Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: Message

Hi Dawn,

Thank you for responding! I thought I'd better respond directly since I don't want to aggravate anyone on the list with my cat problem. =;)

I examined the kitty this morning, and she's now licking hair off her belly as well. I'm not noticing any broken or irritated skin or bugs, but like you mentioned, sometimes you can't see any bugs.  She's an indoor cat and we live in Colorado Rockies -- I don't think there is much of a flea issue here, but I don't know for sure.  I have to go to the store today, so I'll look for the Advantage and give that a try.  When you mentioned "allergy" it made me think too of a food allergy -- Maybe I'll try a food switch and see if that does anything.  But I'll try the Advantage first.  I did make a vet appointment for the beginning of next month in case I can't figure out what's going on.

Thanks again!

Lisa

-----Original Message-----
From: RDCARRIE@xxxxxxx [mailto:RDCARRIE@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 8:59 PM
To: lisa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] Cat Licking

In a message dated 4/9/2006 7:33:21 PM Central Standard Time, lisa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

By the way, does anyone have a cat that cleans so often they lick off
their hair down to the skin?!  I have a cat with almost a bald rear leg.

Your cat may have an allergy, perhaps to fleas.  Even a tiny number of the little buggars can drive a cat to the point of incessant licking.  Try using the feline Advantage drops, even if you don't find fleas on the cat.  In the meantime, if the skin is red and irritated, you vet might be able to give him a steroid shot to control the itch till the Advantage can do its work.

Dawn in East Texas (had this problem with one of our cats once)