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Losing Fur
Kerry, my newish cat, seems to be lacking fur on part of her belly near
the back legs. I only just noticed - she loves being petted, but like many cats, she takes exception to belly-rubs so I hadn't looked at her belly in quite a while. I have an appointment with the vet for her tomorrow - I hope it's just a bit of minor over-grooming. Anyone have experience with cats losing fur?? She certainly grew it all back after she was spayed about a year ago, and now, a largish area is either very thin of or missing fur. -- Cheryl |
Losing Fur
Kerry, my newish cat, seems to be lacking fur on part of her belly near
the back legs. I only just noticed - she loves being petted, but like many cats, she takes exception to belly-rubs so I hadn't looked at her belly in quite a while. I have an appointment with the vet for her tomorrow - I hope it's just a bit of minor over-grooming. Anyone have experience with cats losing fur?? She certainly grew it all back after she was spayed about a year ago, and now, a largish area is either very thin of or missing fur. Yes, my Splodge used to lose it in quite large patches on his chest and belly every so often. It always grew back and didn't seem to have any health implications. The surprising thing when you stroked him was that you realized how *hot* cats are. By our standards they're running a fever all the time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile 07895 860 060 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin |
Losing Fur
On 7/20/2017 6:07 AM, Cheryl wrote:
Kerry, my newish cat, seems to be lacking fur on part of her belly near the back legs. I only just noticed - she loves being petted, but like many cats, she takes exception to belly-rubs so I hadn't looked at her belly in quite a while. I have an appointment with the vet for her tomorrow - I hope it's just a bit of minor over-grooming. Anyone have experience with cats losing fur?? She certainly grew it all back after she was spayed about a year ago, and now, a largish area is either very thin of or missing fur. Not in the way you describe, no. Persia (RB 2014) started plucking at her fur before she was diagnosed with hyperthyroid. Didn't help that she was allergic to the medication and had the embarrassment of having to wear a cone on her head. But there were also other symptoms. It doesn't sound like Kerry is dashing around the house (more than the occasional zoomies) or losing weight or appetite. Hopefully the vet visit will tell you what you need to know about Kerry. Please let us know! Jill |
Losing Fur
On 7/20/2017 11:11 AM, Jack Campin wrote:
The surprising thing when you stroked him was that you realized how *hot* cats are. By our standards they're running a fever all the time. Yes! I was on the sofa yesterday, reading a book. Buffy was lounging on top of me. It's sweet. I give her scritches. She purrs. She looks at me sideways and blinks slowly at me. :) Charming! Due to her sharp claws I always have a throw of some kind covering me. And it quickly gets too hot. Okay, Buffy, move over. I love you, but you're too darned hot. It's no wonder I have AC and also run ceiling fans. Cats are hot animals. It's wonderful when they want to curl up next to you. But yes, they're hot. And BTW, when we go to sleep, scoot over. I'm bigger than you are. How can one little cat take up all of the bed? Jill |
Losing Fur
On 7/20/2017 6:07 AM, Cheryl wrote:
Kerry, my newish cat, seems to be lacking fur on part of her belly near the back legs. I only just noticed - she loves being petted, but like many cats, she takes exception to belly-rubs Not to detract from your concern about Kerry and the loss of fur. This leads to another musing: Why, if cats don't like belly rubs, do they display themselves like this? https://s9.postimg.org/na751bla7/belly.jpg That's Buffy just a few minutes ago. In a puddle of sunshine. Here's the answer. It's a sign of trust. It shows they know you aren't going to hurt them. They're exposed, vulnerable. It does *not* mean they want you to rub their belly. No matter how soft or tempting, be ready for the claws to come out. Jill |
Losing Fur
Why, if cats don't like belly rubs, do they display themselves
like this? https://s9.postimg.org/na751bla7/belly.jpg That's Buffy just a few minutes ago. In a puddle of sunshine. Here's the answer. It's a sign of trust. It shows they know you aren't going to hurt them. They're exposed, vulnerable. It does *not* mean they want you to rub their belly. No matter how soft or tempting, be ready for the claws to come out. Ollie and Marblecake both do that. Marblecake genuinely does want you to rub her tummy and purrs ecstatically waving her paws in the air when you do it. For Ollie, it's the "Venus flytrap" hunting strategy and it can take some doing to get several pounds of hungry gingerness off your hand. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile 07895 860 060 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin |
Losing Fur
On 7/21/2017 12:03 PM, Jack Campin wrote:
Why, if cats don't like belly rubs, do they display themselves like this? https://s9.postimg.org/na751bla7/belly.jpg That's Buffy just a few minutes ago. In a puddle of sunshine. Here's the answer. It's a sign of trust. It shows they know you aren't going to hurt them. They're exposed, vulnerable. It does *not* mean they want you to rub their belly. No matter how soft or tempting, be ready for the claws to come out. Ollie and Marblecake both do that. Marblecake genuinely does want you to rub her tummy and purrs ecstatically waving her paws in the air when you do it. For Ollie, it's the "Venus flytrap" hunting strategy and it can take some doing to get several pounds of hungry gingerness off your hand. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile 07895 860 060 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin Rudy (RB) used to love belly rubs, but at some point he'd have enough and then all the claws and teeth clamped on. He didn't get very many belly rubs. |
