Does this cat look stressed to you? It could be.
She didn’t looked stressed. Not a bit anxious or even nonplussed. She was a cat, after all. But I was convinced stress was the cause of this kitty’s conundrum.
Camo (because she was brown, tan and white) looked quite peaceful as I completed my exam. She had been brought to my office because she was chewing the fur off of her stomach. “It must be fleas.” her owner remarked. I couldn’t find any evidence that fleas were the cause. The typical symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis in cats include hair loss on the back and tail base, scabs around the face and neck and tiny flecks of black debris called “flea dirt.” Camo was clean. Besides, her owner was religious in applying Camo’s monthly heartworm and flea preventive. “Maybe it doesn’t work anymore.”
It appeared as though Camo had surgically removed the hair from her tummy area. Straight lines, smooth skin, a perfect bikini wax. Her owner reported that she would catch Camo licking several times a day. “Probably eating the fleas.”
Camo’s mom was right. Cats that repeatedly, persistently, compulsively groom themselves most commonly have an underlying medical problem. Demodectic mange, food allergies, atopy (inhalant allergies) and fleas are the usual suspects. There was something in Camo’s medical history that made me more suspicious of stress.
60% to 80% of a good doctor’s diagnosis comes from a thorough medical history. Whatever you do, be sure to tell everything, however embarrassing or unpleasant, to your veterinarian and doctor. It helps us help our patients better.
In passing Camo’s pet parent had mentioned her address had changed. Change is challenging for many cats. The old saying “cats are creatures of habit” is true. My two cats each have their own chair, bed and if we change something (anything) it’s at the risk of washing a bedspread (or two).
As I discussed Camo’s condition further, I discovered that the move was the result of a recent divorce. Turns out Camo had been a bit of a “daddy’s girl” and wasn’t handling the separation well. In fact, the chewing had begun when things started getting a bit heated at home.
I recommended some additional environmental enrichment in the form of food puzzles, remote-controlled toys and laser (FroliCat), daily owner-administered massage (“Camo cuddles”), a couple of facial pheromone diffusers (“Camo calmers”), a low-carbohydrate diet (“Camo crunchies!”) and playing soothing classical music whenever Camo was left alone. In addition, Camo’s favorite chair was taken from her old house and placed in the new condo. Within two weeks of starting these simple treatments, Camo was feeling better. Within two months most of her hair had regrown.
The moral of the story is the importance of a good medical history. Without it, I would’ve pursued a medical condition and perhaps used drugs that wouldn’t help. While Camo’s case was certainly the exception (hair loss in cats, think pests and pollens), we can’t forget how sensitive and emotional our dogs and cats really are. Changes in our world affect them, sometimes deeply. A calm Camo is a healthy Camo. And don’t dare move my Freddie’s chair!
(Freddie is the kitty in the picture above. That’s HIS chair.)
