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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat pulling fur out - allergies?

15 replies

SallyWD · 30/05/2023 18:40

I wonder if anyone can help. For the last few weeks my cat has been pulling out clumps of fur when he grooms. He had very thick fur but it's now looking sparse, almost bald in a couple of areas. I've been googling and I think it could well be an allergy. It's coincided exactly with my DD's hay-fever symptoms and I read cats can also have pollen allergies which usually presents as itchy skin. I don't think it's stress because there have been no changes at home at all.
Has anyone experienced this and what did you do? I'll probably take him to the vets soon but I heard they often treat it with steroids, which is not a long term solution.
I've just ordered some natural anti-allery drops online and they had very good reviews. Has anyone tried these and did they work? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 30/05/2023 18:46

I’ve tried those drops on my cat. Didn’t work.

What did work was flea medication. Even though she 100% doesn’t have fleas, it seems to work. I wonder if it’s killing the dust mites or something that’s triggering her

tsmainsqueeze · 30/05/2023 18:48

Vet nurse here ,are you up to date with a POM flea preparation from the vet ?
It could be a flea allergy , you may not see any fleas yourself , some cats will react quite severely to just the odd flea bite and get quite a nasty dermatitis .
The sooner you are on top of it the quicker the cats skin will settle , keep going with flea treatment even when things improve.
If the vet chooses to use steroids they will likely be a low dose that gradually reduces , sometimes these are the answer for something so itchy , they will help to break the itch scratch cycle.

Original poster
SallyWD · 30/05/2023 18:54

Many thanks both. He had a flee treatment a couple of weeks ago. It was Bravecto plus (prescription from vet) and it's supposed to last 3 months. First time we've used that one. He was scratching/pulling fur before the flee treatment so I don't think it was a reaction to that. Ok, it looks like I should take him to the vets.

OP posts:
longtompot · 30/05/2023 20:03

Our cat has been doing the same, we thought through stress as she is quite a nervy cat. The vet thinks it's an allergy and has given her a steroid injection which, a few days on, seems to have slowed down the excessive grooming and hair pulling.

Original poster
SallyWD · 30/05/2023 23:09

longtompot · 30/05/2023 20:03

Our cat has been doing the same, we thought through stress as she is quite a nervy cat. The vet thinks it's an allergy and has given her a steroid injection which, a few days on, seems to have slowed down the excessive grooming and hair pulling.

I'm glad the steroids seem to be working for your cat. Sounds like they'd probably help my cat too.

OP posts:
DorritLittle · 30/05/2023 23:12

My cat has this and the vet said flea dust allergy, I think.

Original poster
SallyWD · 30/05/2023 23:37

DorritLittle · 30/05/2023 23:12

My cat has this and the vet said flea dust allergy, I think.

Interesting. How are they treating it? With steroids?

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 31/05/2023 07:41

Whereabouts on his body is he over grooming?

If it's his lower belly/willy area it could be a sign of urinary issues or pain.

Lougle · 31/05/2023 07:45

I have the same with my cat. He goes very sparse on the right hand side of his body from armpit to bottom and under his belly. His top, left side, head and chest are all fine. It grew back over winter but has gone in exactly the same place a couple of months ago.

Original poster
SallyWD · 31/05/2023 07:49

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 31/05/2023 07:41

Whereabouts on his body is he over grooming?

If it's his lower belly/willy area it could be a sign of urinary issues or pain.

It's both sides of his body. Hard to describe, but not the belly. Just the sides between the front and back legs.

OP posts:
Original poster
SallyWD · 31/05/2023 07:49

Lougle · 31/05/2023 07:45

I have the same with my cat. He goes very sparse on the right hand side of his body from armpit to bottom and under his belly. His top, left side, head and chest are all fine. It grew back over winter but has gone in exactly the same place a couple of months ago.

Maybe it's seasonal allergies with your cat?

OP posts:
Lougle · 31/05/2023 08:05

Maybe.

TheOGCCL · 31/05/2023 08:27

My cat (long deceased) used to do this but it was anxiety related and she was on cat Valium. Never really got sorted because ultimately it was because she didn’t like any our other cat.

JoanOgden · 31/05/2023 08:29

Mine does this over winter, then it mostly grows back in the summer. The vet tried a steroid injection once but it didn't make any difference. No sign of fleas (but I flea treat her regularly just in case).

I've come to the conclusion that she has mild Seasonal Affective Disorder and gets a bit cold and bored over the winter. Sometimes I fantasise about us both moving to Tuscany to improve her mental health Grin

Original poster
SallyWD · 31/05/2023 11:27

Thanks for all the responses. It's interesting to read others experiences and the different reasons why it might happen.
I've booked a vets appointment tomorrow.

OP posts:
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