Thriving Cat

Why Do Cats Pull Out Their Fur? (How To Stop It)

Cat Licking Fur

Why Do Cats Pull Out Their Fur?

There can be many reasons cats pull out their fur, including food allergies, infestation, systemic medical causes and stress related (called ‘psychological alopecia’ in cats).  If you have ruled out infestation and medical reasons, anxiety is often the cause. Try these products to help sooth your cat’s anxiety and fix the behavior. I was so confused as to why my tabby boy was suddenly pulling out his fur in mouthfuls. He started doing this last year at 9 years old and the vet could find no reason.  We have finally found a great solution. Jackson Galaxy Safe Space for Cats Drops stops 95% of his fur pulling. It is not a 100% solution but it has drastically cut down the obsessive fur pulling and resulting clumps of fur all over the house. The drops are very easy to use, just rub them on your cat’s fur. That is it! The same line also makes a formula called Obsession Solution. I have tried that too and see little difference between the two products for this purpose.  If anything I think the Safe Space for Cats Drops work better. We already have Safe Space Drops for another cat who has anxiety and behavioral problems if untreated. You can check out Safe Space for Cats Drops from the link below:

Bottle of Jackson Galaxy Safe Space For Cat Drops

Try Jackson Galaxy Safe Space For Cats Drops

Jackson Galaxy Solutions also makes a drop called Skin Soother which can help with irritation caused by allergies or infection with insect pests. I have not tried this drop yet but I plan to try it next. It is made specifically for obsessive behaviors due to irritated skin so it should work well.

So Why Do Cats Obsessively Pull Their Fur?

There can be many reasons cats pull out fur ranging from medical to psychological. Medical reasons can include: fleas, mites, ringworm and other parasites. Underlying cancer or other conditions could also cause cats to bite, lick and pull out fur. Systemic problems could also be a cause such as adrenal problems. Our vet suggested our boy’s heart murmur could irritate him and that could be triggering this. In fact taking him to the vet for the fur pulling is how we found out about the heart murmur. I am not saying a heart murmur is a likely cause and we really do not know if the two are related.

It appears now that he needed to have his anal glands cleaned out (a quick visit to a vet tech that just takes a few minutes)! Wow. We looked at so many different possibilities and that is what he really needed after all! When the anal glands get clogged up it becomes uncomfortable and cats may start biting or pulling out their fur since they can’t fix it. If cats have diarrhea due to being sick or food changes, that can prevent the anal glands from emptying and everything gets backed up. There can be other causes as well.

Other common causes for pulling fur are fleas and food allergies. For more information on food allergies and intolerance read my post here. There are multiple species of mites (called “scabies”) which can cause the condition commonly referred to as “mange”. These itchy, irritating outbreaks are highly contagious so if you have multiple pets itching this could be the cause.  If these medical reasons are ruled out then psychological causes should be considered.

What Are Psychological Causes For Cats Pulling Out Fur?

Cats are very sensitive to stress and changes in their environment. Moving, gaining or losing a pet, getting a new baby, a new neighbor cat or dog or any other life change is very disruptive to a cat’s sensitive routine. Other causes for anxiety and obsessive grooming can be due to fighting with another pet or being around stressed-out people. If you are upset your pet will be upset too. Sadness, anger and stress all affect our pets. We can see if they walk up and check on us but we may not know our stress is causing them stress as well. A simple change to the family schedule can stress a cat. They are creatures who love routine. Any of these stressors could cause psychologic alopecia. ‘Alopecia’ means hair loss.

Stress from Abandonment and Adoption

Cats may feel scared, confused and angry if they are dumped by their previous owners. They may sit in a cramped, noisy shelter for weeks or months and then find themselves in yet another strange environment when they are adopted. Understand that your cat is going to feel some sort of emotion due to this life change. Depending on the cat and their treatment in the past they may be scared, confused or even angry. If they had what they thought was a happy home they may feel like they don’t belong in your home and have been kidnapped. If they have been through a rough time they may be relieved to be in your home but still be cautious and nervous. It WILL take time for a cat to adjust to a new home. With love and patience your cat will become a happy member of your family. In the mean time you can help ease their transition with a product like Jackson Galaxy Safe Space for Cats Drops. One of my cats needs this. Without it he was a wreck but with Sentry Calming Collars and these drops he is perfectly happy and well behaved. He is gentle, loving, doesn’t get into any trouble and is really a perfect cat. He follows me around like a dog and so his nickname is Pooch.

