat anxious and eliminate the stressor. If you find the stressor, remove it from your cat's environment, and your kitty's excessive grooming may gradually go away. Your veterinarian can offer tips on how you can eliminate the source of your cat's stress.
In situations where a medical diagnosis can't be made, your vet might prescribe anti-anxiety drug therapy to help stop your cat's excessive licking. Your kitty will most likely need to be on this medication long enough to help them manage their stress. If your vet does prescribe these medications, you need to follow their instructions very carefully. You will also need time and patience to see this treatment take effect.
You should also know that the treatments for psychogenic alopecia aren't always permanent. Your cat's overgrooming habits could resurface at any time, which may indicate your kitty is stressed again.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.