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Author Topic:   Licker's Syndrome or depression?
Mindycat
New Member

Posts: 1
From:Dublin, Ireland
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-17-2004 06:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mindycat     Edit/Delete Message
I have a 15 year-old spayed tortie (epileptic, on phenobarbitone for 12 years) who has been licking the fur off her tummy and the inside of her back legs for about 10 years. She started doing it when I went back to work. I think it may have started out as some sort of comfort thing. She stopped altogether when my son came home from abroad for 6 weeks last summer, but started again as soon as he left.

Now she has licked away all the fur at the base of her tail, and is always sicking up huge furballs.

There's a lot of tension in the house (health and money worries) and I think she picks up the vibes.

Anyone ever heard of Licker's Syndrome? I did a Google search, but got mostly adult websites!

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Chessmind
Member

Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-17-2004 09:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chessmind     Edit/Delete Message
Hello. Welcome to the site. Here is some information about excessive licking in cats. It comes from: http://www.metrokc.gov/lars/animal/Educate/cassidy/Cat/cat9.htm

EXCESSIVE LICKING

Cats lick to keep themselves clean, to rid themselves of varmints like fleas, to cool themselves, to absorb Vitamin D, and to release stress. If a cat’s licking is the symptom of a health problem or if the licking is causing a health problem, then kitty must be taken to a veterinarian soon!
There are several medical reasons for excessive licking. It could be a neuropathy problem. For example, a nerve is receiving a signal which tells the cat to lick. It could be encephalitis, a brain perception disorder, a soft tissue or bone inflammation problem, or an allergic skin disease. A cat that licks odd things such as window panes, walls, or cement walks may be anemic which is a symptom of a disease such as feline leukemia. If you suspect a medical problem, see your veterinarian immediately.

Cats lick themselves when they are infested with parasites such as fleas. An occasional bath with a flea shampoo will kill the fleas, as well as remove dander (dried saliva) that causes human allergies. Regular grooming, however, with a flea comb is enough to control the flea problem.

An allergic reaction to inhaled allergens can also cause excessive licking.

It is estimated that thirty-five percent of all cats suffer from food allergies which can result in excessive licking. If diet is suspect, try one of the commercially prepared non-allergy cat foods. It is also thought, though not carefully researched, that a nutritional deficiency might cause excessive licking.

Senility will sometimes cause a cat to lick. In this case, you may have to live with the licking. For the older cat, frequent grooming with a comb or brush will reduce the hazard of hairball formation.

A bored cat, a cat weaned too early, and a cat under stress will lick excessively. Get another cat for the bored one or give her more playtime. Disrupt the early-weaned licker with playtime and learn to live with her possible continual licking of a certain soft piece of material. For the cat under stress, keep in mind that she likes a quiet, undisturbed environment and needs lots of love and attention. Eliminate any form of physical punishment for misbehavior as this creates tremendous stress.

Finally, some cats lick us because they are saying, "I like you!" or "You are the boss." They also go into what seems like an urgent licking mode to cover up their embarrassment after accidentally falling off the chair. These are normal and funny licks and should be readily accepted.

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fleafly
Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-17-2004 11:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for fleafly     Edit/Delete Message
This article mentions several conditions that cause excessive licking:
http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/cat_skin_hair_problems.htm#itchyskindisorders

The pattern you describe sounds more like allergies than stress, but its strange that she stopped when your son came home. Maybe she has seasonal allergies?

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