Losing Fur
On 2017-07-21 4:53 PM, Joy wrote:
On 7/21/2017 12:03 PM, Jack Campin wrote: Why, if cats don't like belly rubs, do they display themselves like this? https://s9.postimg.org/na751bla7/belly.jpg That's Buffy just a few minutes ago. In a puddle of sunshine. Here's the answer. It's a sign of trust. It shows they know you aren't going to hurt them. They're exposed, vulnerable. It does *not* mean they want you to rub their belly. No matter how soft or tempting, be ready for the claws to come out. Ollie and Marblecake both do that. Marblecake genuinely does want you to rub her tummy and purrs ecstatically waving her paws in the air when you do it. For Ollie, it's the "Venus flytrap" hunting strategy and it can take some doing to get several pounds of hungry gingerness off your hand. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile 07895 860 060 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin Rudy (RB) used to love belly rubs, but at some point he'd have enough and then all the claws and teeth clamped on. He didn't get very many belly rubs. I don't think any of mine have really liked belly-rubs, although some of them would stretch out on their backs and eye you as though inviting a rub. It was all a ruse, though, maybe as Jack says a hunting strategy. Well, Kerry's back from the vet, and it doesn't appear to be serious. the way in which the fur is missing (some hairs left behind) makes the vet think Kerry's licking and pulling at it, and it's not some kind of endocrine disorder or other physical ailment, which would cause all the hairs to fall out. So it might be (a) fleas or mites or (b) stress. (a) seems quite unlikely, since they're both indoor cats, but it's not entirely impossible, so she suggested treating them for that, which has been done. The other two suggestions were Feliway and a calming food. I decided to try the Feliway but not, at least for now, the food. If nothing else helps, Kerry can be given medication, but the vet suggested a more conservative approach to start with. I'm relieved it's not more serious. I was a bit shocked at the costs involved - I can afford it, but I don't know how many people do since lots of people have less income than I do. I'm not at all sure what Kerry might have to be stressed about - she doesn't get on with Cinnamon, but they've been in the house just over a year. And if one of those two was getting stressed, I'd have said it would be Cinnamon, who spends most of her time, with a full coat of fur, snoozing in the bedroom and looking remarkably un-stressed. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. The vet also picked up a bit of coughing or noisy breathing that Kerry has. Kerry had just recovered from cat flu when I adopted her, and I thought it was just the remnants of a lingering cough she had, which has slowly become less and less frequent or noticeable. The vet said it could be that, but bring her back if it got worse, because cats can also get asthma or allergies. -- Cheryl |
Losing Fur
On 7/21/2017 5:06 PM, Cheryl wrote:
Well, Kerry's back from the vet, and it doesn't appear to be serious. the way in which the fur is missing (some hairs left behind) makes the vet think Kerry's licking and pulling at it, and it's not some kind of endocrine disorder or other physical ailment, which would cause all the hairs to fall out. So it might be (a) fleas or mites or (b) stress. (a) seems quite unlikely, since they're both indoor cats, but it's not entirely impossible, so she suggested treating them for that, which has been done. The other two suggestions were Feliway and a calming food. I decided to try the Feliway but not, at least for now, the food. If nothing else helps, Kerry can be given medication, but the vet suggested a more conservative approach to start with. It's helpful when the vet doesn't immediately insist on expensive treatment and costly food. I'm relieved it's not more serious. I was a bit shocked at the costs involved - I can afford it, but I don't know how many people do since lots of people have less income than I do. I'm not at all sure what Kerry might have to be stressed about - she doesn't get on with Cinnamon, but they've been in the house just over a year. And if one of those two was getting stressed, I'd have said it would be Cinnamon, who spends most of her time, with a full coat of fur, snoozing in the bedroom and looking remarkably un-stressed. Anyway, we'll see how it goes. The vet also picked up a bit of coughing or noisy breathing that Kerry has. Kerry had just recovered from cat flu when I adopted her, and I thought it was just the remnants of a lingering cough she had, which has slowly become less and less frequent or noticeable. The vet said it could be that, but bring her back if it got worse, because cats can also get asthma or allergies. Yes, I'd keep an eye on that but otherwise it sounds like the bit of fur loss is nothing serious. Fingers still crossed! Jill |
Losing Fur
On 7/20/2017 5:07 AM, Cheryl wrote:
Kerry, my newish cat, seems to be lacking fur on part of her belly near the back legs. I only just noticed - she loves being petted, but like many cats, she takes exception to belly-rubs so I hadn't looked at her belly in quite a while. I have an appointment with the vet for her tomorrow - I hope it's just a bit of minor over-grooming. Anyone have experience with cats losing fur?? She certainly grew it all back after she was spayed about a year ago, and now, a largish area is either very thin of or missing fur. Is it possible that she has some food allergies? Many cats are allergic to grains (especially corn). Of course, I know that you are already careful of that, but it would be worthwhile to carefully look at the list of ingredients, and also to use grain-free canned food. MaryL |
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