Most cats are meticulous groomers: it is estimated that a cat can spend 30% to 50% of its waking time on grooming. But what happens when this behaviour increases in intensity/frequency/duration? For a variety of reasons, certain behaviours such as licking, scratching and biting can become repetitive, occur out of normal context, lose functionality and interfere with normal daily activities. These habits can also lead to thinning of the hair, alopecia and skin lesions, as well as endless grief for all those humans who watch their cat hurt themselves without knowing how to help them.
Perhaps one fine day you have realised that your cat has a wound, a reddened area or a thinning fur patch, perhaps on its back, side or belly, but you cannot explain it. Or you have started to notice that the daily grooming is becoming excessively prolonged or that your cat is sticking its tail, pulling its nails or suddenly biting itself as if it were being ‘poked’ by invisible beings.
As there are a number of medical problems that can lead to cats scratching, biting and licking themselves repeatedly, make sure you first consult your vet for a check-up and possible diagnostic tests. Once physical problems have been ruled out, we can analyse the repetitive behaviour from a psychological, motivational and emotional point of view and find suitable solutions to relieve your kitty and your concerns.
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form.
I will get back to you as soon as possible!
WHY DOES MY CAT SCRATCH, LICK OR BITE COMPULSIVELY?
Consulting a vet about your cat’s alleged compulsive behaviour can help you determine whether the cause is medical or psychological, although in reality it is often a multifactorial disorder, i.e. depending on several interconnected elements.
Over grooming can have various physical causes, ranging from parasite attacks, infections, allergies and dermatological problems to organic dysfunctions, metabolic and neurological diseases or simply pain in the affected area. It is, for instance, common for cats suffering from cystitis to lick their abdomen or for cats experiencing pain in the tail to end up attacking it.
Sometimes, even once the physical problem has been resolved, the cat may continue to display the problem behaviour, becoming almost an automatism.
Sometimes it seems as if your cat is as if ‘possessed’: from being calm, suddenly its skin is crossed by a kind of shock or spasm (the so-called rolling skin phenomenon, the wave-like movement of the coat due to the contraction of the back muscles), the pupils may dilate and kitty ends up literally attacking its own back, side or tail (sometimes the aggression may be directed towards the human being) and starts running, as if to escape from itself. In this case, in addition to the reasons mentioned above, another cause to consider is feline hyperesthesia syndrome. The causes of this disorder are still unknown, but it can manifest itself in compulsive-like behaviour, although it cannot be classified as such. Hyperesthesia is a hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli that may result in the cat attempting to provide relief by licking or biting the affected area. Cats with this problem often tend to vocalise a lot and move restlessly, as well as being very sensitive to strokes on the back. Stress can exacerbate the condition of a cat with hyperesthesia, so in addition to a veterinary check-up a discussion with a feline behavioural expert may be useful to reduce emotional and motivational distress factors.
WHEN THE PROBLEM IS BEHAVIOURAL?
If the veterinary surgeon, after the appropriate analyses and investigations, rules out that the repetitive behaviour originates from physical disorders, it is possible in some cases to speak of compulsive behaviour or stereotypies, and, in the case of hairless areas caused by excessive licking, of psychogenic alopecia.
The behaviour of the cat that bites, scratches or licks itself often develops in bored, stressed, anxious subjects or those who experience loneliness badly It is more likely that these disorders occur in cats living at home, where the natural predatory, exploratory motivation and motor needs are not satisfied. It is easy to observe this in environments where animals are sadly kept in cages or live in captivity: the typical example is the lion moving back and forth from the cage (pacing).
Compulsive disorders often begin when there are changes in a cat’s environment and habits, including the introduction of a new animal or child into the family, or a move to a new location. Very often the stereotypical behaviour takes place following the loss of a family member to whom the cat was particularly attached: many kitties literally begin to ‘peel’ body parts in the absence of a cat or their human of choice. An emotional pain that also seems to extend to the body.
