Causes and Treatments for Over-grooming in Cats: Before They Lick Themselves Bald

"Over-grooming" is not only caused by dermatitis. Sometimes, stress can lead cats to lick themselves to the point of baldness.

Excessive grooming can also lead to bleeding and infection. Naturally, you would want to stop this behavior if possible.

In this article, we will explain in detail the causes of over-grooming, the correct way to handle it, and methods to help your cat stop the behavior—essential knowledge for any cat owner.

What is Over-grooming?

Over-grooming is also known as "psychogenic alopecia" or "lick granuloma."

As the name suggests, it is a condition where a cat continuously licks the same area until the fur falls out. Bald patches often form on easily reached areas like the belly, hind legs, inner thighs, hips, and back.

By continuing to lick these bald areas with their rough tongues, cats can cause skin inflammation or even bleeding.

If the over-grooming does not stop, bacteria can enter the wounds and lead to suppuration. Additionally, because the cat swallows large amounts of hair, the frequency of vomiting hairballs increases, raising the risk of trichobezoars (hairball-related illness).

Cause of Over-grooming: "Skin Trouble"

When a cat has some kind of skin irritation and feels "itchy," they will not only scratch but also repeatedly lick the area to try to heal it.

Parasites like fleas and mites, infections like bacteria or fungi, as well as allergies and atopic dermatitis can all cause over-grooming.

Cause of Over-grooming: "Stress"

It is said that the majority of cases of over-grooming in cats are caused by "psychogenic stress."

While cats groom themselves to keep their fur clean, it also serves the purpose of calming themselves down. You may have noticed them licking their front paws after failing a jump or being scolded by their owner.

Cats are creatures that feel anxiety, tension, and stress from even minor changes in their environment. Unless the source of the stress is removed, they will continue to groom themselves endlessly without ever feeling calm, leading to over-grooming.

Addition of New Family Members or Pets

"A new baby," or "a new cat arriving" are major stressors for a cat. Because cats are very territorial, they may perceive living things other than their owner as enemies.

Changes in Living Environment

"Rearranging furniture" or "noisy construction sounds" are also changes in the environment to watch out for. For a cat, an environment that is different from usual is a major stressor. In particular, because cats have keen hearing, the operating noise of home appliances like air conditioners can also be stressful.

Disliking the Litter Box

"The litter box is dirty," "it smells like another cat," or "there are loud noises nearby"—being unable to defecate comfortably is a huge source of stress. Besides the litter box, cats also need calm environments for eating, sleeping, and sharpening their claws.

Lack of Exercise and Obesity

While we often imagine cats as loving to sleep, they feel stress if they cannot exercise sufficiently. Furthermore, if they become obese due to lack of exercise, the frustration of not being able to move freely can escalate into over-grooming.

Collars or Clothing That Don't Fit Well

Many cats wear collars as an escape prevention measure. However, if the material is hard or heavy, it may be putting a burden on the cat. Similarly, cat clothing that doesn't suit their skin can also cause stress.

Prevention and Countermeasures

To prevent over-grooming, it is important to create an environment where stress is easily released and an environment where they are less likely to feel stressed.

Increase Playtime

First, try increasing the time you spend playing with your cat. Even 10 minutes a day is fine—spend plenty of time playing with their favorite toys. Playing with items that stimulate their hunting instinct, such as feather wands or electric toys, is recommended.

Engage in Skinship

If you notice your cat persistently licking the same spot, casually approach them and give them a brushing. Firm petting or massage is also fine.

However, the "hip/butt pats" that many cats enjoy are said to be a potential cause of over-grooming. While the causal relationship with over-grooming is unclear, long sessions of patting are not recommended.

Improve the Living Environment

Review whether the areas where they eat, use the litter box, and sharpen their claws are comfortable for your cat. If it seems they don't get along with other cats, separating their litter boxes and feeding stations is effective. It is also good to have one scratching post for each cat.

Also, create a dark, cramped space in a quiet area as a refuge for your cat. The top of a cat tree or inside a closet works perfectly.

Manage Weight

Because cats are muscular, they are prone to obesity. Try to provide an environment where they can exercise without strain—using cat trees or wall steps—while maintaining proper dietary management.

Choose Skin-Friendly Collars and Clothing

Hard, heavy, or unhygienic collars can cause stress and are a leading cause of "collar baldness."

If you are using leather or vinyl collars, replace them with soft, lightweight cotton or linen collars that minimize skin irritation. Similarly, if you put clothes on your cat, choose items made with materials designed to be gentle.

Also, keep cat collars clean and consider replacing them with new ones every six months.

How Do I Stop Over-grooming?

To stop your cat’s over-grooming, the best approach is to remove the source of stress, as introduced in the previous section.

Go to the Vet if There is Skin Damage

If your cat has redness, bleeding, or dandruff on their skin due to over-grooming, symptomatic treatment is necessary. Consult a veterinarian as treatment may involve external medications like antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, or oral medication like anti-allergy or pain relievers, and in some cases, surgery.

If you really cannot stop the over-grooming, your vet might prescribe medication to help them stay calm. Since an underlying illness could be the cause, regular health checkups are also important.

Managing Life Until They Stop Over-grooming

Over-grooming is a behavior where the cat hurts themselves. They may want to stop but find they can't, causing the condition to worsen through repeated licking.

To break such a painful cycle, using an Elizabethan collar or cat skin protection garment can be highly effective.

● Light and soft Elizabethan collars with minimal stress

Wearing an Elizabethan collar physically prevents grooming. While gently protecting bald spots and wounds, it can help the cat break the habit of licking.

Conventional Elizabethan collars can obscure the cat's vision, cause them to bump into things, and make eating or using the litter box difficult, which actually adds to the stress.

We have developed a "Light and Soft Elizabethan Collar for Cats" specifically for cats working hard on their recovery. Being made of fabric, it is soft and produces no loud noise or jarring impact if they bump into anything.

● Cat skin protection garments to safeguard skin from over-grooming

For cats that aren't used to an Elizabethan collar, cat skin protection garments are also recommended.

Poponeko's "Cat-friendly Skin Protection Garment (Coverall)" is lightweight and gentle on the skin, making it a comfortable choice even for sensitive cats.

Summary

The cause of over-grooming is largely attributed to "psychogenic stress."

Furthermore, cats tend to groom excessively only when their owner isn't looking. Very often, owners only notice the problem after the cat has already developed "bald patches" or "bleeding."

Over-grooming is not a behavior that can be fixed through training. It is important to identify the cause of your cat's stress and improve it as much as possible.

If they simply cannot stop the habit of licking, use Elizabethan collars or skin protection garments effectively. However, remember that for cats, both Elizabethan collars and protective clothing are sources of stress themselves. To keep the burden on them as low as possible, choose items made of gentle materials and use them correctly.