Conference misery::feline_v1

    You might want to do a SHO KEYWORD/FULL for BALD*, OVERGROOMING and
    FLEA_ALLERGY.
    
    Deb

    Thanks, I did take a look at those notes.  She is all white and
    all of my cats are indoors, I'm sure she doesn't have flees.  She
    doesn't lick the spot, she rips it out, I've seen her do it?
                                                
    Corine
    

    It's likely an allergy.  In cats, like humans, these can take
    many forms, and it's not unusual to have the skin appear "clear"
    while the poor cat is scratching/biting like mad.  Also, this
    kind of allergy is lots more common in long-hair, according to my
    vet.
    
    My Rose, a mostly-Maine-Coon, has both seasonal and "contact"
    allergies--the most nasty of these being a darned strong reaction
    to the wall-to-wall carpet in the house where we moved recently.
    (Yes, as soon as there's money we'll replace the carpet.)
    
    Our vet has used this treatment pattern:  If allergy's terrible,
    then prednisone shot or pills, followed by antihistimines;  if
    allergy's bad, antihistimine shot, followed by antihistimine pills
    starting the next day; if allergy's just its usual nasty self,
    control with antihistimine pills.  Usually, we use the active
    ingredient that's in Benadryl (equivqlent to about 20 miligrams,
    time released, 2x daily).
    
    There are also injections for some feline allergies.  But it's
    a good short-term experiment to ask your vet to prescribe anti-
    histimines; if they work, they you're dealing with an allergy and
    can plan from there.
    
    Elaine

    re: 3
    
    I agree with Elaine - I have a boy at home that does that, but he
    licks the hair off.  One shot, and he was a new boy.  Only thing
    now is, that after he got the shot, he has been spending all his
    time chasing any shadow that he sees.  He is really weird.  I'm
    really worried about him.  All he does is chase shadows.  Maybe
    he feels so good, he wants to play??  BTW, my boy is a shorthair.
    My friend had a longhair with the problem, though.
    
    Elaine

    Re: .4
    
    Maybe he is just in his normal peppy state, now that his
    skin isn't distracting him?  My LB is a mile-a-minute cat.

    Karen, I hope that's all it is.  Every time I look at him he
    is looking at the floor watching a shadow - there is one around
    all the time with all the cats - one or two of them are usually
    moving around sometime.

    I'm worried - Oliver has a spot of hair missing on his hind quarter.
    It has been there for a while.  At first, it looked as though it
    was growing back in because I did not see flesh, but stripes the
    same color as his fur.  I also saw that he was licking it quite
    often and decided that it was probably stress as he really
    has a problem with visitors and heads for the nearest closet.
    This morning I noticed that he was
    favoring it and the way that I am, I have been thinking of horrible
    things.  He let me touch it and it seems as though it feels warm.
    
    I'm off to the vet tonight.  I have a 5:45 appointment.  It was
    ironic that I decided to talk about my worry and this note was next
    unseen.  Would appreciate any comments to get me through the day.
    
    I'm praying.
    
    Flo & Oliver

    flo...
    
    sending good vibes to you and oliver.  since it's valentine's day, you
    could tell him he is your sweetheart.  might help.  couldn't hurt! 8-)
    
    diane, stanley, stella 

    Please let us know how things go with Oliver.
    

    All is well with my sweetheart.  Would you believe he has fleas.
    I said "NO", but it's yes and he's allergic to their bite.  His
    leg was in good shape and he was walking normally.  Maybe he just
    had a kink ---  I will be powdering him once a week and spraying
    Geronimo as well.  The vet also recommended that the house be
    thoroughly vacuumed twice a week and the bag disposed of each time.
    She (yes this was a female vet)said Oliluv was a healthy cat - Thank
    you God - and not even really overweight.  Which I thought he was.
     He weighs 12 1/2 lbs. She also agreed that he probably had some
    Maine Coone in him. That's what must make him so lovely.
    
    He had quite a night. Trying to get him into the carrier was a feat
    in itself.  But he sure thought it was the greatest thing going
    when we were at the vets - he didn't want to come out.  It is really
    funny when we come home after one of these episodes. He checks out
    every room in the house and all his toys to make sure everything
    is the same. What a cutey.
    
    Only one negative thing and that is that his teeth are not too good.
    I'm going to check the file on teeth and see if there is something
    I can do to help.
    
    Thanks for your responses and concerns.
    
    Hope you all had a great Valentine's day.
    
    Flo and Oliver

    Flo,
    
    Glad all is well.  Just a tip, I shake some flea powder in to the
    new bag before I attach it on the vac or vacuum some powder up
    so there is some in the bag.  If you vac 'a lot' more often 
    it will really help a lot!   It's funny, all it takes is
    ONE flea to cause a problem with a cat that's allergic.
    
    Good Luck,
    
    E.T.

    Also - if you can get some Nolvacide Insecticide shampoo and
    Conditioner you'd be well advised to bath him too.  We've been
    battling fleas and I think we've won (fingers crossed).  That
    shampoo is excellent and does a very good job on their coats
    as well.  Cindy, Elaine and myself use it for show bathing.
      Nancy DC

    Where can I get Nolvasan shampoo and the spray stuff?  I want 32
    oz. sizes like Jo gets, not the huge gallon sizes.  Any leads??
    
