Question about strange cat behavior

[Jersey Devil]

Our 12 year old female calico cat has been doing something very strange - picking (biting we think) the fur off her chest just below her neck right down to the bare skin. There are no bumps or lumps we can feel on her and she is otherwise very healthy and active for her age. She just keeps picking that one spot bald until she gets to the skin. Several years ago she did it at another spot under one of her front legs near her "armpit". Took her to the vet, nothing there and he suggested it was psychological, like a human who picks at his/her eyebrows or plucks hair out of their head.

Is my cat nuts?

[Kamika]

1. yes

ohwell

[lcordero]

2. obsessive compulsive behavior?

[jenk]

3. my dog used to do something similar

he kept scratching a spot until it became red, I think he had a mild skin infection and we were able to treat it. I guess it's not a problem unless she scratches until it becomes irritated or bleeds, then take her to a vet pronto.

[hyphenate]

4. Picking at hair is often

a sign of stress. Has there been some upheaval in the household lately that wasn't there before?

The holidays could have been one case--a new baby, a new pet, moving, arguments, etc. My friend passed away in June, and I ended up taking her cat, who was used to only one other cat and my friend. Suddenly, she was plunged into a multi-cat household with only one person around all the time. She had picked a straight line down her back bald, and also had diarrhea. Both are signs that she wasn't happy, and was not adjusting to the house. Now, seven months later, she's doing better, but there is just one of the other cats, Jean-Luc, that she still doesn't get along with.

I would consider isolating the cat for a week or so, where other cats and people won't cause additional stress. Feed her in a separate room, and gradually open the room she's in for periods of time for her to re-get used to the house and other people and animals. The hairpulling should gradually stop altogether, and then she can be integrated back into the household.

[Jersey Devil]

6. Hmm, I think that's it

My daughter was up from Florida for about 8 days over the Christmas holidays with her two very large Boxer dogs. We didn't see our cat for a week except for catching a fleeting glimpse of her under a couch or hiding under my office desk. She'd done this in the past a few times as I said but it became a lot worse very recently, coinciding somewhat with the doggy visit.

[hyphenate]

9. Yeah

Sounds like the dogs may have been the catalyst. If they're gone now, she may calm down. An animal behaviorist told me about something called "Rescue Remedy" which is a homeopathic remedy for stress, and it's available in a lot of health food stores or places where you can buy vitamins. It's a little expensive, but you only use about 4 drops to mix with their meal and it helps to ease stress. Sort of a natural anti-depressant. It's not just for animals, though--it's for people as well.

You can find out more at their website--http://www.bachflower.com/rescue_remedy.htm

I think it helped poor Amanda out a bit with her stressful beginning with my other cats.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. all cats are nuts

but just the other day i was reading about old cats getting dementia and that there is something for dogs that if said demented cat took it could get better

[nini]

7. My cat does the same thing when winter starts..

it's always in Nov/Dec and it's the lower part of his stomach.

No redness, no sores.. no nothing. It's already growing back now.

The dr. wanted to give him steroids to help if it was itchy, but I decided against it since it's a seasonal thing and he doesn't seem uncomfortable.

wierdo cat of mine :-)

[benburch]

8. Cat skin condition...

I forget what it is called exactly, but there is a skin condition that causes cats to do just this to skin around the mouth, ears, or neck.

Treatment is regular steroid shots.

It does not usually go away, though it may lessen after a few shots.

-Ben