But why does a cat obsessively lick itself or self-mutilate? In the mind of a cat that behaves compulsively there is often a cognitive conflict. An example is the cat that, moved by curiosity, would like to get close to one of its own kind, but at the same time is frightened by it. Or the frustration born of wanting to express one’s need to move, hunt, go out and not being able to fulfil it. A kind of inner short circuit is thus created, whereby, in enacting a repetitive behaviour, the animal feels a momentary relief, an instant release valve. However, this does not provide any real fulfilment: hence the need to repeat it. This is why compulsive behaviour is comparable to real addictions and, as such, is often difficult to eradicate.
Sometimes repetitive behaviour can become so established in a cat’s behavioural repertoire that it is carried out even in the absence of the stressful stimulus.
HOW DO I HELP MY CAT WHO BEHAVES COMPULSIVELY?
Let’s start by saying what NOT to do: put on a Victorian collar, unless it has been recommended by your vet to allow healing of injuries or in other circumstances that justify its use. This will prevent the cat from biting or licking itself but not from wanting to do so. The stress will only become more acute and the habit will be quickly picked up once the device is removed.
Another thing that it is good NOT to do (but this applies as a general rule) is to punish the cat: there is a risk that this will generate further discomfort or become a rewarding behaviour for the cat. After all, especially in cats that develop repetitive behaviour as a result of a lack of external stimulation, reprimand is still a form of attention, a “response from the world”. Or the cat will simply look for an undisturbed place to continue with its ‘habit’.
What to do then? The first rule is to act promptly and take the cat to the vet. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to eradicate the problem.
If no parasites, allergies, dermatological, organic problems have been detected, then it is just as necessary to contact an expert in feline relationships and behaviour, paying attention to the circumstances in which the behaviour occurs, its duration, its frequency and possibly preparing videos and notes to submit to the specialist.
SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF REPETITIVE CAT BEHAVIOUR
Seeing your beloved animal hurt itself and not knowing what to do about it is a common distressing condition from which, however, it is possible to escape.
As a Cat Relationship Counsellor and Animal Floritherapist, I will help you to clarify the reasons why your feline companion has behaved in this seemingly senseless way. Together we will try to understand what he wants to communicate to us. Through environmental measures, an ethologically correct approach to relationship and cat management, activities to be carried out together and the combination of customised flower essence blends, I will guide you towards greater wellbeing in your relationship and daily life.
1 - FIRST CONTACT
Write me an e-mail using the contact form or at info@aliceguardaigatti.it and tell me why you need my help: I will get back to you for a brief chat. If the case falls within my competence, we will make an appointment for a home visit.
Do you live outside Lombardy or is it not possible to meet? No problem, a video consultation can be arranged.
2 - HOME VISIT
The time has come to get to know each other! I will come to your home and here the case study will begin, which will last between 1 and 2 hours. The visit comprises 3 moments:
- Listening: you will tell me everything you know about your kitten or kittens, their history and your cohabitation.
- Observation: I will ask you to show me the house to collect clues and study it through the eyes of a cat…
- Discussion: I will give you my initial thoughts on the case and the first steps to be taken, weighing up the pros and cons and feasibility together.
3 - A TAILOR-MADE PLAN
Thanks to the impressions and information gathered through observation of the animal, the family and the environment, and after analysis of materials that you will send me (diaries, videos, photos and materials about your cat), I will share with you all the advice and recommendations to follow for a new life with kitty.
Here I will need maximum co-operation and commitment from the whole family to be able to achieve good results together!
4 - HOW IS IT GOING?
It has been a few weeks, how is the situation with your feline companion evolving? Some time after the visit, 14 to 30 days depending on the case, we will get in touch for a new discussion.
We will take stock of the situation, understand what is working and discuss any changes or adjustments to the initial plan.
If you are ready to improve your relationship with kitty or take on a new challenge together, write to me!