Is your cat constantly grooming itself and more often than usual? Cats are very clean animals and their daily grooming takes up a lot of time. However, if your cat grooms itself unusually often and intensively, there could be a health problem behind its behavior. Find out here which illnesses and complaints cause your cat to groom its fur intensively and what you can do about it.
Grooming cats
Cats take their grooming very seriously and spend an average of more than three hours a day grooming their fur. This serves several purposes:
- Clean
- Cool
- Impregnate
- create a fragrance note
- relieve tension
In order to clean their fur successfully, cats have small hooks on their tongues . They can use these to easily remove dust, dirt and loose hair when licking. In the summer months, grooming can take even longer than usual, because the animals cool down by grooming when it is very hot . Since they have only a few sweat glands and do not primarily use them for temperature regulation, wetting the fur with saliva allows them to cool down pleasantly, as evaporative cooling occurs.
In addition, licking the skin stimulates blood circulation , which activates the sebaceous glands in the skin. The sebaceous glands then release fat into the cat's fur. This light layer of fat ensures that the cat's fur remains supple and has a water-repellent effect. This means the animals are better protected from moisture and cold.
Another side effect of grooming with one's own saliva is the creation of an individual scent. This allows cats to successfully mark their territory and be noticed by other cats from a distance. Since licking the fur stimulates blood circulation, grooming also serves to relieve tension. If cats feel stressed, tense or embarrassed, grooming their fur can also be a kind of substitute action that makes the unpleasant feelings disappear. Such a situation arises, for example, when a cat watches a bird or other prey through the window, but is prevented from hunting and therefore starts grooming its fur. Grooming its fur therefore serves many purposes for cats and it is not surprising that the animals spend a lot of time on it. But what could be the reason if your cat suddenly grooms its fur much more often and more intensively than usual?
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Causes of excessive grooming
If you notice that your furry friend spends an unusually long time grooming and may be behaving strangely, there could be health problems or other issues behind the so-called “ overgrooming ”.
parasite infestation
If your cat licks the same spots more often and seems restless, nervous or irritated, it could be due to a parasite infestation . This is often accompanied by scratching and biting of the affected area of skin. Possible parasites are those that settle on the skin and in the hair, such as fleas, lice, ticks or mites . Worms can also cause itching on the skin and cause your cat to repeatedly lick the affected area. For this reason, you should deworm your cat regularly.
Mites are often only detected when brown crusts have developed on the cat's ears and forehead. Therefore, you should regularly check the fur for unwanted guests, especially in outdoor cats, and remove ticks quickly, for example. A fungal infection can also cause your cat to constantly groom itself. A skin fungus causes itching, shaggy fur and, in some cases, even circular hair loss.
If you suspect a parasite infestation, place your furry friend on a white surface, such as a kitchen towel, and comb the fur. Tiny red dots could be flea droppings, for example. You should also regularly check the fur and skin for rashes and bite wounds. In order to detect a parasite infestation as early as possible and treat it appropriately, it is best to see your vet immediately at the first signs.
Injury
Increased licking of a certain body part can also be the result of an injury. Outdoor cats are often involved in territorial fights with other cats. But an accident outdoors or in the house can also be responsible for injuries. Therefore, check your house cat at regular intervals for wounds or bruises that require treatment by a veterinarian.
allergy
Your cat's increased grooming behavior may also be due to a food allergy or intolerance . An allergic reaction to food often causes unpleasant skin rashes, itching and swelling . Affected cats often also suffer from other symptoms such as diarrhea , vomiting and loss of appetite . You should definitely consult a veterinarian in this case too. In most cases, the solution is to switch to a hypoallergenic diet , which allows for an exclusion diet with reduced ingredients and is gentle on your furry friend's stomach.
Illness
However, the fact that your cat is constantly grooming and licking its fur can also indicate a serious disease For example, Pains The reason for this could be that the animal does not leave a certain part of its body alone. Or the increased grooming behavior serves to relieve the discomfort caused by physical tension to reduce and distract yourself.
In most cases, illnesses are accompanied by other symptoms that can help narrow down the trigger. fatigue and loss of appetite are typical signs that something is wrong. If your cat is vomiting and diarrhoea in addition to constant grooming, it may be due to gastrointestinal problem A kidney disease On the other hand, it can cause flaky skin and thus itching and can be increased drinking and frequent urination express. struvite stones In turn, this can cause your pet to frequently genital area to lick, and also cause fatigue, diarrhea and unusual behavior when urinating.
The list of possible illnesses that could be behind your cat's increased grooming is long. It is important that you carefully observe your pet's behaviour and pay attention to whether further symptoms occur. If your four-legged friend behaves unusually or it is obvious that he is not well, you should take him to the vet This is recommended for cat owners at regular intervals anyway – especially given that cats Suffer usually hide for a long time and don't let anything show at first.
stress
Has your cat's grooming behavior become compulsive, but neither you nor your veterinarian can identify any other symptoms or cause? Then there may be stress behind overgrooming. As already mentioned, grooming the fur also serves to stimulate blood circulation and relieve tension. Your furry friend can therefore always call upon this well-rehearsed mechanism when he is nervous or stressed and does not feel well.
The causes of stress are varied. Often big changes associated with stress for cats: This includes, for example, moving house, new animal or human roommates or the loss of a fellow species or a beloved owner. Even seemingly small changes such as moving furniture or the cat owner being away for longer periods of time each day can increase the animals' stress levels.
In the worst case, the increased grooming can lead to a obsessive-compulsive disorder degenerate, the so-called Psychogenic lickalozepia . The cat licks itself so intensely that it gradually tears out all the hair with its tongue and bald spots stay behind.
Therefore, check whether a major change could be responsible for your cat constantly grooming itself. If possible, try to eliminate sources of stress or make it as easy as possible for your cat to adapt to new circumstances by keeping it close to him and providing him with suitable places to retreat to.
If compulsive lickalozepsy actually exists and persists even after the stress triggers have been removed, you should consult your veterinarian about a suitable therapy.
Why does a cat not groom itself enough?
In addition to more intensive grooming, the opposite is also possible: your cat neglects grooming and its fur looks dull and shaggy . Dull and matte fur does not necessarily mean that your cat no longer grooms itself. A lack of nutrients - for example due to poor quality food - can also make the hair look dull. Parasites or various organic diseases can also be behind shaggy fur.
If you notice that your cat is no longer grooming itself adequately, it may be that it is in pain and is therefore avoiding touching certain parts of its body. It may also be that older or overweight cats in particular are no longer able to reach all parts of their body with their tongue. In these cases, you can help your cat to groom itself by brushing its fur .
Cleaning behavior as a health indicator
Your cat's grooming behavior can therefore give you a lot of information about whether it is healthy or whether something is wrong. Cat owners should always observe their animals and be aware of typical behaviors. If changes occur - for example, if the cat constantly grooms itself or, alternatively, does not groom itself enough - you can react quickly and clarify possible causes.
Regular examination of your cat's fur and skin also helps to quickly identify and effectively treat problems such as injuries and parasites. If in doubt, you should always consult a veterinarian and seek professional advice. Depending on the diagnosis, special food with lots of nutrients tailored to cat health problems can help your cat to get better quickly.
