Thread: Losing Fur
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Old July 21st 17, 10:06 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Cheryl[_5_]
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Default 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.

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e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e
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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