The most common causes of fur pulling are flea infestation, allergies and infections, and these should be ruled out with a full veterinary check-up before assuming that anxiety is the cause. If your cat has fleas, you can implement natural methods of flea control. In the case of allergies, switching to a hypoallergenic diet may do the trick. Infections and other medical problems can be treated by your veterinarian.
If the cat is not suffering from parasites, allergies, skin conditions such as fungal or bacterial infections, or other medical problems, the fur pulling is probably caused by anxiety.
Many cats become anxious as a result of major life changes, such as moving house or the arrival of a new baby or another pet. Some cats are anxious due to deprivation or abuse in their past. And like people, some cats are simply genetically predisposed to be anxious.
Cats spend up to one-quarter of their waking lives grooming, and some biting or aggressive licking is normal. However, fur pullers take this further, using their teeth to remove chunks of fur, usually leaving bald patches or areas with short, stubby fur. In some cases, the exposed skin becomes red and irritated as well. Once you have taken your cat for a check-up to rule out other causes, you know that you are dealing with Psychogenic Alopecia.
Psychogenic Alopecia can usually be treated by making changes to your cat’s environment. However, in severe, resistant cases, pharmacological intervention may be required. The following are the most common treatments for Psychogenic Alopecia:
Don’t reward the behaviour. Providing attention in response to aggressive grooming may act as reinforcement, ensuring that your cat continues to pull out her fur. Punishing the behaviour is also a bad idea, as punishment increases anxiety in cats, which will increase rather than decrease the behaviour.
Anxiety-induced fur pulling sometimes accompanies other stress-related behaviours, such as aggression toward other pets and people. For information on causes of and treatments for feline hostility, see Treating Aggression in Cats.
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