My poor little thing

Yesterday I came home and noticed that Elroy looked weird. Yeah, weirder than normal.

On Monday when we came back from the weekend away I noticed that I could see more of his pink belly than I usually could. Or at least, I THOUGHT SO. I mean, it's hard to tell. He likes to lie on his back, all sprawled out with his legs in the air, it must feel good on his no balls. And usually all you see is white kitty underbelly. Which you absolutely should not touch. He looks like he is saying "Hey! Pet my belly!" HE IS NOT SAYING THAT.

So, instead of all the normal white fur everywhere, I saw pink. Pink kitty belly skin. I thought, 'hmm, that's weird.' but I also thought maybe I just hadn't paid super close attention before. Cause, you know, I'm self absorbed and stuff.

Anyway. Yesterday I got home and for some reason I noticed more belly than normal. And a little more naked hind leg quarter as well (which makes him sound like dinner. Mmm, hind quarter! Don't mind if I do!). And then I noticed a BIG BALD SPOT right on his back. About the size of a half dollar. But, THAT WAS SKIN, baby. No doubt about it.

I immediately typed in "kitty bald spots" on Google and spent a half hour reading all the possible things that could be wrong with him. Among them, kitty leukima, ring worm, and some kind of mental disorder. All wonderful possibilities! Finally I found this article which mentioned that cats who have high anxiety and are prone to stress will often overgroom in times of change.

Anyway. I spent all night petting him and letting him sleep on the bed. He was the little spoon and I whispered in his kitty ear and told him he is just not allowed to be sick.

He's a good boy.

I love him.

Comments

[turtalia]

awe, look at that adorable little nose!
when I was born my mom's cat promptly started nawing all of her fur off. she was brought to the vet, diagnosed neurotic. sensitive little darlings.

[Em]

Yeah, I already KNOW he's neurotic. And he HATES the vet, so I figure I will just keep an eye on him.

[Chaeriste]

My cat, Gabriel the Perfect, did that, pulling his fur. Are you finding clumps of fur anywhere? It's usually pretty conspicuous... they want you to see it, notice it. I took him to the vet, they said he was anxious, gave him kitty valium, and it worked, but I didn't want to keep him drugged, so what I did was distract him when I noticed him doing it. Try to break the cycle. Generally, they get anxious and bored and if they can't find something else to do, they turn that energy on themselves. Try a few toys that you rotate into use, so he doesn't get bored. Loving on him is also a fabulous idea. He is a darling boy. Go to my website and see mine, who don't live w/me anymore, but they are still mine and I love them so. I hope Elroy gets better.

[joshua]

maybe the rain is just getting to him. i hope he perks up soon.

[jenB]

my benoit is a nervous, clingy kitty too. he barfs when he is anxious (seriously). i love him too (benoit AND Elroy). i hope things get better in kitty-land.

we take the cats to a holistic vet (seriously) and i thought they might have some herbal prozac or something for the ben. i might look into it.

xoxo

[styro]

I will second the valium notion. Any good old-style pharmacy can mix it up in a cat-friendly flavored liquid (beef, chicken, tuna, SARDINE) and you can mix it into his food. I warn you: it will make him drunk, he will meow / howl a lot and he will pass out in weird places like a drunk cat. but dude, it is the only thing that worked for the anxiety. I might have some left in my fridge... but i'm not sure. i'm pretty sure i still have the other kitty antidepressants but they didn't work at all compared to the valium. I got your back, girl, having a compulsive cat (mine was compelled to spray on the front door) is hell on earth. I also have some Feliway diffusers---you'd need refills, but I could send you one and you could try it. The cat phermones are supposed to calm the kitty down...