Why does my cat groom herself so much?
Sometimes, cats groom themselves too much because they like the way it feels or because it gives them comfort. Other times, it could be a psychological problem. Maybe your cat feels anxious or stressed, so she turns to grooming as a way of relieving that anxiety.
How much time does your cat spend grooming?
Cats typically spend up to 50 percent of their waking hours grooming, but too much of a good thing can turn into a destructive habit. Here are some tips to help determine if your cat is grooming excessively and what you can do to help manage the behavior.
What to do when your cat is over grooming?
You can help by working on ways to distract or soothe her when she starts to over groom, like a fishing rod game or some other form of cat fun play therapy. Pheromone plugs in the rooms she spends most time in can be helpful as they replicate a cat’s facial ‘friendly’ pheromones.
What happens if your cat licks itself all the time?
Cats typically spend up to 50% of their waking hours grooming, but excessive amounts of licking, biting, chewing, or scratching may mean that your cat’s self-grooming habits have become problematic. If your cat is licking too much, they can lose fur in strips along their back, belly, or inner legs.
What happens when a cat over grooms itself?
But rather than developing ulcers the way some people do, stressed cats may resort to overgrooming. What Is Overgrooming in Cats? Overgrooming is when a cat spends an abnormally large amount of time obsessively grooming itself. This can result in hair loss and skin sores.
Is there such a thing as too much grooming?
Cats tend to groom a lot throughout the course of the day. Is there such a thing as too much grooming, though? Here’s a list of reasons why your cat may be excessively grooming these days, and what you can do about it. Grooming is a normal part of every cat’s life, but some cats take the behavior to the extreme and cause hair loss or skin damage.
What should I do about my cat’s excessive grooming?
Treating your cat’s excessive grooming is incredibly important. If left untreated, it can result in hair loss that exposes your cat’s skin to environmental harm or skin infections if the skin is broken during grooming. Parasite-induced scratching is treated by attacking the parasites.
When to call the vet if your cat is overgrooming?
Know that any treatment solutions for psychogenic alopecia may not be permanent. If your cat has a tendency to overgroom, this may recur at any time and could be an indicator that your cat is feeling stressed again. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately.