How Can I Stop My Cat From Pulling Out His Fur?

If you have taken your cat to the vet and they don’t find any medical reason for obsessive grooming and you have had their anal glands checked (sounds strange but that was the cause for my boy), you should try to rule out food allergies as well. Food allergies and intolerance are related but often have different common symptoms. Food intolerance often causes gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and throwing up. Food allergies often cause itching and skin irritation. It can be a slow process determining what your cat is allergic too. Common allergens can be specific proteins in dairy and fish or something totally different like rabbit. If you don’t see any other signs of food allergy or intolerance you can try the Safe Space for Cats Drops  or Obsession Solution drops from Jackson Galaxy. They are applied on the fur. Nothing has to be administered or swallowed. Just rub the drops on your cat’s fur and you are done. The drops have hardly any perceptible smell to people but they work wonders on cats with any sort of anxiety.

The instructions say to apply multiple times per day but I usually apply them only twice per day but with a bit larger dose. More often will certainly be helpful starting out. I love that these drops don’t have a strong chemical smell. That is one downside to some of the pheromone mimicking products like the collars.

Whether food allergies or infestation or stress is the cause of skin irritation you can try Jackson Galaxy Solutions Skin Soother drops. I have not used them but they are made specifically for soothing cat’s excessive grooming caused by skin irritation.

Tips For Fixing Fur Pulling

 

Get your cat’s anal glands checked. It seems weird but that was at least part of the cause of my boy’s horrible fur pulling. If that is not the problem then try the drops and look into other possibilities like food allergies or intolerance.

Of course you should always be as calm and happy as possible around your cat. If you are upset no amount of drops or other products will counteract that stress for your pet. Also make sure you take your cat to a veterinarian in case their behavior is caused by a medical cause.

If stress is the cause of the condition, telling your cat they are bad or yelling at them when they pull out fur will actually make the problem worse. Even if they stop the behavior when you tell them not to they will still do it when you are not looking.

I have noticed if I miss a dose of the drops my boy will pull out fur. Therefore, I would imagine applying them more frequently is better if your cat is still pulling fur. Of course make sure parasites like mites are not the cause. A single flea bite can cause many days or even weeks of itching but please do not chemical flea collars or drops. They are toxic and cause seizures and permanent damage in some cats and dogs. I know someone personally who has such a cat who almost died from flea treatments. Please look for natural flea products.

For more information on cat health and behavior problems and solutions, please look around this website. The Categories on the right side of the page will take you to the specific topics you select.

Please note: I am not a veterinarian. Nothing in this post constitutes medical advice. Always see a veterinarian before attempting to diagnose any medical condition.

 

Jessica

https://thrivingcat.com

Thriving Cat makes use of affiliate relationships with merchants such as Jackson Galaxy for monetization. This means when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in a small commission that is credited to this site. This does not affect purchase price and you will not pay a penny more.

Please leave any thoughts or questions in a comment below! I would love to hear from you.

 

 

 

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23 Comments

  1. Alblue

    My aunt’s cat has a habit of pulling its fur. She thinks it just flea, but I don’t think so. Really glad to find your article here. Since this habit has existed for so long I can remember, I’m actually suspecting its food is the cause. I’ll tell my aunt to test another cat food brand. Is it possible to test food allergies by consulting with a vet too? Thanks

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      Hello,

      Most vets will not test for food allergies. They will tell you to try elimination diets and find a food that works for your pet. Vets may perform skin tests for skin reactions but often just recommend changing food for that as well. 

      If the cat is on a cheap food like Meow Mix, regular Purina etc. it could likely be causing skin problems due to poor nutrition as well. Try a higher quality cat food if possible. The cheap foods are full of fillers and don’t offer much nutrition. This can lead to dry skin and many health problems. 

      I hope your aunt’s cat gets some relief one way or the other!

      Thanks for stopping by,

      Jessica

      Reply
  2. Jon

    It is often disheartening when a cat or a pet is pulling out their fur but if my dog has taught me anything it is that pets often do it for a reason and are trying to tell you something. Most of the time the reason for pulling out fur is a bug or skin tag that is bothering them. Have you always been able to pinpoint the cause of the problem?

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      No, we have not pinpointed the cause of the problem but the vet suggested it may be stress related since they could not see anything wrong with the skin. 

      We have had multiple vets look and not find a problem and the drops seem to be working so that is what we use now. 

      Thank you,

      Jessica

      Reply
  3. Paul

    Dear Jessica,

    Thanks a lot for the insightful & informative article and I got helpful insights from your article.

    I often wonder why our cat and dog pull out their fur but I thought its a normal behavior with them. You have provided me with the answer for this question. Recently my wife gave birth to our boy baby, so far we didn’t care much about the cat and dog fur in our house we clean it twice a day but my wife advised me to check for some solutions. And I found your helpful post.

    My vet advised me to give bath often to our pets and it will stop this problem but nothing changed. I was shocked and surprised to know that the stress plays an important role in this. Jackson Galaxy solutions is on my list.

    May I ask…

    Can I use “Jackson Galaxy – Safe Space for Cats” Drops to my dog as well? or is there any drops for dog? Please advice.

    Much Success!

    Paul

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      Hello Paul,

      Yes, there is a “Safe Space for Dogs” product as well. I have not used that one. If dogs and cats are really healthy they should not need baths. Most itching is due to food allergies, pests like fleas or a lack of proper nutrition. Correcting the dietary problem often fixes skin problems unless it is caused by stress. In that case the Jackson Galaxy Safe Space drops should work. 

      I hope your wife and baby are well and you find a solution for your pets.

      Thank you,

      Jessica

      Reply
      1. St Paul Severe

        Thanks a lot for your swift response and clarification on “Safe Space for Dog”.

        Wishing you great Success!

        Paul

        Reply
  4. Gomer

    Finally, I found the solution I’m looking for! Thank you, as my pet cat now looks like a cancer patient with several bald spots all over its body. Previously, I thought they were the result of his recent boxing with another male cat from our neighborhood, good thing that I read this article and learned they can be the result of an pest infection.

    If I apply the drops in the affected area, what if the cat licks the medication applied? How can I prevent my cat from licking the applied medication?

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      This is not a medication for pests. This is for anxiety. 

      It is fine if the cat licks it and in fact you can put the drops in their drinking water. 

      Thank you

      Reply
  5. TimMoto

    This is news to me.  I had no idea that cats could suffer from psychological causes.  That the last thing I would have assumed for my cats. I thought as long as I was with them and they had sufficient food around they’d be fine but I now know better, thanks to this article. 

    Another issue you point out is the chemical properties of some medications that are meant to treat mites, fleas, etc but can have very adverse affects to the cat in other ways.

    Very educational article and I highly recommend making this information available via social media.  I’ll bet there are a ton of cat lovers who could use this information.

    Thanks again.

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      Thanks Tim. My boy is now all better and no longer pulling out his fur. We still don’t know what triggered his behavior but I am giving him the drops every day. He has become extra happy lately as well. We don’t know if it is due to the drops but he is now much more affectionate and cuddly, and seems to be smiling all the time.

      I am so glad you found this useful.

      Jessica

      Reply
  6. Pentrental

    Great question. My guess would be that cats pull out their fur for reasons like hygiene and temperature control. I did not consider that this activity could be due to stress, but it makes sense. Jackson Galaxy Solutions looks like a pretty solid product for dealing with this type of behavior. I wonder, is there a way to train cats like we do dogs?

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      Hello,

      Yes, Jackson Galaxy drops are wonderful and my boy is not totally over his fur pulling phase. What do you mean you wonder if we can train cats like dogs? Do you mean in general or related to pulling out fur?

      Many cats are trained but the success of training depends on the breed and personality of the cat as well as the patience of the person. For example, many cat can learn to walk on a leash and harness. Generally cats decide what they want to do however. They will walk on a leash if they want to get outside and walk on a leash.

      Jessica

      Reply
  7. Jordan Smith

    When I recently asked my wife her thoughts on why do cats pull out their hair her confident response was: “Because they’re too hot.”
    Although she was joking (at least I hope she was!) my thought then was that there are certain behaviors performed by our cats that don’t always have an obvious or definite cause, as much as we might like them to. From this article now I’ve really learnt a lot of things, a big thanks to that.

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      That is true Jordan. Another example is a cat purring. It may seem purring indicated a cat is happy but cats also purr if they are injured or sick! The purr creates a vibration that can lower blood pressure (in people) as well as sooth the cat and even mend broken bones! A purr has many purposes other than showing contentment and happiness. 

      Thank you for your thoughts here,

      Jessica

      Reply
  8. Fran Kelso

    Jessica, I’m so glad to see you have done an article on hair-pulling. As you may remember, I recently adopted an elderly cat (he is 14) from the shelter in Juneau. He’s a cat I’ve known for years; I used to visit his family and he always slept with me. When I got him from the shelter, he had been there for seven months, poor thing. The yapping, howling, whining dogs must have made him crazy, as he is a timid cat, anyway.

    When I got him home and let him out, he was so glad to be out of that place that he followed me around all day and purred. In his stress, he had pulled all the fur off his stomach and in strips down his legs. The fine black fur on his ears was rubbed off — they looked like parchment.

    He is on a “Renacare” supplement and a special diet. I’ve had him now for 3 1/2 months, and the fur is almost all grown back. His ears are black again. He is now a happy cat.

    I really think love has a lot to do with it. I shower him with love and attention, and he likes it. He sleeps with me; I had to put a special chair for him next to my computer or he was in my lap all day. Oh, and another thing I’ve done — I give him CBD oil. I have a friend who makes a totally organic, high CBD-low THC oil, and I give the cat 10 drops in his meal, morning and night. His arthritis seems to be much better — instead of limping, he’s back to running. On the whole, he is in much better shape than he was when I brought him home.

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      That is wonderful Fran. I am so glad he has you! It sounds like he is healthy and happy now. I love natural supplements for pets rather than prescription drugs. They are safer and often cheaper as well as less likely to have terrible tastes and smells for the pet.

      It is amazing how well the Jackson Galaxy drops have worked for both of my boys. They are both so much happier when they are getting these drops applied to their fur every day. I love that there is nothing for them to ingest! It is all scent based. I am writing a new review of Jackson Galaxy products now. I am glad the CBD oil is working for your boy.

      Thanks for stopping by and for taking care of your rescued boy!
      Jessica

      Reply
  9. Willow

    I have a beautiful cat who has pulled his fur out throughout various stages of his life. I am certain that the cause is psychological, as he was born feral. When he was young, he pulled most of the fur out of his big, fluffy tail, and it broke my heart. I wanted to put him back outside, but he was only 3-4 months old, and would have been alone outside. My kids begged me to keep him in.

    He grew the fur back on his tail, but has went through stages where he’ll pick at another area and start it again. He’s 12 years old now, and the vet said that sometimes feral cats will do that. He’s ran off a few times over the years, but has always come back. I don’t think he has any interest in running off at this point, but he’ll still go through stages where he’ll pull at his fur.

    I’ve thought about trying CBD oil, but he’s not the easiest cat to give anything to. We have another indoor cat, so putting it on the food wouldn’t work well, as we wouldn’t want the other cat to have it. I noticed that the Safe Space for Cats had a spray option. That would work well for him as I could spray him directly.

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      I put the drops in my hand and just run my hand over his fur. I don’t spray it on directly since my cats don’t like the spray concept but if your cat doesn’t mind then it should work fine.

      I hope you find a solution for your boy.

      Thanks for stopping by,
      Jessica

      Reply
      1. Willow

        That is a great idea that I never thought of. I can give him his Frontline treatment when he is calm, so putting the drops in my hand would probably work better than the spray. Thank you for that suggestion.

        Reply
        1. Jessica (Post author)

          I hope it helps him like it helped my boy!

          Reply
  10. Misael H

    My kitty has been pulling out her fur for for a while. I didn’t really think much of it but then I started seeing really big chunks on the ground. This is why I started to look up why this might be common and I am happy that I’ve run into this article. From the looks of it, you actually provide detail in other areas of pet ownership. I really appreciate this information, and now I know what to look for with my little kitty cat

    Reply
    1. Jessica (Post author)

      Hello Misael,

      I am glad you found some answers here for your kitty pulling out her fur. I hope she is feeling better soon and you find more useful information here. I try to cover a wide range of cat health and behavior topics. 

      Thanks for commenting and stopping by,

      Jessica 

      Reply

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