Content
- know your cat
- environmental factors
- Food allergy
- parasites
- Why does this happen?
- Stress
- What can stress the cat?
- Illnesses
- Latest advice
Cats are affectionate animals that become the ideal company for many people, thanks to their hygiene habits and their independence, which allows us to believe that they have the capacity to take care of themselves with very little attention.
However, if there is something that all people who have a cat at home should understand from the start, it is that they are habit animals, so at the first sign of changes in their behavior, it is necessary to be aware of what triggered this behavior. .
That's why at PeritoAnimal we'll give you some advice on how to prevent your cat from pulling the fur, in addition to the possible causes and what measures you can take to end this situation.
know your cat
Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to spend time near a cat, the first thing you are sure to notice is how careful they are with your cat. personal hygiene, because in addition to sleeping, they invest a large part of their lives in sanitizing themselves.
The cat is not only a clean animal by nature, but veterinarians also agree that their personal hygiene is very important, because when the cat becomes very sick or reaches old age, the impossibility of carrying out its cleaning routine as before and the feeling dirty can make you fall into depression.
However, it is important to distinguish between grooming habits and behavior that denotes a problem in your pet, such as pulling out its fur.
When the cat plucks its own fur you can notice it in the strong tugs you make while cleaning, which causes hairless blemishes, irritation in the area and sometimes sores and redness on the skin.
That's why, in the face of this behavior, the most important thing is to detect which situations cause your cat this reaction, in order to solve the root problem. You reasons for a cat to pluck its fur they are divided as follows:
- environmental factors
- Food allergy
- parasites
- Stress
- Illnesses
environmental factors
like people, it is possible that your cat is allergic to certain elements that are found in their environment. You may be affected by an allergy if you see yourself constantly licking and pulling out the hair in an area, as it makes you itch.
Cats are usually allergic to elements present in the environment such as pollen from flowers and trees (so they are more often affected by discomfort in summer and spring) and dust mites. You should not rule out an allergy caused by human products, such as sprays, perfumes and other substances that are used near the animal.
These environmental allergies are difficult to diagnose even through laboratory tests, so you should:
- Avoid using aerosols, candles and derivatives near the animal.
- Weekly vacuum the house to get rid of dust and mites.
- Consult your veterinarian to prescribe the necessary medications to relieve your irritation and itching.
- Distract your cat with games so as not to pull the fur from the affected area.
- In case of skin infection, wash the area twice a day with saline solution.
Food allergy
Some cats may develop allergies to the food you give them, or be allergic to a specific food. This allergy can cause skin irritation, so to alleviate the discomfort the cat licks the area and ends up pulling the fur.
There are no laboratory tests for this type of allergy, so you and your veterinarian should apply a diet to detect which food is causing the problem.
The substance in question can take up to eight weeks to be completely expelled from the cat's body. It may be enough to eliminate certain foods or change the brand of processed food, or perhaps a hypoallergenic diet. Find out more about cat allergy by referring to this other article.
parasites
The presence of external parasites, such as the fleas and the ticks, will make the animal itchy, causing it to scratch, lick or pull out the fur to alleviate the discomfort.
Why does this happen?
When the parasite sucks your cat's blood, its saliva enters the feline's body as a powerful allergen, causing the itch.
The presence of fleas is easily noticed, not only because of the frequency with which the animal scratches itself, but also because of the very remarkable size of the parasite, in addition to the accumulation of black residues in the animal's fur. They are extremely dangerous as they can cause feline anemia.
In the presence of fleas you should:
- Consult the veterinarian to recommend the necessary product, which should be applied to all animals in the house for prevention.
- Acquire some environmental aerosol that kills eggs and fleas to spray at home, as they lodge in furniture, pillows and rugs.
Stress
Cats are prone to stress when they go through some change in your environment and, one of the ways to demonstrate it can be to start pulling the fur.
When the cat licks its fur, it releases endorphins, hormones that make it feel good, so it is usual that in situations that are stressful for it, the frequency of bathing increases, causing hairless areas where the cat licks itself more often.
What can stress the cat?
Usually when its owner or the person closest to him is on vacation, the arrival of another pet at home or a baby, another cat hanging around, moving house, changing routines and sometimes even moving certain objects around. home.
If it's just a vacation, the cat will get better when its owner returns. For new pets or babies, it is necessary to give the cat its space in the house and give it lots of pampering, to understand that it has not been replaced by the new family member.
O boredom it can also make the cat pull out its fur, so you should play with it and entertain it. If you are out of the house a lot during the day, leave toys and scrapers for your feline to entertain on its own.
Illnesses
Your cat can demonstrate that it has a disease through the action of pulling the fur. THE ringworm, a fungal infection, is one of these possible diseases, as it causes burning and itchy skin.
Also, some internal illness, such as kidney stones or urinary infections, also make the cat pluck the fur to eliminate the pain. This behavior can also be observed before hormonal or immune system problems, so it is necessary to consult a veterinarian.
Latest advice
- Never assume that your cat plucks its fur on a whim, as there is always a reason behind this behavior.
- In the face of any unusual behavior, consult your veterinarian to help you search for possible symptoms to help determine the root cause of the problem.
- When bringing a new home animal, introduce them calmly, you can place the new pet in a transport box and place it close to your cat to smell it and become familiar with its smell, or rub the newly arrived animal in a blanket that belongs to your cat. . The adaptation process is not simple for some felines, but with patience you will make it. If they fight, avoid leaving them alone until you are sure they won't get hurt.
- play with your cat. Never interrupt your sleep cycles, but enjoy the hours of the day that you spend awake to entertain for a few minutes. This will relieve your stress.
- Consult with your veterinarian about the possibility of placing pheromone diffusers in your home, as they soothe the cats.
- When you notice that your cat cleans itself without getting hurt, offer him prizes and praise to associate this with a desired behavior.
- If you see that you pull your fur and get hurt, stop him right away and distract him.
- During the treatment prescribed by the veterinarian, you may have to wear a Elizabethan necklace to make it difficult for you to access the areas affected by your licks. Notice how you feel about this new object, because if it becomes uncomfortable it will only increase your stress levels.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.