Psychogenic Alopecia is kind of like “over grooming”. We’ve heard it called psychological baldness as well. A cat that has this condition will lick their fur or bathe incessantly, and in turn this could lead to loss of fur and then skin inflammation. If a cat experiences an abnormal amount of stress or anxiety, then this behavioral condition can be triggered in some cats.
When we rescued Belle, we believe she was extremely stressed in the beginning. Belle would be constantly taking baths. Constantly licking herself and always taking a break to give herself a quick cleaning. While I’m not sure we’ll ever understand what goes on in a cat’s brain and why they do what they do, we came to believe Belle was going through a very stressful time because her whole environment had changed with the move and a bunch of new friends.
What causes Psychogenic Alopecia
While the exact cause of psychogenic alopecia isn’t really known, it is thought to be caused by a range of factors, including stress, anxiety, and/or boredom. Some cats may be predisposed to the condition due to genetics or personality traits while others are more effected by environmental changes.
Belle and Paws had gone from an environment where they were by themselves most of the time, to an environment where someone was around ALL the time and they all a sudden had six or seven new friends to meet and interact with (cats and dogs). It was a tremendously stressful time for both Belle and Paws. However; Belle continued to show signs of Psychogenic Alopecia after initial days after her rescue while Paws seemed to be right at home in his new cat tree (studying us all). Belle’s Psychogenic Alopecia certainly didn’t effect her quality of life at all. After doing a little research we found out that the condition can be a more serious issue for some cats.
What to look for in cats with Psychogenic Alopecia
Some cats will actually keep licking their fur until the fur comes out.. then they keep on licking and then their skin gets irritated. We were lucky in that Belle didn’t have this condition so severely. While she constantly was taking baths and cleaning herself, it never rose to a level where her fur came out or irritated her skin… or worse.
Belle got over her condition in a couple months. In a loving environment where her stress levels were able to drop and she was able to relax and PLAY on a regular basis, Belle was able to get very comfortable in her new home and her Psychogenic Alopecia slowly but surely her condition started to die down and she became a cat that would bath and clean normally.
Through our research to figure out what was going on with her, we found that Psychogenic Alopecia isn’t totally understood but they know that some things in a cats life may trigger or intensify the symptoms of the condition.
- Changes in their environment – moving, remodeling in the home, going from a quiet environment to a busy atmosphere, losing a family member or other family pet can all effect a cat’s mental stress levels.
- Medical or bodily conditions – If a cat’s in pain, uncomfortable or is maybe itching constantly, then the cat can be stressed out by this and in turn trigger Psychogenic Alopecia.
- Confrontations, conflicts, tensions, altercations – A cat that has issues with another cat or animal may also trigger this kind of behavior in cats and may cause more frustration within the cats sphere or world.
- Loneliness, boredom, depression – Cat’s that are lonely, bored or depressed can also show signs of Psychogenic Alopecia.
We Were Lucky with Belle’s Psychogenic Alopecia
It’s important to note here that we were aware of Belle and her Psychogenic Alopecia immediately. She just never stopped bathing. We were able to diagnose for ourselves what was going on. Belle was washing all over her body and not just one area for starters. Belle also started to exhibit a decline in her Psychogenic Alopecia over the course of a two or three months. Belle never lost her hair and she never exhibited anymore signs of Psychogenic Alopecia after the initial months of rescuing her.
I mention Belle’s condition and our awareness of it here because sometimes when a cat is constantly licking themselves, its not Psychogenic Alopecia because of mental awareness issues. The cat may be injured. Alternatively, maybe there is an infection or something you can’t see. Cats will lick themselves in a sort of self caring sort of way.
As an owner you have to rule out parasites, fungal infections, allergies, or something more serious. Inspect your cat. You should be friendly enough with your cat that they will let you poke around with them. For household cats this is easy to say, but outdoor cats are another story… I know. If you’re trying to find out what’s going on with your cat, you have to be in a position to engage with them or study what’s going on.
Figure out what’s going on with your cat
After researching and studying Belle, we were able to put together what was going on. She obviously was stressed from the move. However, if her constant bathing and cleaning was for a different reasoning we would have continued down the rabbit hole as any owner should.
Psychogenic alopecia isn’t always obvious as it was with Belle. It’s not like a dramatic injury or a loud, visible problem. Instead, it’s a quiet, persistent issue that sometimes develops over time. Look for these subtle signs in your cat:
- Patches of thin or missing fur, often in symmetrical patterns
- Excessive licking, even when no visible irritation exists
- A cat that seems slightly more withdrawn or anxious
- Skin that looks slightly pink or irritated beneath the thinning fur
If you believe there is something else going on with your cat, then that may involve a trip to the vet. The vet will inspect the cat to see if there is anything going on externally like skin flaking or redness. They’ll check for lice and mites, etc. They may move on to blood tests, allergy testing and skin scrapings or biopsies to pursue what’s going on.
Once you’ve figured out there’s nothing going on, you may have to start looking into more specialized help with a behavioral veterinarian. They may help you understand more about why your cat has certain behaviors and what to do with them.
What do you do about Psychogenic Alopecia
For us it was rather easy for Belle. We didn’t have to do much because she was already now in a low stress environment and it was the change from her normal environment that helped her. Previous, she just with her brother Paws, alone for most of the day, and relatively ignored for the rest. Both Belle and Paws lived in an unstimulating environment when they came to us and it was obvious from the start. Overweight from free feeding and no energy or interest as we see with other cats.
Providing an environment where they had constant love from us and constant interaction with other cats and dogs was the perfect medicine for Belle (and Paws as well). This helped her overcome her Psychogenic Alopecia. She got better and her condition disappeared within a few months.
Things you might try to treat your own cat’s Psychogenic Alopecia if you believe they may be exhibiting such behavior might include some of the things that worked for Belle.
- A safe, low stress, comfortable and STABLE environment alongside stimulation and interaction with other cats.
- Scratching posts, toys, and various hiding places or cat trees are excellent for providing a playful atmosphere. Increase playtime with your cat.
- If you have multiple household cats (like us), make sure to provide enough litter boxes, feed and water bowls as well as there own private hiding and sleeping areas.
Other things you may need to try to dive further into your own cats Psychogenic Alopecia might include these areas to try. If simply changing her home habitat to a more stable loving environment hadn’t had worked (as sometimes does with rescue cats), you might try:
- Using pheromone diffusers, calming supplements or other medications may help reducing stress and anxiety. We’ve used some of these for other cats when it came to anxiety and some of these methods can be quite helpful for both cats and dogs.
- Topical sprays and creams might help if there’s an irritation. You may need a cone or pillow collar to stop your cat from licking the cream or spray off after you’ve put it on.
- Allergy and Blood testing might be needed to see if there is something else going on medically that is contributing to your cat’s problem.
- If still a problem after ruling out the medical stuff, you may have to call in a veterinary behaviorist beyond your own veterinarian (if they aren’t one already). In any case, at this point if nothing else has worked on your own, then you should be looking for specialized help to develop a treatment plan to curb your cat’s behavior. A veterinarian behaviorist is such a person.
If left Unchecked Psychogenic Alopecia can lead to further Issues
The treatment of psychogenic alopecia depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. What you do about it will depend on your own situation and your own cat. If allowed to continue one can expect hair loss and baldness and as mentioned even infections. Look for symptoms on your cat. Check the belly, chest legs and other areas they may be licking consistently.
In mild cases, cats may only show signs of excessive grooming, licking, or even chewing (biting) their fur. In more serious cases cats may develop bald patches, skin irritation, and maybe an infection. If you think your cat may have psychogenic alopecia, you should see a veterinarian and rule out any underlying medical conditions. Once any medical causes have been ruled out, a behaviorist can help you develop a treatment plan.
Many people don’t realize that psychogenic alopecia is more than a skin condition, it’s a communication to the owner. It’s your cat’s way of saying, “Something isn’t right in my world, and I’m struggling to cope.”
Each bald patch tells a story. Sometimes it whispers of loneliness, other times of overstimulation. Sometimes it speaks of past traumas or current anxieties that we, as human companions, might not immediately understand.
Full Recovery?
Belle definitely falls into the “Full Recovery” category. After her rescue, it was a matter of 2-3 months and she was very comfortable and her bathing had died down considerably. When doing our research into our own cat’s problem, we discovered that this is a problem that most cats can and do overcome when they have patient, caring and loving owners.
Attentive interaction and engagement with your cat can help yourself see what your own cats needs and issues are. If you feel professional help is needed or warranted, then don’t be afraid to seek it. Consulting with a veterinary professional for personalized can get advice tailored to your specific cat’s needs.