Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hi all.

 

My cat had the same issues before.  There were no fleas or anything I could see and we didn't change food or cat litter.  We happen to have a "famous" dermatological vet here in town so I took the cat.  Come to find out I was bringing in these microscopic mites from the barn.  Only one indoor cat was itching from them because she's a little more sensitive.  I did a series of Revolution from the vet and also sprayed Knockout (from the Vet) on all the carpets, furniture, etc. Washed all the bedding too.  She had been licking/chewing all the hair off her legs, belly and then her tail.  Once we figured out the problem she stopped most of the way and all the hair grew back.  EXCEPT...it did become a habit because it took so long to figure out the problem.  So she still licks her front legs but there are no more mites.  Vet said to we could try Prozac...did it and it stopped which definitely told us it was now a neurological habit.  I'm not going to give my cat Prozac, so she has peach fuzz only on the back of her front legs.

 

Because of the possible mites that I could bring in the house, I now do not bring any barn clothes in the house or if I do, I spray them with the Knockout first.  

 

Stacy

Lisa <lisa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

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)