Help - Cat pulling his fur out.

[Ticket]

Why is my male 6 yr. old cat licking/pulling his fur out? I've combed him with a flea comb and no fleas. But to be on the safe side I bought Advantix flea/tick and applied it last week. He (Cooper) is still licking and pulling his fur out and politely distributing it all over our floors.

He seems to be conscentrating around his tail and belly area.

There hasn't been any changes around our home to cause any nervousness.

Cooper has a (step) brother and 2 (step) sisters. None of the other cats are affected by this fur pulling.

Does anyone have any clue as to what could be causing this?

[warhorse46]

Your cat could have ringworms or an allergy.

http://www.fleascontrol.com/cat-pulling-out-fur.htm

[Spyder88]

I have a feral cat who began this behavior due to stress. He just licks himself almost raw sometimes.

The vet says it's like people who bite their fingernails. Apparently it's a habit not easily broken and not much they can do in the way of medication or anything.

Whenever I see him doing it I just divert his attention and while it has helped, it hasn't stopped him completely. I'm just glad it's nothing life-threatening. Aside from his being half bald on his tummy, he's a healthy guy.

[incidentally]

Possibly nerve damage that makes your cat feel like the tail and belly area are foreign or do not belong there.

Have they done an x-ray?

[Jayne]

s/he may have a tape worm (they get them from fleas..or eating an animal outside..etc)...my little gal..who I adopted from my now former boss...was an outside/inside cat (NOW all inside)...I had 40 flea bites on me..NOT KIDDING..during June last year..THEN..a month later..a tapeworm..my son was home and going ballistic.."no details"...She didn't pull off her fur..but she was having "accidents" in the house, etc. Once I got the medicine..it was STOPPED.

I don't know if a tape worm would cause this..but they do lie in the intestines..and their "extracts" are probably irritating in the tail area. Maybe? Worth checking into..especially if s/he and/or the other cats go outside. I would have never thought fleas would have caused that problem, but they do.

Poor kitty....

Good luck

jmo

J

[mafitz701]

I am leaning towards worms or an allergy too. If the flea treatment didn't stop it then rule out the other two possibilities. You didn't give him Advantix did you? You meant Advantage right?

Advantix is fatal to cats, its great for dogs, but not cats.

[Ticket]

Warhorse46 and Spyder88, thanks for your advice.

But wouldn’t the Advantix kill the ring worms/parasites?

I try diverting his attention when I catch him licking. But unfortunately both hubby and I work, so we can’t be there for the constant diversion. Though Cooper is definitely giving the vacuum sweeper a good work out.

I guess I’ll call and make an appointment at the vet for him. Though I dread the ride to the vet. Cooper loves to “sing” (real loud) in the car.


Thanks again!

[Ticket]

You are correct. We put Advantage on him. *sorry*

[Jayne]

Ticket..

when I called my Vet and explained the "evidence", she simply told me where to go to get the medication for the tape worm (local pet store..guess they have an agreement?)..Advantage kills - actually repels fleas..does not kill worms or parasites. If you can find "evidence" in the stools, etc. or obvious signs of ringworm on his/her belly, etc., it might be an easy, one call fix..otherwise, yes, a visit to the vet. If your kitty has had fleas recently, I'd say it's a good, or bad, chance of tapeworm.

jmo

J

[Ticket]

Are tapeworms transferrable? As in, will I need to have Cooper's brother and sisters treated as well? These ailments are new to me. We've had cats for the past 15 years and the only problem we've ever had was a bladder infection (which was nipped in the bud).

[Jayne]

My Vet told me they can, but usually NOT. People can get them too, apparently, but rarely from their kitties. I have three cats..the one had it..gave her the medicine..just fine..the others never contracted any tapeworms..and I had already treated them with Advantage weeks before this..so she apparently had the tapeworm from prior infestation, I think, before I adopted her..Poor Thing. Frebbie kitty that cost me quite a bit for the fleas and then the tapeworm!

I actually "hope" (dare I say that?) that this is your furfluff's problem - it's easily fixed. If you see little "rice" things...it's tapeworm. Warhorse knows about this too - she helped me out with information, etc. when my kitty had the problems.

jmo

J

[Ticket]

I don't know if anyone had ever told you..... You guys are worth your weight in gold!!

[dgfred]

My older cat has the exact same problem, clumps of hair coming out.

Problem first started by mini-weiner dog bringing fleas in from outside.
Then it seemed the cat was allergic to the fleas, her skin started getting bumps and scabs, then her hair started falling out. We have taken her to the vet twice since it started... both times vet said no serious problems- no worms/etc. We changed her flea medicine and the problem has somewhat subsided... but alot of fur is still coming off.
She was also having a problem with throwing up during that time. I've gone to feeding her less, but at more times during the day and she hasn't thrown up since the change in medicine and the meal change.
I'm not sure of the flea stuff we changed to, I'll ask the wife this evening. So I guess I'm saying their might not be any sure remedy, but trying some different things and a change of medicine/routine might help
some.

[warhorse46]

Warhorse46 and Spyder88, thanks for your advice.

But wouldn’t the Advantix kill the ring worms/parasites?

I try diverting his attention when I catch him licking. But unfortunately both hubby and I work, so we can’t be there for the constant diversion. Though Cooper is definitely giving the vacuum sweeper a good work out.

