Over-grooming
in Cats
 •
Luescher et al (1991) found that the commonest stereotypy
in cats is self-mutilation. It is thought that stress is a
contributory factor in self-mutilation such as over-grooming.
One of the other most obvious signs of stress is inappropriate
urination.
To
treat the problem the cause of the stress must be identified.
The cat may become stressed for a variety of reasons, which
include; a new pet, person in the house, a new dog/cat in
the neighbourhood, a new piece of furniture or carpet, a new
visitor and confinement e.g. perhaps when travelling.
This
type of problem can usually be treated by a desensitization
regime. Your vet should be able to refer you to a qualified
behaviourist for this. However, using Feliway (available from
your vets) may help. The Feliway diffuser releases pheromones,
which may pacify the cat.
- If
the cat is consistently biting around its tail and anus
then the problem may be due to blocked anal glands. The
anal glands can be found either side of the anus and discharge
a substance when the cat urinates and defecates; this
scent is used to mark territory.
- The
anal glands may also act as dustbins, by collecting any
waste matter in the system. This waste matter can be a
result of an unsuitable diet. Many people believe that
a high fibre diet can help, however changing the cat to
a highly digestible diet that produces very little waste
should help.Unsuitable
diet may also lead to over grooming.
Grooming
between cats
Allogrooming
is the act of grooming another individual. It is commonly
seen in primates, however it also occurs between cats, especially
those in the same house.
Reluctance
to groom
There
are a few reasons why a cat may not groom itself, including;
•
pain when stretching to groom (this may be caused by arthritis
or other conditions)
• depression (as seen during some illnesses such as
cat flu)
• ulcers/lesions on the tongue (this would also make
eating painful, so beware of this sign)
• a greasy oily coat (caused by an unsuitable diet)
The
condition known as ‘Stud-tail’ may also stop grooming.
Although this condition is usually only seen in intact males,
it can be seen in females and neutered animals. The problem
is characterised by the over-production of a greasy discharge
at the base of the tail. This makes the fur greasy with an
unpleasant odour.
However,
if the cat is fed on a good quality natural diet then these
discharges should not occur.
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