Cat Pulling at Fur; Bare Spots

"cybercat" wrote in message
...

"Allan Smith" wrote in message
...
cybercat,

Get your **** straight before you comment on things you know too little
about.

Apartments are not houses. The Vet treated the problem appropriately. If
you don't like that, go after the Vet. Indoor cats certainly do get
fleas, especially if they are already there, which is typical of
self-barbering on entry of new quarters. And, you can bring them in on
your clothes if you garden or work in the yard in the warmer climates.

Why don't your research Psychogenic Alopecia before attacking the
messenger? You might start here on the list of priorities to rule-out in
differential doagnosis. Allergies are the last on the list. I noted the
Vet did not prescribe allergy treatments in the form of oral steroids -
he simply took action to rule out the first three differentials first.

http://www.petplace.com/cats/psychog...ats/page1.aspx

Yours is called and "ad hominem" attack btw. A.k.a., shoot the messenger
if you don't like the message or if it is different from yours. Usually
caused by resentment of new information or knowledge. Otherwise known as
a "self-inflicted learning disability".

Get over your ego. Learn new things.


You're an idiot. Now *that* is an ad hominem attack. You stated that
stress is not a likely cause of the excessive grooming that causes fur
loss. This is horse ****. You just got here, but we've been discussing
topics like this--and this particular topic--for years.


Stress certainly can be a factor and in this case with the recent move more
than likely the cause. The vet took care of another possible cause when he
treated for fleas. I haven't personally ever seen a cat yank out clumps of
fur because of a flea infestation however. I have seen hair loss associated
with stress, allergies and pain. I tend to start with the most obvious cause
first so would guess this is a stress issue. Perhaps there was an animal
living in the apartment previously and the smell is upsetting the cat or
it's just the new location that's doing it. They could try feliway as that
can take the edge off (keeps my guys sane with kitties coming and going in
my foster room). A really thorough cleaning and shampooing of carpeting
might help but using unscented products as adding yet one more new scent
could only exascerbate the problem.

W

"Nel" wrote in message
...

Jan 11, 2010: Hello, question for folks; any input on what this issue
could be? My daughter and her BF moved to an Apt, and they brought his
4yr female cat. Prior, the cat lived with the BF parents, while he was
in college. Now, "Enzo" seems to be licking & pulling at her fur; my
daughter reports tufts aroudn the apt and some bare spots starting.
They just took her to the Vet, and they have changed food (from MeowMix
to something different), and even though she did not have fleas, they
gave her "Advantage" flea topical medicine.
Any ideas what may cause her to do this, & 'solutions' (beside, "Get
Her a Friend"...) Thanks...


How long ago did your daughter move into the apartment and when did she see
the vet. Whereabouts is the cat pulling the fur from and are there any
scabby bits?

Your vet first has to rule our any allergies before treating for stress.
Cats can be come highly allergic to a single flea bite and their diet can
cause allergies.

The cat will have been affected emotionally from the move so a Feliway
diffuser will help relieve her anxiety.
Alison

Suddenly, without warning, Allan Smith exclaimed (1/11/2010 3:31 PM):
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to fleas. The
new quarters probably have a flea infestation (it may be that the former
tennants moved away from them). For some cats, it only takes one single
flea. Wait the flea medicine to work. Advantage is an excellent choice.

Does your daughter have itchy lesions resembling mosquito bites, especially
on the legs or lower torso?

It is highly unlikely that a remakably-sudden food allergy is the cause, and
it is also highly unlikely that stress is a factor. That is not the way cats
react to stress.


Actually, both statements are incorrect. Humans and cats (and other
animals) can develop allergies to anything, at any time.

And, cats quite often react to stress with self-destructive habit. My
cat did - it's called fur-mowing. Mine developed a naked belly from
over-grooming. She had no fur from as far as she could reach on her
chest, down to near her belly button.

To answer the OP, treating for fleas and trying new food are usually the
first things vets will try if a cat is fur-mowing. They might also
suggest a change in environment, if that's possible. If none of those
have any effect, they can put the cat on drugs for a short length of
time - they tried my cat on ClomiCalm first, which she reacted badly to-
made her so logy she couldn't function, so she was switched to
Amitryptyline (sp). The Ami worked, so we kept her on it through our
overseas move, until she'd settled in here. Not only did the fur-mowing
not return, but she recovered from the stress of traveling much quicker
than on previous overseas moves.

jmc

On Jan 11, 12:24*pm, Nel wrote:
Jan 11, 2010: *Hello, question for folks; *any input on what this issue
could be? *My daughter and her BF moved to an Apt, and they brought his
4yr female cat. *Prior, the cat lived with the BF parents, while he was
in college. *Now, "Enzo" seems to be licking & pulling at her fur; my
daughter reports tufts aroudn the apt and some bare spots starting.
They just took her to the Vet, and they have changed food (from MeowMix
to something different), and even though she did not have fleas, they
gave her "Advantage" flea topical medicine.
Any ideas what may cause her to do this, & 'solutions' *(beside, "Get
Her a Friend"...) *Thanks...

