Stress Licking/biting?

mayabear

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My cat has been licking her front legs and biting her paw for months now. The pics are actually from the summer. It's gotten a little better, but she's still missing hair on her paw and the leg hair is matted down. One of the vets said it was probably because of stress. Anyone seen this before?
 

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Furballsmom

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Hi!
In various forms, yes.

But, did the vet really look at her paw and take an x-ray? Could she have been bitten by an insect, or even a flea? Cats become allergic to fleas.

Have you tried changing litter, food, laundry soap, eliminated candles, spray cleaners, air freshener spray and diffusers? Did you get new furniture when this started or new carpet? Renovate the house, with paint and glue causing fumes?

Are there animals either inside or outside causing her stress? Can you set up a camera so you can see what's going on at night outside?

Have you tried any calming products? Or music, such as MusicForCats . com?
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi. In addition to all of the information Furballsmom Furballsmom gave you, I have a few questions.

You said the pics are from the summer and her leg/paw are a little better now. Maybe related to seasonal allergies?

Is she an indoor/outdoor cat and spends less time outside now that she did in the summer? Could also be related to seasonal allergies - or other forms of environmental allergies, or even exposures to stressors outside that aren't as prevalent now because she is indoors more?

The matting looks like wet fur from licking. Does it look the same when she is not licking?
 
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mayabear

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(This is an edit. Trying to write a post on a phone in a bumpy car is not easy!)

But, did the vet really look at her paw and take an x-ray? Could she have been bitten by an insect, or even a flea? Cats become allergic to fleas.

Not really. She’s had other issues that have been priority. One vet advised going to a dermatologist. Can cats get fleas from being an indoor only, single cat?

Have you tried changing litter, food, laundry soap, eliminated candles, spray cleaners, air freshener spray and diffusers? Did you get new furniture when this started or new carpet? Renovate the house, with paint and glue causing fumes?

Nothing new in the house that I can think of. I've had a few litters in the past year. Changed from World's Best to Dr. Elsey's clay, then Dr. Elsey's crystals, then a mix, and now we have pellets (the Breeze system). I don’t use anything scented anymore. I even asked my building to stop spraying air freshener in the hallway. Though, I very recently discovered a draft that smells like flowers and laundry, which of course blows right into where my cat eats...that could be causing her allergies (watery eyes, breathing problems, nasaly) to flare up but I don't think it would cause the licking.

Are there animals either inside or outside causing her stress? Can you set up a camera so you can see what's going on at night outside?

She’s an indoor city cat and always has been except when she was living on the streets for about 3 months, when she was a kitten before she got picked up. We are on the 13th floor so there’s nothing outside. There are dogs in my building, but the building is really quiet. Once in a while you can hear a faint bark. She's lived in buildings with dogs before too, where they were much louder. She doesn't seem affected by it.

Have you tried any calming products? Or music, such as MusicForCats . com?
I have feliway diffusers and at night we listen to relaxing cat music. Not sure about the diffusers, but I think the music helps (at least for me! I fall right to sleep!).

I just have no idea.
 
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