>>I've done some more research on other web sites and am surprised at the variety of cures that are suggested for this problem... even herbal remedies and acupuncture! Actually, some of the herbal stuff sounds tempting... Does anyone know a cat this has helped?

>>Thanks.



As for the variety of opinions you're seeing, I think that may be true of almost any health and/or behavior problem. I notice it not only on pet-related sites, but also on sites and in books dealing with human disorders. In fact, different medical and veterinary schools teach different approaches, and consequently we often come across varying opinions within the medical community. This is one of the reasons that we seek second opinions when necessary as well. Different practitioners evaluate problems (and therefore, treatments) quite differently.



The best tip I can ever give anyone trying to correct any behavior problem is to give the selected treatment a chance to work. Few remedies, whether behavioral, holistic, or traditional medicinal, work overnight. Once your cat has been evaluated and the treatment that seems to fit him/her best has been selected, stick with it for a while. Most "cures" take a bit to work. Of course, if your cat's condition worsens or is serious enough to require immediate relief, then stop any exacerbating factors right away.



As for herbal remedies and accupuncture, I don't have any tips on that as it's not my field. (Hence, second opinions. ) We have a message board on CatHobbyist.com called "Ask the Holistic Vet." If you post your question there, he will have better tips for you in this area than I would.



That said, it's been my experience that most overgrooming occurs when the cat has some sort of parasite, food intolerance, or allergy. All can be very difficult to pinpoint and can take a lot of trial and error in conjunction with your vet to find the culprit.



Best of luck to you and your cat. Please keep us updated!




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PHCurious

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