Question:
Our white Oriental shorthaired cat, Shelby, has a habit of biting her hair out and scattering tufts around the house. As a result, she looks quite moth-eaten and has a couple of spots where there is no hair at all. Our vet recommended giving her flaxseed oil to soften her coat and we have been trying that. She has had an eyedropper-full every day for over a month now, but while the behavior has lessened, it has not gone away.What can be done to stop her from this self-mutilating habit? She is a very sweet cat and a lovable pet, but this hair pulling is very distressing.
S.F., Washington, DC Jun 19, 2005
Answer:
Have your veterinarian evaluate your cat for hyperthyroidism and food allergy. If all physical causes are ruled out, consider that there may be some psychological/emotional stress factor in the home. At that point, explore medicating Shelby for three to four weeks as a trial with an anxiety-relieving drug such as valium, or a natural product like valerian.
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