Is my cat overgrooming and licking lips due to new cat stress?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is more likely that the stress of the new kitten has caused the overgrooming to occur again, vs. a wax/wane situation. Try Feliway diffusers to decrease the stress in the house, and make sure you have enough litter boxes (# cats + 1 = number of litter boxes), and a place for Lucky to hide that is 'kitten free'. If the overgrooming continues you can talk to your vet about medications such as Cloicalm. Best of luck with Lucky!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Excessive licking and grooming in cats is often related to allergies or stress. Moving house and adapting to the new environment can be stressful for many cats. Cat pheromones (for example Feliway) are typically used to treat stress-related overgrooming. They are available over-the-counter at pet shops and Online retailers. It wound be definitely worth to try a pheromone diffuser for Naomi. However, if the overgrooming start causing skin wounds, skin inflammation or hair falling, you should take Naomi to your vets to check her over and potentially investigate for allergic problems.

I'm sorry Lynx has problems with anxiety. One option for decreasing stress is to add a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected ) to your house. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month and may be beneficial long term. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water. Although you mentioned that this has been a long time problem, it certainly would be worth having your veterinarian examine Lynx to check for any underlying skin problems that are playing a role in her over grooming. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

If she’s not responded to those things I recommend an anti inflammatory injection from your veterinarian. That will stop the overgrooming and the fur should start to grow in. Then the diffuser and other things you’ve done should reduce the chances of the overgrooming to recurr after the injection wears off. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mindy.

Hi thank you for using PetCoach. Excessive grooming can certainly be due to behavioral causes but it could also be due to primary allergic or skin disease. Ideally I would recommend a veterinary work up to in sure there's not a medical condition for his licking and grooming. Allergies, parasites and even some immune system disorders can cause itchiness and sores on the skin. If it does appear to be behavioral the vet can also diet you as far as possibly using anti-anxiety medications to help snoopy. When anxiety treatment you can do at home is he using Feliway pheromone products. These can help reduce stress and anxiety in cats. https://www.feliway.com/uk/Cat-behaviour/Is-your-Cat-over-grooming And there are anxiety or behavioral medications that can be used short term for potential he chronically if needed to help snoopy stop his over grooming. I hope this helps, thank you for using PetCoach.

Your kitty is likely a nervous or stressed cat, especially if stressful events (new neighborhood cat, new boyfriend, new baby, mvoing, removing or adding furniture, new puppy , etc.) have happened before she started the excessive licking. This licking pattern would be typical for overgrooming. Your vet needs to rule out parasites, fungal and bacterial infections. If there is none of these then you can try to help your cat by removing anything stressful in the house that can be removed and placing Feliway dispensers in the areas she spends most of the time. Feliway is a pheromone that makes cats happy and takes away stress. You will need to do this for at least two months before you will see success. If this does not work, then your vet can do some medication trials to see whether she will stop the overgrooming.

Yes, over-grooming can be from stress but it could also be an allergy or any number of other underlying reasons. I suggest you refer to the link below for more information about this problem in cats. I would also recommend you get some Feliway Friends diffusers for your house if you think there is some animosity between the cats. https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/overgrooming-cats/ https://www.feliway.com/uk/Products/FELIWAY-FRIENDS-Diffuser