    Thanks,
    Roberta
    

    I just purchased both the shampoo and the disinfectant from
    Foster & Smith - a veterinary supply place.  I'll get you 
    the phone number.
      Roberta - if you have my home number give me a call and
    I'll get it for you.
    
    Another option is Hadleigh House.  I know Martha had the
    Nolvasan/Nolvacide (there are two types, Nolvasan and Nolvacide shampoo)
    on order last I time I spoke to her.  I'm not sure which she
    was expecting.
      Nancy

    Elaine - Thanks. Thats a great tip and will certainly save me some
    money. The vet said to throw the bag out after each vacuuming or I
    had the choice of using moth balls which is toxic, so no way.

   Another great big THANKS.
    
    Flo & Oliver

    I believe the difference between Nolvasan and Nolvacide is that
    the "cide" is the one that kills fleas.
    
    I usually buy my stuff from Pro Vet out here.
    
    Jo

    What did the vet say about possibly cleaning Oliver's teeth?  Also, you
    can get treated gauze squares (Cat-o-dontics) from the vet 
    to rub on his teeth and
    gums and help keep them healthy.
    

    She didn't say a thing.  Thanks for the advise.  I'll stop my the
    vets and ask about it.
    
    Flo & Oliver
    
    P.S. Not actually part of this note, but knew it would be all right
    to add this here.
    
    I went to my very first cat show on Saturday in Morristown, NJ.
    I finally got to see some of the cats that I have been reading about
    here, including a Maine Coon.  Oliver really does look like he got
    a sprinkling of those chromozones. (sp).  All the cats were so well
    groomed and the majority of them really well behaved. I enjoyed
    it.
    
    Another thanks to this great note file.
                                           
    

    This happened to my cat and I was vigilant in tracking down the
    problem.  Know what it was?  HALITE on the walkways!  The salt
    irritates them and they lick until the fur is gone.  The skin
    underneath looks ok because there's no real pathology present.
    
    When we stoppe the Halite, the condition went away.

    I'm going through the same thing with my cat Louie.  His is overgrooming
    himself.  Last year he was diagnosed twice (Jan. then Aug) with having
    Ringworm.  We went through the whole routine with the pills and dips. 
    About a month ago he starting licking his fur off again so it was back to
    the Vets.  This time the Ringworm culture came back negative so my vet,
    Dr. Kaplan (Dr. Migday's hubby!) decided it was flea allergies.  So I
    went home armed with sprays for the kitty and the house.  A few weeks
    go by, and he's still at it, getting balder and balder I might add. 
    Back to the Vet we go.  Dr. Kaplan agrees that there is not a flea or a
    speck of flea dirt on him.  Now he decides that it is pscyo, that
    something is stressing him out.  I told him we got a new dog 4 months
    ago - but now they seem OK together.  He gave Louie a shot - a steroid -
    and said to wait about two weeks and if he was still licking himself,
    he gave me a prescription for Valium to give him for a while.
    
    I just don't know.  I can't really tell if he is getting better or
    worse.  I hate to give him Valium if I don't have to.  This just seems
    to be never ending and I feel so bad for poor Louie.  He really looks
    sad, no fur on his tummy or back end.
    
    I don't know if I'm looking for advice or just wanted to share this
    you.  It's so frustrating!!!!!!!  Any idea???
    
    Thanks,
    Judie
    

    Sometimes you have to repeat the shots every 8 week for 3 or 4 months.
    Then the problem should be better.  I have that same problem with 2
    of my kids.  Miyagi is much better and he only had one shot, but I
    think I will get him another, and Malenka needs one I think.  She
    doesn't have as serious a problem as Miyagi did, so I'm holding
    back.  Repeating the shot will help - they seem to last 6 to 8 
    weeks.
    
    E.T.

    hmm.. I just wnet thru this with HRH..according to Dr Eric..
    it is part of her "geriatic Neurosis". she has also
    been "nursing" Precious..and after a call to Allison, who said
    oh yea.. that is her all over, she "blows" her coat, she lets thme also
    suckk on her ears.. and nuzzle and "make bread" on her neck and chin
    area.. and according to Allison she could be quite fericious(ALlsion
    used another set of words her) when she is " mummying".. but you
    should be careful with any steriod that is prescribed..sometimes
    there are side effects and you should ask what are those side effects.
    etc.. Pookie looks fine.. she is  just missing some fur".. and I can
    hear Happy giggling away, when I am grooming HRH..Precious on the other
    hand just loves to "make bread". I did ask Eric  how to handle this
    and he sadi. Let Pookie handle it with Precious.. and from the look
    I got from Pookie I can assure  you that she agreed with Eric..
    Butlike E.T said.. it can be so frustrating..
    Kate

    I found relieve for all our beautiful cats in RODALE'S BOOK OF
    HOMETREATMENTS.  Seems that fleas DON'T LIKE THE SMELL OF VITAMIN
    B1.  Well I for one believe it.  I now give Kitty around 25 milligr.
    of vitamin B1 per day, and once a week I give her 400 units of vitamin
    E.  All the allergy sores are gone, she does not scratch anymore,
    plays like a kitten [she's 15 years old] and she does not get spooky
    anymore.  I advise you to try it, the dosage will not hurt the cat
    but it sure keeps the fleas away.
    
                                        Gudrun