Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin disease and behavior changes in cats explained
By Lilly, M Leanne & Siracusa, Carlo·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2024·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Skin Disease and Behavior Changes in the Cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with skin problems, like hair loss and sores, may also show changes in behavior due to stress. This can happen because the cat is either feeling pain from health issues or is stressed out, leading to overgrooming and worsening skin conditions. To help these cats, veterinarians recommend a combination of treatments that address both the physical skin issues and the underlying behavioral causes. By tackling both aspects, cats can see improvements in their skin health and overall well-being.
People also search for: cat skin problems and behavior · why is my cat overgrooming · treatment for cat alopecia · cat stress and skin issues
Abstract
The health of the skin and coat of a cat is connected to the behavioral health of the animal. Stressed animals can cause lesions to their skin and coat such as alopecia, ulcers, and self-mutilation. On the other hand, localized or systemic health problems can cause stress, or pain, and therefore can increase overgrooming and poor skin health. When treating overgrooming and related skin lesions, all the physical and behavioral causes must be addressed through a multimodal approach.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37852882/