Cat will not stop cleaning himself.

stir_crazy

I know cats have OCD about cleaning themselves, I've grown up with cats, my grandparents and my parents had cats. When I moved into my house, I got a maine coon (long haired cats)who sadly passed away. He was an ex stud cat and when I informed his last owner, we ended up inheriting his son. This was around a year ago.

Well, about 5-6 months ago I noticed that he had licked two bald, bloody patches on his heels. I think this was down to my DH being away so often. When DH was home for a weekend after being away for ages the cat stopped licking the scabs and let them heal.

But, since then, he cleans himself almost non stop. Literally. He'll clean homself after moving position, after someone touching him, after meals, after being outside, after meowing -its pretty much constant every time I see him. This morning I was trying to distract him from cleaning himself by tapping him every time he did it but he just went back to cleaning a different area. He hasn't got any bald patches but the hair balls he brings up are huge.

Has anyone experienced this before? Could it be down to stress? He's in the house by himself when I'm at work so could it be boredom? I'm getting quite worried.

valk_scot

Do you groom him? I know our long haired cat needs combed by me daily otherwise he gets a lot of furballs.

stir_crazy

Hi, I brush him daily as well otherwise he gets matted hair really quickly. He doesnt bring hairballs up very often, but they are massive when he does

krlyr

Perhaps try a Feliway plugin incase it's a stress-related behaviour, Feliway seems to work wonders on stressed cats

BillTrac

I have two Ragdolls and last year the older one washed the fur away from just below her neck:eek:

Took her to the vets and she gave her an anti-imflammatory injection and some tablets. Seemed she had something making her itch which she kept trying to lick away!! No fleas/ticks etc

Her coat is now back to it's former glory thank goodness.

Does your cat get more attention when your OH is home?

stir_crazy

BillTrac wrote: »

I have two Ragdolls and last year the older one washed the fur away from just below her neck:eek:

Took her to the vets and she gave her an anti-imflammatory injection and some tablets. Seemed she had something making her itch which she kept trying to lick away!! No fleas/ticks etc

Her coat is now back to it's former glory thank goodness.

Does your cat get more attention when your OH is home?

Oh how awful, glad she is better now!

He acts like he has split loyalties when DH is home.
If it is just me and the cat, I give him cuddles when I come in from work and feed him, then he sits on the window sill and ignores me unless I stand at the window sill and play with him all evening but comes up to share the bed with me (I know, I know). When DH is home, the cat gets cuddles from both of us, but then will go from my lap to DH's and back again all evening, almost like he doesn't know who to sit with, even though he doesnt usually sit on my lap.

DH is the one who gives him sweeties and cat treats though, and I'm the one who tries to stop him being bad, lol.

ETA: just to say, he cleans himself just as often when OH is home, OH has even remarked on it.

Fire_Fox

Please take the cat to the vet for a check up, it might be behavioural but there might be an underlying health issue.

stir_crazy

Thanks for the advice, I thought that I should take him to the vet, but wasn't sure if I was over reacting.

rincey

my cat used to do this when he was in pain,he sufferd from urinary blockages so please visit the vet .

kelloggs36

it could be fleas too!

lilmissmup

I noticed last night that my male cat Spencer has lost a lot of fur off his tummy so I am taking him to the vet Thursday.

I don't think he has fleas and my other cat is fine but he might be licking more than normal.

No situation changes to stress him, he is boss cat anyway.

Let me know how you get on and I will do the same!