I guess I’ll call and make an appointment at the vet for him. Though I dread the ride to the vet. Cooper loves to “sing” (real loud) in the car.


Thanks again!


No, flea drops will not kill ringworms nor some kinds of other internal parasites. I hope you did not really use Advantix, it is NOT recommended for cats. Read here.
http://www.advantix.info/Questions-and-answers.1193.0.html#c5917

[warhorse46]

Are tapeworms transferrable? As in, will I need to have Cooper's brother and sisters treated as well? These ailments are new to me. We've had cats for the past 15 years and the only problem we've ever had was a bladder infection (which was nipped in the bud).


Yes tapeworms are transferrable, the vectors are fleas, roaches & junebugs.

[Spyder88]

Yes tapeworms are transferrable, the vectors are fleas, roaches & junebugs.

Rotten fleas. :angry:

My understanding is that you can't get tapeworms directly from infected pets nor do they tranfer them to each other via saliva or feces. They get transfered by ingesting infected fleas, roaches & junebugs or pets can get them by eating infected mice, rabbits, birds, etc.

[Jayne]

Rotten fleas. :angry:

My understanding is that you can't get tapeworms directly from infected pets nor do they tranfer them to each other via saliva or feces. They get transfered by ingesting infected fleas, roaches & junebugs or pets can get them by eating infected mice, rabbits, birds, etc.

Exactly what my Vet told me...they have to be "ingested"...my other two cats didn't have it..only "Lucky" (what a name, huh?) NOW..if the other ones in the house "eat" the fleas and they carry it...yep..they'll get it too. I think my little gal got it from before I adopted her..outside...mice..birds..whatever..the other guys (both males) got fleas..but I caught it in enough time, thankfully. I only "treated" her but had enough medication for the other two..never needed it...so it's in storage.

Humans get tapeworm from what they ingest..as I understand it..but if you don't wash well after changing litter, etc. It might be possible??

jmo

J

[Ticket]

Thanks for help.

I stopped at the pet store last evening to get worm medicine. The clerk there said that if Cooper has parasites that I may want to try using an athletes foot medication. Sooo off to the drug store I went to get some Tinactin.

Arrived home with my arsenal of goodies, popped the worm medicine in Coop's mouth. With the help of hubby securing Coop in one spot. I sprayed the Tinactin on my hands and rubbed it all over his hind quarters. Then I vacuumed again....

Lo and behold, this morning - no fur piles. *Yea*

We'll see what my floors look like when I get home.

[warhorse46]

Rotten fleas. :angry:

My understanding is that you can't get tapeworms directly from infected pets nor do they tranfer them to each other via saliva or feces. They get transfered by ingesting infected fleas, roaches & junebugs or pets can get them by eating infected mice, rabbits, birds, etc.



You are exactly right.

[warhorse46]

Thanks for help.

I stopped at the pet store last evening to get worm medicine. The clerk there said that if Cooper has parasites that I may want to try using an athletes foot medication. Sooo off to the drug store I went to get some Tinactin.

Arrived home with my arsenal of goodies, popped the worm medicine in Coop's mouth. With the help of hubby securing Coop in one spot. I sprayed the Tinactin on my hands and rubbed it all over his hind quarters. Then I vacuumed again....

Lo and behold, this morning - no fur piles. *Yea*

We'll see what my floors look like when I get home.


That is a good sign!

[Spyder88]

Thanks for help.

I stopped at the pet store last evening to get worm medicine. The clerk there said that if Cooper has parasites that I may want to try using an athletes foot medication. Sooo off to the drug store I went to get some Tinactin.

Arrived home with my arsenal of goodies, popped the worm medicine in Coop's mouth. With the help of hubby securing Coop in one spot. I sprayed the Tinactin on my hands and rubbed it all over his hind quarters. Then I vacuumed again....

Lo and behold, this morning - no fur piles. *Yea*

We'll see what my floors look like when I get home.

Tinactin, huh? Gonna have to give that a try. You just never know....

[warhorse46]

Tinactin, huh? Gonna have to give that a try. You just never know....




Ringworms are not a parasite (worm), they are a fungus so you need an antifungal to treat them.
http://www.medicinenet.com/ringworm/article.htm

[Jayne]

Ringworms are not a parasite (worm), they are a fungus so you need an antifungal to treat them.
http://www.medicinenet.com/ringworm/article.htm

Warhorse - you are SO SMART!

Jayne

[warhorse46]

Warhorse - you are SO SMART!

Jayne

Naw, just older than dirt with lots of life experiences, lol. I learned that while working as a vet tech & relearned it in Microbiology in nursing school.

[Ticket]

>>> UPDATE <<<

The worm medicine along with the Tinactin has worked on Cooper! Each day there was less and less fur being distributed on my floors, and by yesterday there was no fur piles at all!!!

I am still applying the Tinactin daily, but am totally amazed with the results.


Thanks!

[mafitz701]

Ticket thank you! I never would of thought to use an anti-fungal for people for that! Now I am going to keep a can of it in the pet cupboard just in case! Thank you very much for sharing that with us.

[Spyder88]

Naw, just older than dirt with lots of life experiences, lol. I learned that while working as a vet tech & relearned it in Microbiology in nursing school.


Don't be so modest!!! I think you're smart, too. I have great admiration and respect for you, unless, of course, you disagree with me and even then I still think you're pretty dang clever. :patriot: