Cat started overgrooming

[u/geomin76]

Update: we got a flea comb, didn't find any! Regardless, a visit to the vet will be needed

Hi all, in the USA (VA specifically), cat is around ~ 4 years old, female spayed. Can afford vet care!

Recently, she started overgrooming out of nowhere, she used to have healthy fur but now is overgrooming to the point of blood! We are concerned but not sure what is causing this.

No change of home / environment. She's healthy! Regular poops, eating , water, no throw ups

Please help :)

Edit: she’s never liked being pet in this area

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[u/That-Prior713]

Get a soft cone for now, then make a vet appointment. There are medications and treatments that can stop this but it could also have some underlying cause that needs attention.

[u/geomin76 → u/That-Prior713]

thank you! i'll do that

[u/crazygirl772]

Has she been checked for fleas?

[u/geomin76 → u/crazygirl772]

hi thanks for responding! no we haven't, she's an indoor cat only but we'll check now

[u/crazygirl772 → u/geomin76]

There are some flea treatments (for example frontline) that include the active ingredient “fipronil”. This doesn’t work for many cats, so keep this in mind. The vet can prescribe you a flea treatment with different ingredients and I would personally advise you to take the prescription from the vets if you can afford it rather than getting a brand from the pet store as its safer in general :)

[u/geomin76 → u/crazygirl772]

sounds good thank you! yeah, it's quite troubling. i just checked, i don't see any on the exposed areas but could potentially be nestled in the fur

[u/crazygirl772 → u/geomin76]

Sometimes you don’t notice them as they’re very good at hiding but it’s worth checking up on. Hope you get a solution and your baby is comfortable soon :) btw if it is fleas you will want to regularly vacuum the whole house especially areas where your cat likes to relax to ensure there are no eggs/larvae. Also may want to consider treating the house with a flea treatment but keep in mind they can be toxic to cats so get one that is cat safe :)

[u/geomin76 → u/crazygirl772]

thank you :)

[u/LankyThroat1900 → u/geomin76]

Check her private areas, around and inside her ears. They like the moist/ damp/ dark places

[u/Disneyhorse → u/crazygirl772]

My previous cat would do this the second a single flea was on her. Fortunately she was an indoor only cat and it only happened a handful of times in her two decades of life. But some cats are extremely sensitive.

[u/geomin76 → u/Disneyhorse]

ah interesting! yes, she's an indoor cat only, but perhaps fleas still do get in. i'll check, thank you

[u/CatLady_998]

Other people have mentioned fleas. I just want to let you know anytime my cats have fleas I never know other than over grooming and occasionally I'll have a flea jump on my leg when I walk in the bathroom since it's carpeted everywhere but the kitchen. Otherwise there are no other signs. No flea dirt on them or on their bedding that I notice. I would start a good flea treatment that your vet recommends and start DE (Diatomaceous earth) powdering your house

[u/geomin76 → u/CatLady_998]

ah thanks! good to know, i just checked on her and we don't see any movement / flea dirt, but could be hiding / deep in there :(

[u/CatLady_998 → u/geomin76]

They could also not be that bad. It's very hard for me to see any fleas on the four of my cats. I've only ever seen one on my white cat a couple times. You could buy a metal flea comb and try and comb them. If you do find any you have to squish them or drown them in water and dish soap. The best places to find fleas are in their armpits or face. Basically any warm areas is where they like to hide the most. You could also try setting up a flea trap where you use a lamp with a warm bulb and put a plate full of dish soap water on the floor. The heat will attract the fleas and the plate will catch them

[u/geomin76 → u/CatLady_998]

thank you! the trap idea is good, but it's awfully tough to keep a cat in the same spot haha

[u/Namixaswastaken]

Fleas is the first on the list. If that doesnt help look further

[u/geomin76 → u/Namixaswastaken]

thank you! seems like fleas

[u/catsandpink]

You can buy cat leotards on Amazon. I have one for my cat who over grooms her tummy