Licking Lower Belly In Between Legs Until Raw

Tonka, our 13 year old big fluffy, domestic longhair ginger, is having problems with continually licking himself raw in the same spot - on his lower belly between his legs. Not looking for serious medical advice, but rather some ideas around what could be the problem so we can discuss with our vet. Background info that may or may not be relevant:

- tonka WAS diabetic, but has been in remission for about 4 months. His diabetes was brought on by cortisone shots meant to treat his allergies, which are now under control (see below)
- he is overweight, but not excessively so. He’s a big cat to begin with, and weighs about 16 pounds. We’re hesitant to change his diet significantly now that his diabetes is under control
- he is wearing a soft Kong cone pretty much full time. If we remove it, it isn’t long before he starts licking the spot again.
- he has allergies which manifest themselves most often in feline ulcers (his lip looks like it is receding), but that is under control via diet and a short stint on Atopica right now

We are at a loss. Could this be anxiety? A nervous tick? We thought it might be him trying to clean his bum but not making it, but he can still get there when he isn’t wearing his cone (sometimes).

Any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Is he using the litter box normally? I would get him checked for a UTI or crystals.

What's his diet like?

Possible food allergy / sensitivity? What are you feeding the cat? Diabetic cats, even those in remission, do well on a low carb preferably canned food only diet. With a diabetic cat in remission, you can usually tranisiton to a new low carb food without any effect on the blood glucose levels. Allergies / sensitivities to proteins like chicken is common as are allergies / sensitivities to grains and fillers.

My cat used to do the same thing and did it for years. She would lick to bear skin and sometimes she had sore skin and bruises.
Allergy tests (2) done, skin doctor seen, behaviouralist doctor seen.
Hundreds euro spent and all was down to anxiety and stress due to the forced co-living with another cat and to the presence of a neighbor's cat in our courtyard.
Every med failed, so we left her alone and it all went away on its own some years later.
Now she occasionally licks her belly, but it's totally manageable and it hasn't raw and bare skin anymore.

He is on a mix of dry and canned food - a hypoallergenic, low glucose, rabbit diet. It has been good for him so far: has stopped the lip allergy, which is why we think the stomach thing might not be an allergy? We’ve changed his litter a few times during this episode and nothing seems to have made a difference.

It is unlikely to be stress, as he is the only cat here and is king of the castle. We’re quiet and he is old...sleeps a lot. Maybe it is some type of chemical anxiety?

Often allergies go hand in hand with IBD or gastrointestinal issues. The fact that your cat is continuously licking the same spot between the legs raw may suggest some sort of inflammation or irritation in that spot. Have you had an abdominal ultrasound done?
You may want to discuss this with your vet.

I have one IBD kitty who used to pick and pull hair out of her flanks and sides. She no longer does this as she is now in good control.

Miloscivitch said:

It is unlikely to be stress, as he is the only cat here and is king of the castle. We’re quiet and he is old...sleeps a lot. Maybe it is some type of chemical anxiety?

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Stress can come from different directions.
He could be bored for lack of activities or amusements, hence the stress.
One of the doctors I visited adviced me to add some tricks and plays in the house, like toy-tubes with dry food inside. The cat has to to play with the tube to have a kibble released.
I was also adviced to put Feliway diffusers in the house, but this didn't work... apart for the shop who was selling the refilling bottles!

My poor cat is doing the same (but in other spots, too). It appears related to a food allergy, but there could also be other causes. Considering he has a known allergy, I suspect it may be related to allergies for your moggie. You may also try treating him for fleas and keep brushing him out.

How are your big boy’s thyroid levels? My Mao groomed her belly excessively to the point of baldness until her thyroid levels were regulated. If you’ve not had Tonka’s thyroid levels checked recently, you might consider doing so. We finally diagnosed Mao’s hyperthyroidism around age 14. It ultimately led to the chronic kidney disease which killed her and I wish we had diagnosed the hyperthyroidism earlier.

Animal Endocrine Clinic: Top 10 Signs of Hyperthyroidism in Cats

I have a very allergic cat. She was also making boo boos. I would say try and get away from the cone it’s like if you were itchy all the time and you couldn’t scratch its even more torturous. Talk with your vet about a food trial only using hydrolized protein food. You do this for six months and only feed that food. If symptoms resolve you know it’s a food allergy. Then you slowly introduce one protein at a time for months and see how they do only in that one if they do well you add another etc etc. it’s a very long process. I had my cat tested for allergies doing skin prick test. She’s allergic to dust mites, storage mites, and a bunch of trees. We now have her on atopica and weekly allergy shots and her itching is very well managed. Some kitties do well with only Claritin or Zyrtec regular never d that will kill them but again discuss with your vet. If you are using scented cat litter that could cause it or candles or room sprays in your house. Even dryer sheets used in their blankets can cause a reaction. Hope this helps! It’s awful seeing our babies suffer being so itchy.