Think our cat is anxious - help!

crazycatlady1984

I can imagine the biting must be upsetting to watch - but doing it a few times a week, having only been with you for 6 weeks, I would hope he would calm down.

One of my cats would constantly gnaw on his arm, just above his paw, he had a little bald patch, which was really sad. He would also overgroom his tummy. We took him to the vet who diagnosed him as "neurotic" :( He no longer gnaws on his arm, he has totally grown out of that, and the tummy overgrooming seems to have stopped but the tummy is still bald and pink, I don't think it will grow back.

I had only had them about 6months when the overgrooming started, and fairly sure it was prompted by me getting a new bed - they used to hide under the bed and when I got a new bed that they couldn't get under it obviously stressed him out.

See if you can identify anything like this that is prompting it - is it at a particular time or anything?

Hopefully he is ok and will settle down xx

pinkteapot

Weirdly, he usually does the leg-biting when we're eating dinner! He's just had his dinner at that point - we put his down while we're cooking. Unless there's any other times he does it when we're at work.

johnnyleeds

I'd agree that from your photos it appears your kitty is pretty relaxed now compared to how you say he was behaving a few weeks ago. I'm not familiar with cats biting themselves, hopefully its just a phase while he gets more comfortable with his surroundings.

You dont think it could be anything to do with fleas though do you? I've seen my own cats gnawing at certain areas of their bodies in summer when the dreaded fleas make an attempted comeback before I treat them with flea sprays / tablets etc. Usually they are nibbling at a particular area where they have seen / caught a flea but its never in the same area like you mention your cat bites only his leg.

Another thing I like to do for my cats, even though they are just typical British short hair breeds is groom them both regularly, about once a week. I have a wonderful old stiff bristled brush which is great for brushing through their fur.

They both adore having their 'brushy brush' (!?!) sessions especially when I get them under their chins, its funny how they will stretch their chins right out so I can get underneath with the stiff bristles. Its a great bonding activity and I love to see them having such a lovely time while I brush their coats and then see how smart they look when I've finished brushing them.

It also gets rid of a lot of old fur, specially when they are moulting their winter / summer coats and the stiff bristles collect all the old fur which prevents them having to swallow it all and cause the dreaded fur balls...!

Sometimes I cant believe how much fur they can produce, I bet I could stuff a mattress with the amount of fluffy fur that the brush collects. I wonder if anyone has ever had it spun into like a yarn and then knitted it into a cat fur scarf or jumper?

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Cousin has just noted his yard has a stand off between cats and pigeons. Currently, it s not looking good for pigeons.

tea_lover

johnnyleeds wrote: »

Sometimes I cant believe how much fur they can produce, I bet I could stuff a mattress with the amount of fluffy fur that the brush collects. I wonder if anyone has ever had it spun into like a yarn and then knitted it into a cat fur scarf or jumper?

http://www.amazon.com/Crafting-Cat-Hair-Cute-Handicrafts/dp/1594745250