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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2006bald spot
Shaina keeps biting at her fur on her back, close to the tail and there is a 5x8 cm bald spot there. we've been to the vet in NY and here in Tucson and the consensus is that it's not an infection (they did tests) and it's not an allergy (she got a cortisone shot). the vet here specializes in felines. she said that Shaina must be stressed and/or bored. i leave for work at 6:30 am and come back close to 7 pm. i am the only one taking care of her now because my fiancé is in North Carolina for his residency. i try to play with her as much as i can when i am home, but i think she is so used to having 2 humans with her that it's just not enough for her. i am afraid that by the time i move to North Carolina, she will have broken all her fur. i was thinking of getting her a friend, but i'd have to take the time to introduce them and i'd have to spend time with the kitten. i can never catch her doing that, but once i saw the fur ruffled and slightly wet at that spot. i am not sure what to do. > Shaina keeps biting at her fur on her back, close to the tail and there > is a 5x8 cm bald spot there. i can never catch her > doing that, but once i saw the fur ruffled and slightly wet at that > spot. i am not sure what to do. when i first read the thread, I thought it said blood sport sorry it's mites under the skin she needs to take a pill that will kill the micro-bugs in her blood stream best to yas > > Shaina keeps biting at her fur on her back, close to the tail and there > > is a 5x8 cm bald spot there. i can never catch her [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > when i first read the thread, I thought it said blood sport > sorry oh, god, i thought that i've misspelt it. > it's mites under the skin > > she needs to take a pill that will kill the micro-bugs in her blood > stream i'll ask the vet about it. the other vet gave me some anti-flea drops to put on her skin right behind her head, where she can't reach it. > best to yas >>Shaina keeps biting at her fur on her back, close to the tail and there >>is a 5x8 cm bald spot there. i can never catch her [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > best to yas Come on Barry, when did you get your vet degree and x-ray vision? Laila, did the vet test for ringworm? That can cause bald spots. Our cat had bald areas above his tail due to flea allergies. Even inside cats can get fleas -- since fleas can hitch rides into the house. Good luck finding out what's going on, Rhonda > Come on Barry, when did you get your vet degree and x-ray vision? i got my degree on here. Now I think her cat needs a topical solution I had it backwards... can't fleas put poison of some sort into the blood stream? Im confused >>Come on Barry, when did you get your vet degree and x-ray vision? > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Im confused I don't know what kind of poison it would be -- maybe an infection. I think cats that get flea allergies are allergic to flea spit. Rhonda > >>Come on Barry, when did you get your vet degree and x-ray vision? > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I don't know what kind of poison it would be -- maybe an infection. I > think cats that get flea allergies are allergic to flea spit. it's not an allergy. she doesn't have fleas. that's already been determined by the vet(s). she is bored because she is not getting nearly as much attention and human interaction as she used to in the past. i am not sure what to do at this point. i am trying to spend as much time with her as possible and play with her. well, off to play with her now. > it's not an allergy. she doesn't have fleas. that's already been > determined by the vet(s). she is bored because she is not getting > nearly as much attention and human interaction as she used to in the > past. i am not sure what to do at this point. i am trying to spend as > much time with her as possible and play with her. well, off to play > with her now. How about getting her another cat to play with? Rhonda >> it's not an allergy. she doesn't have fleas. that's already been >> determined by the vet(s). she is bored because she is not getting [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Rhonda My thoughts, too! I've found that two are frequently easier than one--they don't get as bored. Careful introductions are vital but having more than one cat can really enrich the cats lives as well as yours! Bonnie > it's not an allergy. she doesn't have fleas. that's already been > determined by the vet(s). she is bored because she is not getting > nearly as much attention and human interaction as she used to in the > past. i am not sure what to do at this point. i am trying to spend as > much time with her as possible and play with her. well, off to play > with her now. Sounds like, since your vet has ruled out several things, that she is just stressed and is overgrooming that one spot. One of my cats started doing this after a stressful trip to the vet. You might try either a Feliway diffuser or adding Rescue Remedy (a homeopathic blend of herbs you can get from a health food store) to her water. Both of those helped me (er, the cat!) Long term, it sounds like a playmate would help her. Rene thanks everyone for your replies. i will take some time off from work in October to get another kitty, take her to the vet and introduce the two of them. i'll also get the Feliway and rescue remedy to try out. what kind of a cat would be good to get? Shaina was very friendly with other animals. how old should the new kitty be? Shaina is almost 3 years old. > thanks everyone for your replies. i will take some time off from work > in October to get another kitty, take her to the vet and introduce the > two of them. i'll also get the Feliway and rescue remedy to try out. > what kind of a cat would be good to get? Shaina was very friendly with > other animals. how old should the new kitty be? Shaina is almost 3 > years old. If you have a choice, get a kitten, they come pre-litter trained, and are loads of fun. You're 3 year old will enjoy the random un-predicted sillyness, your 3 year old may even be protective and take the kitten under her wing so to say >> thanks everyone for your replies. i will take some time off from work >> in October to get another kitty, take her to the vet and introduce the [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > year old may even be protective and take the kitten under her wing so > to say Also most cats accept a kitten more easily than another adult. I've seen some big tough male cats melt when dealing with a young kitten (but not always!) I've had good luck introducing either male or female cats to my group of cats but many people say it's easier with male cats. Have fun! Bonnie > I've had good luck introducing either male or female cats to my > group of cats but many people say it's easier with male cats. > > Have fun! > Bonnie about how many cats do you have? at this point I wouldnt' want any less than two, as it gives them something to do >> I've had good luck introducing either male or female cats to my >> group of cats but many people say it's easier with male cats. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > at this point I wouldnt' want any less than two, as it gives them > something to do I have 7 and love it! They don't have a chance to get bored and one of them is always ready for a cuddle or play time. Don't care so much for the vet bills but it's worth it to me! How many do you have? Bonnie > I have 7 and love it! They don't have a chance to get bored and one of them > is always ready for a cuddle or play time. Don't care so much for the vet > bills but it's worth it to me! How many do you have? 7 wow! I only have 2 one is almost 8 years old, the other is going on 1 year old I don't want too many in the house (here a hair, thar a hair, everywhere a hair) without the option of running them outside (I would rather have a coupe out back) I wouldn't mind having a place out in the country where i could coupe a bunch of them... and let them trickle in and out of the house, I really enjoy feeding them, they are highly entertaining... even just watching them nap is relaxing to me. ...watching them wake up from a long nap... streeeeeetch... yaaaaawwwwnnn, then lay back down for another nap my personality has a built in "give me space" mechanism, once I need my space cats would scatter... i would just put that look on them >> I have 7 and love it! >>> 7 wow! I only have 2 > one is almost 8 years old, the other is going on 1 year old [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > my personality has a built in "give me space" mechanism, once I need my > space cats would scatter... i would just put that look on them The hair does get to be a bit much!! I collect enough fur to make a dozen more! Wish you could spin it--would be so soft. I need my space too but I don't seem to mind the cats. I love dogs but they are more "needy" and that gets to me more than the cats. > The hair does get to be a bit much!! what about pro groomers, don't they use a quiet vaccuum? maybe it has a long hose so the motor is in the other room maybe it has a nice cat cozy grooming attatchment. >> The hair does get to be a bit much!! > > what about pro groomers, don't they use a quiet vaccuum? > maybe it has a long hose so the motor is in the other room > maybe it has a nice cat cozy grooming attatchment. Don't know how my menagerie would tolerate that--too much like going to the vet's!! My sweet old Molly is deaf and doesn't mind being vacuumed--not that I do it that often! Several of mine don't like being brushed and one of them will actively bite the brush (or me!) no matter how gentle I am. Sigh. > > The hair does get to be a bit much!! > > what about pro groomers, don't they use a quiet vaccuum? > maybe it has a long hose so the motor is in the other room > maybe it has a nice cat cozy grooming attatchment. Shaina is short-haired but still needs to be groomed to avoid her lovely fur covering every single surface it'll stick to. she allows me to groom her as long as i don't touch the tummy, but she stil may bite and hiss, which is very cute. if she bites too hard, i hiss at her and she stops. > >> thanks everyone for your replies. i will take some time off from work > >> in October to get another kitty, take her to the vet and introduce the [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Have fun! > Bonnie thanks. my fiancé and i decided that he'll come here in mid-October when i plan to take some time off work, so that we get the kitten together. that way, he'll at least get to see her when she is little. should i get another litter box for the new kitty? i am not sure how they'll be happy about sharing one. my parents have two cats, but the second one is Murka's daughter, so there was no need for any introductions. i got Shaina when she was only 6 weeks old, from a kill shelter. this is way to young for the kitten to be away from the mother, but she had no other choice. is this too young to bring home with another cat? 22brix wrote: > > Laila wrote: > >> thanks everyone for your replies. i will take some time off from work [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Have fun! > Bonnie thanks. my fiancé and i decided that he'll come here in mid-October when i plan to take some time off work, so that we get the kitten together. that way, he'll at least get to see her when she is little. should i get another litter box for the new kitty? i am not sure how they'll be happy about sharing one. my parents have two cats, but the second one is Murka's daughter, so there was no need for any introductions. i got Shaina when she was only 6 weeks old, from a kill shelter. this is way to young for the kitten to be away from the mother, but she had no other choice. is this too young to bring home with another cat? Hi Laila, I would definitely get another litter box--the rule of thumb is one box per cat and one extra. Six weeks is awfully young. It would be better to get one a little older, although I have rescued younger kittens before. Regardless of how old she (or he!) is you'll want to keep the kitten separated from the older cat for a while. This may take several days or longer, depending on how they get along. This is to make sure the kitten doesn't have any infectious diseases and to allow both cats to get used to each other. You'll need to supervise to make sure Shaina won't hurt the kitten but most of the time older cats deal reasonably well with kittens. You're going to have so much fun! Bonnie
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