--
Nel

Maybe he needs a bath...? Or maybe your homes is not very clean. Do
you suffer from bedbugs? Because if you do you should know… they will
also attack your kitty there. Maybe you have a German cockroach
problem. Sometimes I’ve heard that they will lay eggs on sleeping
pets. They also chisel at your eyebrows while you sleep, too.
It sounds as though your boy is suffering. Try a bath once in a
while, and keep the outside door totally closed at night. That’s what
I would do if my cat was tearing at herself so…


TNMM

"jmc" wrote in message
...
Suddenly, without warning, Allan Smith exclaimed (1/11/2010 3:31 PM):
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to fleas.
The new quarters probably have a flea infestation (it may be that the
former tennants moved away from them). For some cats, it only takes one
single flea. Wait the flea medicine to work. Advantage is an excellent
choice.

Does your daughter have itchy lesions resembling mosquito bites,
especially on the legs or lower torso?

It is highly unlikely that a remakably-sudden food allergy is the cause,
and it is also highly unlikely that stress is a factor. That is not the
way cats react to stress.


Actually, both statements are incorrect. Humans and cats (and other
animals) can develop allergies to anything, at any time.

And, cats quite often react to stress with self-destructive habit. My cat
did - it's called fur-mowing. Mine developed a naked belly from
over-grooming. She had no fur from as far as she could reach on her
chest, down to near her belly button.

To answer the OP, treating for fleas and trying new food are usually the
first things vets will try if a cat is fur-mowing. They might also
suggest a change in environment, if that's possible. If none of those
have any effect, they can put the cat on drugs for a short length of
time - they tried my cat on ClomiCalm first, which she reacted badly to-
made her so logy she couldn't function, so she was switched to
Amitryptyline (sp). The Ami worked, so we kept her on it through our
overseas move, until she'd settled in here. Not only did the fur-mowing
not return, but she recovered from the stress of traveling much quicker
than on previous overseas moves.

jmc

Cats can get psoriasis too. And this is as hard to cure in cats as it is in
humans.

Suddenly, without warning, Bill Graham exclaimed (1/13/2010 12:50 AM):

"jmc" wrote in message
...
Suddenly, without warning, Allan Smith exclaimed (1/11/2010 3:31 PM):
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to
fleas. The new quarters probably have a flea infestation (it may be
that the former tennants moved away from them). For some cats, it
only takes one single flea. Wait the flea medicine to work. Advantage
is an excellent choice.

Does your daughter have itchy lesions resembling mosquito bites,
especially on the legs or lower torso?

It is highly unlikely that a remakably-sudden food allergy is the
cause, and it is also highly unlikely that stress is a factor. That
is not the way cats react to stress.


Actually, both statements are incorrect. Humans and cats (and other
animals) can develop allergies to anything, at any time.

And, cats quite often react to stress with self-destructive habit. My
cat did - it's called fur-mowing. Mine developed a naked belly from
over-grooming. She had no fur from as far as she could reach on her
chest, down to near her belly button.

To answer the OP, treating for fleas and trying new food are usually
the first things vets will try if a cat is fur-mowing. They might
also suggest a change in environment, if that's possible. If none of
those have any effect, they can put the cat on drugs for a short
length of time - they tried my cat on ClomiCalm first, which she
reacted badly to- made her so logy she couldn't function, so she was
switched to Amitryptyline (sp). The Ami worked, so we kept her on it
through our overseas move, until she'd settled in here. Not only did
the fur-mowing not return, but she recovered from the stress of
traveling much quicker than on previous overseas moves.

jmc

Cats can get psoriasis too. And this is as hard to cure in cats as it is
in humans.

I wasn't aware of that, fortunately it wasn't Meep's problem. Her belly
fur grew back and she's had no problems since.

"Allan Smith" wrote in message
...
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to fleas.


Nonsense. Psychogenic alopecia is hair loss caused by excessive grooming
for which no medical cause can be found. IOW, the cause is psychological
rather than physiological... that's why its called "p-s-y-c-h-o-g-e-n-ic".
Psychogenic alopecia is almost always caused by *stress* not fleas. Alopecia
due to fleas or flea allergic dermatitis or food allergies or some other
hypersensitivity are physiological causes.

Btw, the OP did say the cat does not have fleas. 'guess you missed that
part.

"Phil P." wrote in message
news

"Allan Smith" wrote in message
...
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to fleas.


Nonsense. Psychogenic alopecia is hair loss caused by excessive
grooming
for which no medical cause can be found. IOW, the cause is psychological
rather than physiological... that's why its called "p-s-y-c-h-o-g-e-n-ic".
Psychogenic alopecia is almost always caused by *stress* not fleas.
Alopecia
due to fleas or flea allergic dermatitis or food allergies or some other
hypersensitivity are physiological causes.

Btw, the OP did say the cat does not have fleas. 'guess you missed that
part.


