What's wrong with my cat?

[Davie_GLA]

One of our cats has developed the below underneath and on the inside of her left rear leg.

Vet tomorrow but any ideas?

[bexVN]

Looks like she has licked herself raw.

My little Ren cat used to do this occasionally. Never really found a trigger (she wasn't a stressy cat etc) lampshade collar and few days of steroid cream used to sort it.

She started it very suddenly when about 12yrs old. Never before, poss triggered by an insect bite initially. Only happened 2 or 3 times.

Trip to vet sensible as they can make things like this worsen quickly. The animal that is, not the vet!

Edited by bexVN on Monday 2nd November 09:05

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Cats sometimes lick themselves bare if they have a flea allergy, which is quite common. Even a single bite can trigger severe itching.

Are you up-to-date on your flea treatment?

[Davie_GLA]

Just back from the vet and confirmed as stress related. £80 worth of medication later and she's had an injection and some cream. Also recommended a device that we plug in to try and keep her calm.

Follow up appointment in two weeks.

[ali_kat]

Feliway will be plug in, can also try Pet Rescue (can get from Amazon & others); that works better with my cats.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Davie_GLA said:

Just back from the vet and confirmed as stress related. £80 worth of medication later and she's had an injection and some cream. Also recommended a device that we plug in to try and keep her calm.

Follow up appointment in two weeks.

Before I met my wife, she was told for several years that her cat's occasional over-grooming was purely stress related. When she moved and the cat had another spell of it, the new vet immediately diagnosed a flea allergy. My wife had indeed been a bit lax with the flea treatment; once that was sorted out the over-grooming stopped very quickly and never came back. This vet said that flea allergies are quite common, and my wife was a little annoyed that no other vet had suggested it previously. Of course it was her fault, but if only she'd known it was a potential cause of the over-grooming then her cat wouldn't have suffered for so long.

If you're diligent and use a flea treatment regularly and are never late with it, then it won't be this - bit if you're at all unsure of when your cat last had its treatment then I really wouldn't rely on the stress diagnosis 100% - make sure you're up-to-date on flea treatment as well.

[Davie_GLA]

Thank you. Her treatment is up to date.

We introduced a new kitten a while ago and she never really got her head round it. She tolerates the other one but she is very laid back whereas the new one is batst crazy.

[bexVN]

That'll do it. Maybe worth trying some Zylkene and/or Kalmaid to help her stress levels. Ensure she has plenty of escape routes from younger cat and hiding spots. My Maine Coon has a hiding place on top of my kitchen cupboard.