posted 02-04-2004 09:21 AM         

We use to live in California and this past September, moved to Missouri.

We have quite a large family (pet wise), 9 cats, 12 tropical birds and four dogs (2 of which are wolf hybrids).

Anyway, the person who bought our place in California, happened to own one of those trailers that haul race cars. It was huge and airconditioned and had floresent lighting in it. He had to go back to Arkansas to pick up some furniture and offered to move our animals for us.

It was a dream come true because I had no idea how we would have had the money to move all of them, plus all of our furniture, etc.

Anyway, everyone was fine and survived the experience fine except for our aby, Camden. When I got him out of the carrier, he was really weak and could hardly walk. He would not eat the entire time we took to get to Missouri. He was really weirded out.

He just walked out of his carrier and layed in the new litter box I put down on the floor. He wouldn't get out of it. I gave him some food and water and he would only drink a little bit.

And, he ate off a huge patch of his fur AND SKIN! It was probably the size of a humans palm. It was gross!!

The vet gave us a 10 percent chance that he would even make it through the night. His body temperature was really low. But, we couldn't give up on him without at least seeing what could be done over night. So, we said to go ahead and put him on the iv's and whatever and we would check on him in the morning.

Well, he made a miraculous recovery! He was able to stand, he even took a swipe at the vet (LOL). He was just malnurished from the trip and the stress of moving really freaked him out.

He has totally recovered, his skin has grown back and fur. There is just a tiny little sliver of skin still needs for the fur to grow over. But other than that, he's fine and as sweet as ever.

Oh, also, before we moved, I had to try and put him in the carrier. He was so scared from all of the commotion, he bit me really good. And he has all his claws. I'm tellin' ya, it was the worst pain I had ever felt and I've been bit by birds and dogs and this was way worse.

Sorry to get off the subject but my point is, perhaps your cat might be stressed out about something? Has anything changed in your house? Anything out of the ordinary?

posted 02-04-2004 09:35 AM         

She only stopped doing the fur licking thing a little over a year ago when I bought a house and moved her in there. She one day decided to stop doing it and I have no idea why.