This is what I meant when I told Allan, "you are an idiot." Thanks Phil.

Phil,

Yes, it is idiopathic. That's why there are differentials for diagnosis
(your "no other medical reason"). It's under "Conditions to rule out".

Read them in the referenced article. That's why I referenced it. Or maybe
post a reference that says something else.

Don't be afraid of reading references. You can learn things.

Allan

--
One asks, many answer, all learn -- Plato, on the 'Forum
---
True civility is when every one gives to every other one every right
that they claim for themselves.

"Phil P." wrote in message
news

"Allan Smith" wrote in message
...
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to fleas.

"Allan Smith" wrote in message
...
Phil,

Yes, it is idiopathic. That's why there are differentials for diagnosis
(your "no other medical reason"). It's under "Conditions to rule out".

Read them in the referenced article. That's why I referenced it. Or maybe
post a reference that says something else.

Don't be afraid of reading references. You can learn things.


Perhaps you should follow your own advice. *You* posted the bogus
information- not me. I was simply correcting your erroneous statement.
Apparently *you* need to learn things- especially if you intend to
grandstand in this newsgroup and educate all us ignorant cat
folk......

In your reply to Nel you said "99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia
(self-barbering) is due to fleas." -- which is blatantly *false*.
Psychogenic alopecia is *never* caused by fleas. Its origin is
*psychological*- hence the name "psychogenic"- in case you're wondering why
its called "psychogenic alopecia". The veterinary medical term for the
condition is "neurodermatitis" "Neuro" -- refers to nerves not fleas- get
it?

I'm surprised you suggested I post a reference. I have a reference or two-
but I don't think you'll like them because they both prove your statement
wrong. You know the saying: "be careful what you wish for"


FELINE PSYCHOGENIC DERMATOSES

Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology 6th ed. Chap 15; Pg 1055

"Psychogenic Alopecia and Dermatitis

Psychogenic alopecia or dermatitis (neurodermatitis) is an alopecia or
chromic skin inflammation produced by constant licking. When dermatitis is
not present, the complaint may be of excessive grooming. The dermatic form
results from more severe grooming.

CAUSE AND PATHOGENESIS
The primary abnormality is thought to be excessive grooming that may result
from an anxiety neurosis. The anxiety may be caused by psychological factors
such as displacement phenomena (e.g., a new pet or baby in the household, a
move to new surroundings, boarding, hospitalization, loss of a favorite bed
or companion, or competition for a social hierarchy position with other pets
in the household or in response to other cats entering the affected cat's
territory). There is a breed predilection for the more emotional breeds,
such as Siamese and Abyssinian, although all the Oriental breeds may be
predisposed. *Feline psyclrogenic alopecia has been proposed as an animal
model of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Feline psychogenic alopecia and dermatitis may be expressed in many ways.
Some cats lick vigorously at a particular area until the sharp barbs of the
tongue produce alopecia, abrasion, ulceration, and secondary infection.
Other eats lick and chew more gently or over a more widespread area so that
alopecia is the predominant lesion. Some cats actually chew at their hair or
skin, whereas others chew and pull their hair out.

It has been proposed that the stress may induce an elevation in the levels
of adrenocorticotropic hormone and melalxocyte-stimulating hormone, which
then causes increased endorphin production. The endorphins protect the
animal from abnormalities associated with chronic stress. However, their
narcotic, addictive-like effect may act to reinforce the abnormal grooming
behavior. Agents with dopaminergic or opioid effects may decrease excessive
grooming."




Small Animal Dermatology: A Color Atlas and Therapeutic Guide. Medleau &
Hnilica

Miscellaneous Cutaneous Disorders of the Cat Chap. 15 pg 252

Feline Psychogenic Alopecia (neurodermatitis)

FEATURES

A self-induced alopecia from excessive grooming (licking, chewing, and/or
pulling hairs out). The overgrooming is a manifestation of anxiety, but the
owners may be unaware of this behavior if the cat does not do it in their
presence. Uncommon in cats, with Siamese, Burmese, and Abyssinian cats
possi*bly predisposed.

Alopecia is produced when the cat grooms hard enough to remove hairs but not
vigorously enough to damage the skin. There is regional, multifocal, or
generalized hair loss. The alopecia may occur any*where on the body where
the cat can lick, but it most commonly involves the medial forelegs, inner
thighs, perineum, and/or ventral abdomen. The hair loss is often bilaterally
symmetrical, but remaining hairs do not epilate easily. Close inspection of
the alopecic skin reveals that the hairs have not actually fallen out; they
are still present and broken off near the surface of the skin. Rarely,
overly aggressive grooming may result in an area of abraded skin. Hair in
the feces and/or vomited hairballs may be seen.

Nope- Nothing about fleas.....

HAND



"Phil P." wrote in message
news

"Allan Smith" wrote in message
...
Nel,

99% of the time, Psychogenic Alopecia (self-barbering) is due to fleas.