Senior Cat Comfort & Care

Repetitive and obsessive licking, chewing, or pulling fur can be a symptom of medical issues like pain or allergies. It can also mean you've got a stressed kitty. Some anxious cats will lick so much that they cause open wounds. They often focus on the legs and belly. But this type of overgrooming can occur anywhere your cat can reach.

If stress is the issue, there may be a specific trigger, like a new baby in the home, not getting along with another pet, or seeing or smelling a strange cat outside. Remove or resolve the trigger if possible. If you can't remove it, use positive desensitization methods (Tip #18) to show your cat they don't need to worry about that trigger.

Reducing their overall stress is also helpful. Use things like play, mental enrichment, more bonding time, and environmental changes to better meet your cat's instinctual needs and disperse nervous energy.

Check your cat’s skin regularly for wounds or infections, which senior cats are prone to (Tip #9).

When your cat is overgrooming, try to neutrally interrupt them and redirect to an activity to burn off that anxious energy. It can take time to break stress habits, so be patient.