Tiger Kitty's checkup

[Medusa]

I took TK in for his last round of shots today and Dr. Lee noticed that he's missing hair in spots. He has idiopathic alopecia, ie., he's tearing his hair out. I haven't noticed, quite honestly, b/c he lives in the garage b/c of his FIV. So Dr. Lee couldn't determine if it's due to allergies or the FIV b/c he's also sneezing hard and in rapid fire. So Dr. Lee gave him a Depo shot, which should help for at least 30 days, but if he starts doing it again, then I'll have to keep him on monthly Depo shots. He has skin like rhinoceros hide. Dr. Lee had difficulty inserting the needle. I sure don't relish a monthly trip to the vet, that's for sure, but I'll do it if I have to. I now need to apply his flea stuff and then he can go back outside if he wants to. I had a kitty door installed in the garage but hopefully, he'll want to stay close to home. I don't like my cats being outdoors but I have no choice.

So...has anyone else dealt w/a cat obsessively tearing out his hair?

[Karen]

It is often caused by stress, or discomfort. Is he not liking being confined, maybe? Is this a new behavior?

[Medusa]

I don't know if it's new behavior. I've never seen him do it, so it must be when I leave. I spend time w/him every day and at night after I put the rest of the Fur Posse to bed, I bring him in the house for about an hour. He seems to like it in the garage just fine but I'll see how he reacts when I show him how to use the kitty door. It's locked right now but he sits in front of it and if he sees movement, he cringes. I can see now why he was so beat up when I rescued him. He's definitely a lover and not a fighter. He finally has hopped up onto the shelves in the garage and sits in front of a window and he doesn't seem to be afraid there. I'm not sure what could be causing him stress.

[lizbud]

I don't know if it's new behavior. I've never seen him do it, so it must be when I leave. I spend time w/him every day and at night after I put the rest of the Fur Posse to bed, I bring him in the house for about an hour. He seems to like it in the garage just fine but I'll see how he reacts when I show him how to use the kitty door. It's locked right now but he sits in front of it and if he sees movement, he cringes. I can see now why he was so beat up when I rescued him. He's definitely a lover and not a fighter. He finally has hopped up onto the shelves in the garage and sits in front of a window and he doesn't seem to be afraid there. I'm not sure what could be causing him stress.


Maybe he is just lonely.:( You certainly have done everything under the sun for him already, but it could be something as simple as he doesn't like being alone.

[Medusa]

You could be right, Liz. There isn't too much I can do about it, though, except to try to spend more time w/him but I doubt it's human company he wants. He bolted through the door the other day before I had a chance to put the others to bed downstairs. He ran up to Coco Puff as if to say "Hi, buddy! Wanna play?" Coco Puff screeched at him and TK became very submissive. It made me sad.

[Karen]

Hmm, maybe pick up a stuffed kitty to be his friend?

[Medusa]

I'll see how he does when he goes back outdoors and if he's still doing the tearing out his hair thing, then I'll give that a whirl.

[phesina]

I don't have any ideas, Mary, but I do have prayers and good wishes and love to send along. Be well, Tiger Kitty, you are greatly loved!

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[Catty1]

I suspect that once he can be outdoors again he will feel better. :):love:

[krazyaboutkatz]

My Pearl will over groom her lower tummy area sometimes. My vet wasn't too concerned about it because it wasn't that bad. She's never completely bald and sometimes she'll even let her fur grow back. I'm sure that hers is caused by stress or boredom. Luckily she doesn't need to be on meds at this time. I hope that Tiger Kitty will start growing his fur back soon and feel better too. Good luck.:)

[lizbud]

You could be right, Liz. There isn't too much I can do about it, though, except to try to spend more time w/him but I doubt it's human company he wants. He bolted through the door the other day before I had a chance to put the others to bed downstairs. He ran up to Coco Puff as if to say "Hi, buddy! Wanna play?" Coco Puff screeched at him and TK became very submissive. It made me sad.


Awwwww, that is sad.:( Maybe your Vet could put you in touch with another FIP kitty who needs a home and would be a good match with TK. That would
be a win-win for both of them.:)

[Medusa]

Awwwww, that is sad.:( Maybe your Vet could put you in touch with another FIP kitty who needs a home and would be a good match with TK. That would
be a win-win for both of them.:)

I thought about that and I would do in the best interests of TK but I sure would cry and miss him. He's such a little lovebug. To think that I thought he was a feral, snaggle toothed ol' tomcat and he turned out to be a sweet, submissive purr machine.

Last night I let him in as usual after the rest are downstairs in bed. He bolted through the door, meowing as if he were calling someone. There were no kitties except Gracie and she steers clear of him, so I feel safe about that. After a while, he wanted to go back out into the garage, poor boy.

Today I showed him the kitty door and I tried to teach him how to use it but he wasn't having any of it. So I left the entire door open and kept calling him, so he finally verrrrry slowly stepped outside. He walked into his shelter and really examined it. So I walked several feet away to feed the birds and I didn't see him so I thought he was out and about. Nope. He went back into the garage. I guess he feels safe in there now. I just don't want him to be miserable b/c my garage isn't heated or air conditioned. When the weather gets really warm, the garage is like an oven. Surely he'll want to go outside then. I hope.

[lizbud]

I thought about that and I would do in the best interests of TK but I sure would cry and miss him. He's such a little lovebug. To think that I thought he was a feral, snaggle toothed ol' tomcat and he turned out to be a sweet, submissive purr machine.

Last night I let him in as usual after the rest are downstairs in bed. He bolted through the door, meowing as if he were calling someone. There were no kitties except Gracie and she steers clear of him, so I feel safe about that. After a while, he wanted to go back out into the garage, poor boy.

Today I showed him the kitty door and I tried to teach him how to use it but he wasn't having any of it. So I left the entire door open and kept calling him, so he finally verrrrry slowly stepped outside. He walked into his shelter and really examined it. So I walked several feet away to feed the birds and I didn't see him so I thought he was out and about. Nope. He went back into the garage. I guess he feels safe in there now. I just don't want him to be miserable b/c my garage isn't heated or air conditioned. When the weather gets really warm, the garage is like an oven. Surely he'll want to go outside then. I hope.



Sorry Mary, but I didn't mean for you to give him up, I meant for the Vet to help you find another ( with the same condition) to join him in his garage apartment.:)

[Medusa]

Sorry Mary, but I didn't mean for you to give him up, I meant for the Vet to help you find another ( with the same condition) to join him in his garage apartment.:)

Oh, I see. Well, that isn't a bad idea. I'll have to chew on that one. Having just recently adopted Gracie, too, I'm afraid it'll put a real cramp in my finances to have another cat to feed and vet. I still have $25,000.00 to go yet before my surgery bill is paid off. Ack!