Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie,
I'm sure I'm not the only person that has this problem, so I thought I'd submit it to your newsletter. It doesn't bother me anymore, I'm used to it, but I'm sure some owners out there would be worried.

My kitty, GM, is a nervous kitty in the respect that to vent frustration, she licks her fur out. She's not a compulsive bather. She literally licks parts of her body until they go bald. She's not crazy about other cats being around, and she's only done this for about 2 years, when a cat other than her sister was introduced to her. Unfortunately, when one kitty leaves my life, it's replaced by another fairly quickly, and she doesn't adjust well. I've told myself that after this last kitten, I'll not get any more for QUITE some time, and only if something happens to remove one kitty from my home.

I've tried distracting her, squirting her with water, throwing toys at her, startling her, and coating her bald patches with bad-tasting stuff. Nothing works. I've used Scope, Fire taco sauce, Bitter Apple spray, dish detergent. Nothing works. She has to lick. I've thought about getting a kitty halo and putting it on her until the hair grows back, but I have a feeling she'd just start right back up once I took the halo off. The only bald parts are the insides of her front legs, her belly, and the base of her tail, so the only way you can see it is if she's laying on her side. I think it's kind of amusing to look at, as she has quite a Buddha belly. She doesn't have any sores, which is the main reason I don't really mind her doing it.

Anyway, if you have any input on how I might be able to get her to stop, I'd appreciate it. But, I know it's due to her having issues with other kitties, and as I'm not getting ANY MORE, maybe once she finally adjusts to the new little sisters, she'll stop on her on. Mostly I want to get general advice out to your other readers.

Thanks!
The Southern Gothic Beauty

Sinéad: Well, hi there, SGB. We certainly can help you understand your cat's problem. I have had a little fur-licking episode of my own, so I can certainly sympathize with your kitty friend, GM.

Siouxsie: Little episode, huh? Your belly was absolutely naked for the longest time! Hee hee hee!

Sinéad: Oh, stop it! Some cats have sensitive dispositions and are easily upset by stresses in their environment . . .

Siouxsie: You mean they're wimps, right?

Sinéad: Don't make me come over there.

Siouxsie: Ooh, I'm scared now.

JaneA: Ladies, please!

Sinéad: As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted . . . some cats, due to their high degree of sensitivity, respond to stress with odd behaviors, including licking out their fur. I know that I started my fur licking while Mama was going through a lot of stress and upheavals, and I got worried too. Mama noticed it once things calmed down a little bit for her, and she took me to the vet to make sure I wasn't trying to tell her that something in my tummy was hurting me. The vet said I was fine, but that my fur licking was probably about an allergy. Mama did tell the vet that she'd changed our food and gotten a new bedspread shortly before she noticed my sweet, naked tummy, so the vet told her to change back to our old food and see if that helped.

Siouxsie: Thanks a lot, Sinéad. That old food tasted like poo!

Sinéad: I didn't see you having any trouble eating it, Miss Flabby-Flanks.

Siouxsie: Shut up, or I'll bat you!

Sinéad: Mama also got me some yummy tasting stuff that she rubbed on my fur until I told her I'd be glad to lick it out of her hand because it was so good.

JaneA: The yummy-tasting stuff Sinéad mentioned was an animal-care flower essence called Anxiety, which I ordered from Green Hope Farms in Meriden, New Hampshire. They have a complete line of flower essences for people and animals, and they're all quite wonderful. Their essences are made from completely organic flowers and preserved with Red Shiso Root instead of the alcohol or glycerin used to preserve many flower essences and herbal remedies. Cats don't like the taste of alcohol, but these essences worked well and Sinéad and Siouxsie liked the taste, too. Another thing you can do to help your kitty adapt to changes in her life is to put a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy (available at health food stores and some pharmacies) in her water bowl. It's non-invasive and non-poisonous, and many holistic veterinarians recommend it for animals of any species that have been traumatized. I've used Rescue Remedy on myself and on Sinéad and Siouxsie with good results.

Sinéad: I hope this helps you and GM sort out your Buddha-belly problem and helps your kitty friends get along better together.

Siouxsie: I bet she's just glad to know there are other wimpy cats in the world, too!

JaneA: Siouxsie!

Siouxsie: I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. Now can I have some food?

JaneA: It's not dinner time, and you know it.

Siouxsie: Do you see what kind of torture we have to go through here? Somebody call the ASPCA! The Humane Society!

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.