Hi There,

I think that Pepsi has obsessive-compulsive disorder. In cats this usually manifests as overgrooming and self-mutilation. I feel that this problem is most likely to occur in cats that have had very stressful lives.

Pepsi would probably do well on medication. This would probably not be a lifetime thing, although it's possible. Various drugs can be used to treat OCD. I know from personal experience with one of my cats that Clomipramine is a good drug for cats. It is used for other problems also, such as spraying, aggression, and hyperesthesia syndrome. Some vets will use Paxil, or one of the other human antidepressants/antianxiety drugs, for the same problems.

My most recent adoption is a cat that was very nervous in his foster home. He was overgrooming and pulling his fur out all the time. When I adopted him he looked like his sides were shaved. He was also defecating outside of the litterbox while being fostered.

Ray has other issues, such as blindness and neuro problems, which cause him to go in circles. One specialist felt that the circling was OCD and recommended medication. I chose to just take Ray home without meds and see how he did. Three months later his fur is all grown back and he has never missed using a litterbox. In his case just changing his enviornment made a huge difference. He still circles, but many blind cats do so to try and orient themselves. He also has a permanent head tilt.

My cat Jonny Cat is the one that has been on Clomipramine for a few years. He has hyperesthesia syndrome, which is a neuro related problem that causes twitching, and in his case, aggression. He also used to spray on a regular basis. As long as he gets his meds, Jonny Cat does very well and the meds have not affected him adversely in any way.

Please keep us updated on what you decide to do. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask

Regards,
PHKitkat

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