Why is my cat pulling clumps of fur out?

[Wharm14]

Wondering if the power of Mumsnet can help us here. Our cat has started pulling clumps of his fur our which we are finding all over the house. He doesn't visibly have any bald patches and he is an indoor cat (has been since we got him nearly a year ago), and this has only started in the last couple months. We wondered if it was because of all the Xmas decs but we've figured out it started before we decorated the house. There's been no real change in our routine and we haven't had hordes of visitors over the holidays, only my MIL for the last two days (she didn't stay with us, so no change in nighttime routine for the cat) and we've been out with her and the cat seemed to like her anyway as he came and sat on her lap all night!
We're worried that he is suffering and want to help him. He seems ok in himself apart from the fur clumps, he had a couple of "accidents" on the carpet recently which we put down to a dirty litter box, or could this be connected in someway?
Hope you can help, thanks

[Hurr1cane]

Is he short or long haired

[SacredHeart]

Is he up to date with flea and worm treatment?

[Pointlessfan]

Mine does it too but we have a crawling baby so vet thinks it's stress poor thing. We have made him his own chill out zone upstairs.
Could anything be bothering your cat?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

Any new cats in the neighbourhood? One of ours got stressed when next doors cat started intimidating ours by pressing his face up to windows and watching them eat and use their trays, we had to move bowls and trays out of sight of windows.

[Wharm14]

Thanks for all the messages. He is short haired and is coming up for being due a worm treatment but up to date with flea treatments. His bowl is in the kitchen out of sight of any other cats ( no outside windows) and I've not seen any other cats in the back garden, which is the only place he can really see or be intimidated by any other cats. He has his own bed on the landing ( which he happily goes to each night of his own accord when we come up to bed) and rules the house in all other respects, naturally! I made a bean bag for my hubby to put his feet up on and the cat immediately took up residence, thinking it was his, he loves it!
I might look into creating a chill out zone, no babies or children here yet but it's on the cards so I'd like him to be as happy as possible before he has to cope with that as well.

[iamthenewgirl]

Sounds like stress.

Our old cat went through a stage of this. Fairly certain it was his diet as we were feeding him dried food and he didn't have many teeth. I think he was struggling with the food and feeling hungry!

Not sure what to suggest. Maybe track it back and try to recall everything that has happened? Cats are very sensitive souls.

[SacredHeart]

If he is up to date with flees and worming then a bet check-up is your next call absolutely.

Cats don't lose clumps of hair for no reason and a medical issue is far easier to treat then stress. Moreover if the car is pulling out hair but due to a medical issue (irritation etc) you need to sort it before it becomes a habit.

[SacredHeart]

Damn phone!

If he's up to date with fleas and worms a vet check-up is needed.

[Shockers]

Our cat does this when we go on holiday. My sister comes to look after the animals and house, but I think he just misses us. He looks as though he's been attacked when we get home. I asked the vet last time and she's going to give him something to calm him down next time we go away. She also recommended a Feriway (sp?) plug in.

[RubbishMantra]

Try Zylkene for a period of time, just to get him out of the hair-pulling habit, twinned with some Feliway diffusers.