How To Stop A Cat From Licking Its Fur Off

Cats are known to be clean animals, but when they start licking themselves excessively, it can be a sign that something is wrong. Lick-fur syndrome (or acral lick dermatitis) is a common problem in cats, and can be caused by allergies or parasites like fleas. But if you’ve noticed your cat has started to lick his fur off and he seems otherwise healthy, then it’s likely that something else is going on. Here are some steps you can take to stop this behavior and get your beloved feline friend back on track!

Assess how much fur has been licked off.

Check for skin problems. If you can’t see any skin issues, take your cat to the vet to rule out medical concerns.
Determine if your cat is actually licking its fur off or just chewing it a lot. You know what we mean: cats often chew on their fur for comfort and attention, but this isn’t necessarily an indication of self-licking behavior. The best way to tell if your furry friend is really self-licking is by watching its behavior closely—if it’s licking the same area over and over again (no matter how much time has passed), then it might be time to step in!

Check for skin problems.

Check for skin problems. There are many reasons a cat might be licking its fur off, and it’s important to rule out all of the most common ones first. The following list will help you decide what sorts of skin problems your cat may have:

Fleas
Skin infections (bacterial, fungal or viral)
Skin allergies
Skin cancer
Mites such as Cheyletiella mites (which can cause baldness) in the winter months; Demodex mites that live in hair follicles; Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies) mites which cause intense itching on the body and face; Acarapis woodi who bite at night causing lesions on the muzzle, lips and base of ears; Felicola subrostratus who live near sebaceous glands along back where humans rub against cats as they scratch behind their ears or under chin for attention; Demodex species which live within sebaceous glands around nose forming cysts which burst open causing intense pain when touched – these are easily confused with acne

Determine for sure that your cat is the one licking its fur off.

While it’s normal for cats to groom themselves, excessive grooming can be a sign of anxiety or stress. It can also be caused by fleas and other parasites, which can make your cat feel itchy.

If you notice that your cat is licking its fur off more than usual and the symptoms don’t go away after treating them with a flea-control product, then it might be time to schedule an appointment with your vet. The vet may need to take a sample of your cat’s skin for testing or give him some antibiotics to fight off any infections he might have picked up from his incessant licking.

Take your cat to a vet to rule out medical concerns.

Take your cat to a vet. Licking fur off is a problem that can be caused by a variety of different medical issues. If you suspect that your cat’s obsessive fur-licking is due to something more serious than stress, take it to the vet for an examination. Your veterinarian will be able to rule out parasites and fleas, which are the most common reasons for excessive grooming behavior in felines.
Bathe your cat regularly with medicated shampoo designed specifically for cats who lick themselves excessively in order to reduce the amount of dander (dead skin) being ingested while grooming itself.*

Feed your cat a healthy diet.

The first step in stopping your cat from licking its fur off is to give your pet a healthy diet. Cats need a high quality diet that is rich in nutrients and protein, low in fat, sugar, salt and preservatives and free of artificial flavors and colors. This can be hard for some people because we tend to feed our cats what we want ourselves! However, it’s important to think about what’s best for your cat—not just yourself.

The following foods are good choices:

Chicken
Salmon
Tuna

Brush your cat regularly, so that hairballs can more easily pass through his digestive system.

Try brushing your cat once or twice a day.
Use a soft brush and start at the head, gently using slow strokes down the back and around his butt to avoid over-stimulating him.
If you have an especially shy or nervous cat, try brushing him while he eats; this may help him become more comfortable with the process (and thus less likely to lick off his fur). It’s also important that you use a toothbrush when grooming your cat’s teeth—try alternating between brushing and petting him so that he doesn’t associate the grooming with pain.

Clean up all barf immediately, to avoid reinforcing the behavior with attention.

It is important to clean up all barf immediately, to avoid reinforcing the behavior with attention. This means you should clean up any barf as soon as possible after your cat has thrown it. If you take too long cleaning up the barf, or if someone else cleans it up for you, then your cat may think that its actions have produced a positive result (attention) and will continue to do it in order to get more attention.

Give your cat a distraction while you are away from home.

When you are away from home, give your cat a distraction while you are away from home. A good way to do this is by giving your cat a toy or activity that will help keep them busy and distracted for hours.

Some toys you can use include:

Chew toys (with catnip)
Litter boxes or litter box covers with toys inside of them
Cat trees/scratchers/beds/carriers/tunnels

Have a regular playtime with your cat to burn excess energy.

The best way to combat this problem is with a regular playtime with your cat. This can be done using interactive toys, playing fetch with your pet or just having a good old fashioned pillow fight. Cats need to play in order to keep their minds and bodies healthy so it’s important that you find ways of keeping them active!

If you don’t have time for a game of fetch every day, that’s okay—we’ve got some other tips for keeping your kitty stimulated and happy too:

You can train your cat to use its litter box by placing the litter box in an area where the cat feels most comfortable (often this is near their food bowl). Then reward them when they successfully go potty in their own personal toilet!
If you want more specific training methods for your feline friend then check out our articles about how cats behave differently based on breed type or personality traits here at [link].

Licking all their fur off is not normal, and it could be due to allergies or parasites, or possibly a behavioral issue.

If your cat has a chronic skin condition that they’re unable to stop licking, this may indicate an underlying medical problem. If you notice any unusual changes in your cat’s skin or coat, consult with your veterinarian immediately.

Your vet can help determine if there are any underlying conditions causing the excessive grooming behavior by performing a thorough physical exam on the animal and testing its blood for internal issues such as thyroid imbalances or diabetes (which can cause excessive thirst).

There are many reasons why a cat will lick its fur off, so it’s important to know what these reasons are. You might have an allergy or parasite problem, or perhaps your cat is stressed by being in a new environment. If you think that your cat is licking its fur off because he’s bored, then playtime with him could help burn excess energy and keep him happy while you are away from home.

How To Stop A Cat From Licking Its Fur Off