February 5, 2010
What Causes A Happy, Well-adjusted Cat To Bite The Fur Off The Fronts Of Their Legs?
We have two cats , Noel and Willow, sisters, indoor cats, almost 7 years old. Noel bites the fur off the fronts of her legs, but Willow doesn’t. We thought it was an allergy, but it wasn’t. Both cats are happy and well-adjusted. Vet seems to think that it’s a “nervous habit” (very much like how humans sometimes bite their fingernails).
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Comments on What Causes A Happy, Well-adjusted Cat To Bite The Fur Off The Fronts Of Their Legs?
If there is a cat-only practice in your area, try there. This behavior has many different causes and it can be very difficult to figure it out. If it’s over a joint she may have some arthritis pain. Skin conditions often trigger it as well. Anti-anxiety medication does help some cats.
What food have you tried?
If it has corn or wheat it shouldn’t be considered cat food.
Try Innova EVO. It has limited ingredients and a high meat content which cats need.
Try supplements. California Natural Skin and Coat Supplement works wonders.
Go to http://www.naturapet.com for more info on both products.
Ark Naturals puts out pet supplements that might help. http://www.arknaturals.com.
Go to a pet store (Petsmart, etc) and get a spray bottle of “Bitter Apple”, and spray that on the places that Noel is biting. She will NOT like the taste, and if you do it long enough, it may break the “habit”.
I’ve used this on birds (feather plucking), cats and dogs(hair chewing), and IT WORKS!!
Try it……….can’t hurt…….should help!
Good luck.
Is anyone wearing perfume when holding the cat sometimes its that or it could be what shes eating or maybe fleas ,if your vet has checked for allergys i would definately get a different oppinion but i know my friends dog does that to himself and its an allegery ,so check again goodluck
I can remember one of my cats having this habit. Just keep an eye on her to spot anything unusual other than that you have done the right things. Perhaps she could be allergic to flea bites.
She may have fleas. Or maybe she once did and never got over it. But I think the vet is right.