South Africa Travel

Question:

Hi there, My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair on his left flank for a few weeks.  He is staying with my father at the moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect.   I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- mailed to me.  Thank you.   – Philip. Cat people are the best people.

Response:

Could be several explanations, a vet visit is highly recommended for a proper diagnosis. Here are some cat medical site for you to do research: http://www.amby.com/cat_site/ – great general cat site, on the links pages you’ll find a ton of medical links Pet Health and Veterinary Medicine Links: http://trfn.clpgh.org/animalfriends/medical.html http://www.vetinfo.com/ http://www.naturalhealingdoctor.com http://www.maxshouse.com/ Medical links for research: http://trfn.clpgh.org/animalfriends/catlink4.html http://www.fanciers.com/vetmed.html http://www.vetinfo.com/catindex.html http://www.avma.org/care4pets/default.htm – Animal Health, buying a pet, & pet loss Hope this helps and good luck, Kim

> Hi there,

Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

The cat needs to go to the vet. A bald spot, and now working away on his flesh constitutes a doctor before it gets more painful for the cat, and more expensive for you. Make an appointment, and take him yourself. The reaction you describe on his lower back is perfectly normal. Rub or scratch a cat on its back end above the tail, and it triggers their grooming reflex. That would not have anything to do with the problem you have going on. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi there, > My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair > on his left flank for a few weeks.  He is staying with my father at the > moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported > to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his > leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a > very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a > strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked > him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on > his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect. > I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that > is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for > him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- > mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

> Hi there, > My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair > on his left flank for a few weeks.

Could be one of many things; allergic dermatitis, eosinophilic granuloma complex, food allergy, , cheyletiellosis, staph infection, dermatophytosis????  The cat needs to be seen by a vet.  Cats with pruritus, which is the medical term for itching, can scratch, rub, lick or bit themselves to an open sore which can easily become infected — not to mention the discomfort of constant itching.  The problem may also be something *inside* causing pain. If your father is reluctant to take your cat to a vet, have some else take him.  The cat needs to be examined. Phil. —    "Cats have no masters, only friends" Feline Healthcare: http://maxshouse.com He is staying with my father at the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported > to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his > leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a > very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a > strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked > him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on > his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect. > I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that > is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for > him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- > mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

Hi there, My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair on his left flank for a few weeks.  He is staying with my father at the moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect.   I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- mailed to me.  Thank you.   – Philip. Cat people are the best people.

Response:

Could be several explanations, a vet visit is highly recommended for a proper diagnosis. Here are some cat medical site for you to do research: http://www.amby.com/cat_site/ – great general cat site, on the links pages you’ll find a ton of medical links Pet Health and Veterinary Medicine Links: http://trfn.clpgh.org/animalfriends/medical.html http://www.vetinfo.com/ http://www.naturalhealingdoctor.com http://www.maxshouse.com/ Medical links for research: http://trfn.clpgh.org/animalfriends/catlink4.html http://www.fanciers.com/vetmed.html http://www.vetinfo.com/catindex.html http://www.avma.org/care4pets/default.htm – Animal Health, buying a pet, & pet loss Hope this helps and good luck, Kim

> Hi there,

Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

The cat needs to go to the vet. A bald spot, and now working away on his flesh constitutes a doctor before it gets more painful for the cat, and more expensive for you. Make an appointment, and take him yourself. The reaction you describe on his lower back is perfectly normal. Rub or scratch a cat on its back end above the tail, and it triggers their grooming reflex. That would not have anything to do with the problem you have going on. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi there, > My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair > on his left flank for a few weeks.  He is staying with my father at the > moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported > to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his > leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a > very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a > strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked > him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on > his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect. > I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that > is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for > him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- > mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

> Hi there, > My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair > on his left flank for a few weeks.

Could be one of many things; allergic dermatitis, eosinophilic granuloma complex, food allergy, , cheyletiellosis, staph infection, dermatophytosis????  The cat needs to be seen by a vet.  Cats with pruritus, which is the medical term for itching, can scratch, rub, lick or bit themselves to an open sore which can easily become infected — not to mention the discomfort of constant itching.  The problem may also be something *inside* causing pain. If your father is reluctant to take your cat to a vet, have some else take him.  The cat needs to be examined. Phil. —    "Cats have no masters, only friends" Feline Healthcare: http://maxshouse.com He is staying with my father at the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported > to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his > leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a > very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a > strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked > him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on > his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect. > I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that > is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for > him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- > mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

Hi there, My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair on his left flank for a few weeks.  He is staying with my father at the moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect.   I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- mailed to me.  Thank you.   – Philip. Cat people are the best people.

Response:

Could be several explanations, a vet visit is highly recommended for a proper diagnosis. Here are some cat medical site for you to do research: http://www.amby.com/cat_site/ – great general cat site, on the links pages you’ll find a ton of medical links Pet Health and Veterinary Medicine Links: http://trfn.clpgh.org/animalfriends/medical.html http://www.vetinfo.com/ http://www.naturalhealingdoctor.com http://www.maxshouse.com/ Medical links for research: http://trfn.clpgh.org/animalfriends/catlink4.html http://www.fanciers.com/vetmed.html http://www.vetinfo.com/catindex.html http://www.avma.org/care4pets/default.htm – Animal Health, buying a pet, & pet loss Hope this helps and good luck, Kim

> Hi there,

Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

The cat needs to go to the vet. A bald spot, and now working away on his flesh constitutes a doctor before it gets more painful for the cat, and more expensive for you. Make an appointment, and take him yourself. The reaction you describe on his lower back is perfectly normal. Rub or scratch a cat on its back end above the tail, and it triggers their grooming reflex. That would not have anything to do with the problem you have going on. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi there, > My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair > on his left flank for a few weeks.  He is staying with my father at the > moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported > to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his > leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a > very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a > strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked > him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on > his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect. > I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that > is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for > him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- > mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response:

> Hi there, > My 5 year old neutered ginger male, Poomy, has been pulling out his hair > on his left flank for a few weeks.

Could be one of many things; allergic dermatitis, eosinophilic granuloma complex, food allergy, , cheyletiellosis, staph infection, dermatophytosis????  The cat needs to be seen by a vet.  Cats with pruritus, which is the medical term for itching, can scratch, rub, lick or bit themselves to an open sore which can easily become infected — not to mention the discomfort of constant itching.  The problem may also be something *inside* causing pain. If your father is reluctant to take your cat to a vet, have some else take him.  The cat needs to be examined. Phil. —    "Cats have no masters, only friends" Feline Healthcare: http://maxshouse.com He is staying with my father at the – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> moment and he is reluctant to take Poom to the vet.  He recently reported > to me that his pulling has now balded a big patch and he is attacking his > leg!!  He has no fleas (it’s winter here in South Africa, or rather a > very wet early Spring).  When I last visited him a 6 weeks ago  he had a > strange reaction to a sensitive spot on his lower back.  When I stroked > him there he began purring madly and started licking/cleaning an area on > his side – the same spot that is now bare, I suspect. > I feel it might be his constant canned fish diet, with Whiskers(TM), that > is causing some dietary deficiancy.  I wish I could be there to care for > him!  Any suggestions would be most appreciated –  posted on the NG or e- > mailed to me.  Thank you. >   – Philip. > Cat people are the best people.

Response: