Your cat's skin is the largest organ of his body so his skin and fur are good places to check for signs of stress. Is his coat soft, shiny and smooth? Does he have hair loss? Does he over groom? Are there parasites like fleas or signs of parasites in the form of small bumps or cysts you can see hiding under his fur. Like humans, when a cat is under stress the immune system is suppressed so allergies appear where there weren’t any before. For example, under stress, your cat might develop an allergic reaction to the tiny amount of saliva left in the bites of fleas and ticks. A sign of an immune system flare-up is when you see your cat is over-grooming himself by excessive licking or scratching the places where he has bites.
When you notice your cat over-grooming his fur and other signs of infestation, check with your vet to eliminate the parasites on his body.
It is also important to reduce his stress and boost his immune system to reduce his allergic reaction when he comes into contact with offending parasites in the future.
Visit the appropriate pages of this web site to learn more about reducing your cat’s stress with exercise, diet and nutrition, and home environment.
If you or someone in your household is allergic to cats, the allergic reaction is likely to be from the cat’s saliva left on his fur after he licks himself. You can remove the saliva every day by wiping your cat’s fur with a damp wash cloth.
Indoor cats need to have their nails trimmed, but outdoor cats usually wear down their own nails by climbing trees and walking on rough hard surfaces outside.
