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Aw, thanks Jcatbird ! I feed wet food only, grain free. Sometimes I wonder if behaviors aren't a result of a 'perfect storm' - as in, maybe Charlie has some allergies, and combined with anxiety results in increased grooming or vice versa. We haven't had fleas around here since I took Charlie in, thank goodness! When Charlie was a stray years ago he had them, and I had to go through the whole process of treating him, vacuuming and washing all bedding on a daily basis to make sure they were gone. Even then, I didn't see him chewing or grooming like he does now.I know that we worry when kitties are licking or itching. I still have bouts of that with a couple of cats here. Working on it! With Mama I am convinced it is a bite from a flea. Her tail gets sparse. Jeremiah makes me feel it could be the same issue but he is far more sensitive to it. Then again, I am changing up their dry food because it seemed to start when I changed that once. As they get older it seems to flare up a little more often. Is their food grain free? Changing up needs to be gradual but I was reading about grain and yeast overgrowth causing hot spots. What about antimicrobials? Maybe that Jackson Galaxy product will work. You had good results with other flower type products. Has anyone suggested the chamomile? I have heard of people using a soft ( cloth) cone to keep them from licking in order for the hotspot to heal. I have never been able to watch my cats struggle with a cone but many people do very well using cones on cats. A soft one sounds much nicer. I can’t imagine what Charlie and Finn would do with that! You might have to cone them both! I can just imagine that discussion between the two! We’ll keep investigating! Sending Charlie soothing purrs.
They say that bully behavior is the result of a fearful cat. Charlie definitely exhibits bully behavior and always has. If the root of that is truly fear, it would explain his developing anxiety over his internal conflict of having to share his territory yet wanting the company. And sometimes OCD-type behaviors can develop during a perfect storm and then become habitual once all stimulus has subsided. Hoping I can intervene before this becomes a permanent struggle.
I've ordered the Jackson Galaxy stuff as, like you said, we've had great success with those essences in the past. I would think that if it's behavioral and anxiety based, I'll see an improvement. If it's more allergy based, I would think it wouldn't have much effect. I will post with an update when we've tried it for a bit!