Member

Posts: 24
From:UK
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-02-2004 02:18 PM         

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Hiya
I have a three year old spayed female who has started to lick all the fur off her belly and top of hind legs. I am not sure whether her tummy seems slightely distended too.
Otherwise she is fine eating drinking her normal self generally.
Does anyone have any ideas what this is. I orginally thought it was fleas but now I don't think so as all cats have been defleaed and so has the house.
Any advice or solutions?

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posted 02-02-2004 02:29 PM           

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I dunno but I hope she is okay:)
Let me know k?

------------------
Bitch In Black
Brandie
www.BitchInBlack.Cjb.Net

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Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-02-2004 04:11 PM         

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Sounds like it could possibly be an allergy but this kind of behavior can also be caused by stress. Is there anything you can think of that might be causing her stress?

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-02-2004 11:49 PM         

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Sounds like an allergy. Check out this article and see if it helps:
http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/cat_skin_hair_problems.htm#itchyskindisorders

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-02-2004 11:49 PM         

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when you accidently click twice it posts your message twice! oops.....

[This message has been edited by fleafly (edited 02-02-2004).]

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Member

Posts: 24
From:UK
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-03-2004 04:23 AM         

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We have been having alot of problems with our next door neighbours dog barking all the time do you think this could be the cause she has always been a nervy cat.

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Member

Posts: 201
From:Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 02-03-2004 05:49 AM         

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Hi.

I just took my cat to the vet for the same thing.

The vet didn't give me a clear cut answer... but, the vet said that it could be dry skin that's a little irritated. (My cat has some dandruff.) Or, it could be allergies. My cat was licking inside her legs and on her one front paw.

My vet took a good look over my cat and said that she seems fine. I was told to buy Dermcaps(?) and squirt the liquid on the cat food. It's supposed to help their coat. I couldn't find that product and the one I did find didn't seem to help. I don't think the cats liked the taste, either.

The vet told me they'll run some blood tests if the fur loss spreads. Her fur loss hasn't spread so I'm keeping an eye on her for now.

I hope that helps a little bit.

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-03-2004 09:43 PM         

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The pattern you desribed sounds more like allergies than stress to me. I would ask the vet for a week or so worth of prednisone. If it clears up with the prednisone then you know it is allergies and can start to figure out what the allergy is. If it doesn't clear up then you can look for other causes, including stress.

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New Member

Posts: 3
From:
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 02-03-2004 09:56 PM         

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I posted one about the open sore on the back of my cat's neck. He ended up having Anemia and went on prednisone and Orbax. Its finally clearing up nicely and his fur is growing back in. The vet still has the biopsy report if he starts to get worse again and also would have to go to shots. But Red seems to be doing fine. So maybe ask about doing some test if it gets to be an open sore where he scratches it a lot.

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Member

Posts: 24
From:UK
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-04-2004 02:16 PM         

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Hiya
Thanks for all the replies. She doesn't have any open sores, nor does she seem itchy in the area. She just seems to wash alot down round her 'bits' and legs.
It's not really getting any worse and I am lothed to take her to the vet as it just makes her very very stressed. I phoned them and they said only bring her in if it is worse, I think for the moment they are putting it down to the fact she started overwashing because she had some fleas at the start of the year and she has got into a 'strange' washing pattern. Kinda like obessessive compulsive disorder for cats!!!

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 02-05-2004 10:40 AM         

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You could call and ask if they will give you the prednisone without you bring her in, thats what my vet did.

If this is still a hold over from the fleas the prednisone might even help. Some cats are really allergic to them and feel ithcy even after the fleas are gone.

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