Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Cats groom themselves for several reasons. They groom to remove debris from their fur, to regulate their body heat and to remove themselves from a stressful situation. If a cat is paying too much attention to one particular area, or if she is beginning to remove fur, the cat could be suffering from too much stress, fleas or other environmental factors. Consulting a veterinarian is the best way to determine what is causing a cat's obsessive grooming.
Cats are naturally clean creatures and spend a large amount of their time grooming themselves. However, when a cat grooms itself to the point of baldness, it may indicate a problem called psychogenic alopecia. This essentially means that the cat is losing hair due to excessive and compulsive grooming.
If your cat grooms herself excessively, she may develop bald patches or even sores from the licking. Excessive grooming may also increase hairballs. This cat behavior can stem from many causes--some may be readily apparent, and others not so apparent. Appropriate treatment for excessive grooming depends largely on the initial cause.
Cats lick their paws and use them to groom around the face. Learn how cats groom themselves from a veterinarian in this free pet care video.
When a cat starts grooming itself often enough to develop thin or bare spots, it’s important for the owner to pay attention. This behavior can be stress-related, but it can also indicate an underlying health problem. Here are some steps you can take to narrow down possible causes and try to address the issue.
