Why is my overweight cat twitching, hiding, and uncomfortable?

It is quite possible he has arthritis in the hips causing discomfort, which is aggravated by being overweight. Prescription pain relief would be recommended to relieve any discomfort and blood tests may be recommended to ensure he has no underlying health issues prior to starting these

There are a number of reasons that a cat will overgroom themselves, but one of the most common reasons that we will see a cat overgroom the inside or back of the thighs is a flea allergy. If a cat has a flea allergy, it only takes 1 flea bite a week to keep them itchy and cats are such good groomers that you will often never see fleas. So, it is always recommended to have all animals in the house on a monthly flea preventative if any animal in the house has allergies or skin problems. I have attached a handout below on allergies and itching in cats. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2607 If Voltaire is already on a regular flea preventative, the next step would be to have your veterinarian examine him and determine if he has any evidence of secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. If not, then you can discuss using anti-itching medications such as anti-histamines or steroids short term to resolve the itching and licking. And if those techniques are unsuccessful, then the final step might be a diet change. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello, and thank you for your question. I would make sure to fully rule out fleas by giving her a preventative flea treatment such as Advantage, even if no fleas are visible to the naked eye. I would also make sure that a skin scraping test and cytology have been done to fully rule out infection. If these causes are ruled out, then it may be related to hyperesthesia ("twitchy cat syndrome"). You can speak to your vet about a trial of pain medication that targets the nervous system. You could also try a feline pheromone spray called Feliway, which can help reduce her stress and anxiety related to the behaviour. I hope this helps, and that Mae is feeling better soon!

What a handsome boy! There's a few things you may try. To absolutely make sure fleas are not the cause (remember, if you have a pet who is sensitive, tit only takes 1 flea to cause a reaction), talk with your veterinarian about using an oral flea prevention called Comfortis. Try this for 2-3 months and see if it helps. Kahlua looks a little heavy, sometimes this can prevent them from being able to clean the lower back/around the tail. Weight loss will allow him to adequately clean that area and in the mean time, shampooing the area every 4-5 days or using a dry shampoo and a brush every 3-4 days will help to decrease the oil production and decrease itchiness. Continue using a fish oil though I prefer an omega 3 fatty acids supplement. Changing the food to Royal Canin may also help improve the skin quality. Allergies can also cause itchiness but I recommend to rule out the fleas first. I hope this helps.

It sounds like it is time to have Sweet Pea examined by a vet. The lumps and bumps could be fat deposits, or they could be something more serious. Even indoor cats can get fleas, and they may be hard to see, so starting a flea preventative is a good idea. Twitching and excessive grooming can also be caused by urinary disorders or anxiety. The vet can help you determine what is going on and get Sweet Pea on the right track to getting healthy again.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Sweetiepie. Scratching can be due to external parasites (fleas, ticks, mites, etc), insect bites/stings, bacterial infection, dry skin, and some extreme cases are due to Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome, where parts of their bodies become extremely itchy. Sounds like if this persists or worsens, you will need to get her examined by your vet. They can get a history, perform an exam, and advise a diagnostic plan and/or treatment plan based on physical findings. Skin tests including a skin scrape, fungal culture, skin cytology may be needed or even some blood work to rule out an internal organ problem. Treatment would be based on the cause. Good luck with Sweetiepie.

If only Sadie could talk! It's hard to know if this is a behavioral quirk, indicates she does not like being picked up or if there is some sort of discomfort involved. If she has not yet been checked for a spinal abnormality, I recommend to have this done. If no issues are found, this may be her unique way of talking to you. Here are a couple ideas of things you can do to try to maintain her happiness: https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-ways-to-play-with-your-cat/ Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Using a Feliway diffuser and setting aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play for your cat will also help to keep her stimulated. Lastly, keeping her litter area extremely clean will also help to keep her happy. Please feel free to post any additional questions.