OK, sorry for the odd title but I am having a problem with one of my cats and even my vet was in tears tonight because none of us know what to do next!

Lola is nearly 3 years old and last July she was in an RTA. It resulted in a broken pelvis and a broken jaw which, thanks to my brilliant vets and brilliant insurance company have all be taken care of. I simply can't thank CompanionCare at Canterbury and Halifax Pet Insurance enough!!!

However....prior to her accident, Lola had a "thing" for licking us. Since the accident and her having wounds that "taste" better than us, she has started licking herself raw. She has been tested for ringworm, allergies, everything possible but no cause has been found. She has now licked herself down to her muscle and been diagnosed with Idiopathic Ulcerative Dermatitis which basicaly means she has a compulsion to lick, she can't help her self and its a habit we SERIOUSLY need to break.

She is wearing an inflatable collar which is great but she keeps puncturing it so its now stuffed with cotton wool and she has is also bandaged up fromthe nape of her neck to the base of her tail but she still manages to lick and is creating more bald spots. We have bought her new toys, we try to keep her entertained as much as possible, we have felliway plugged in and she has been taking another, natural cat calming supplement from the vets whose name escapes me at the minute.

Apart from all of this, she is the most beautiful if slightly mad cat you could wish to meet and she is very dear to us all. We have another 2 cats and they all get along famously.

Does anyone have any ideas on breaking the licking habit or anyone ever purchased a "cat suit" for cats rather than for humans or a body stocking? Its really heartbreaking to see her like this and we all just want her to live a normal life again. At the moment, I am at the vets 3 times a week having the dressing changed and the bandage replaced. I now realise that both me and Lola need to get our lives back!

Any advise, hints or tips would be grateful, I am open to ANYTHING!!!!!!

Many thanks

you can buy a cat body suit type it into google i was going to buy one for elvis.

someone who bought a kitten from me use also tights cut with little holes in, worked a treat!!

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Ooooh...thanks Taylorbaby! tights sound like a great idea! I googled body stockings and cat suits earlier but was rather, er, surprised at what appeared!!!

I have been looking at the clothes that Yorkshire terriers wear but they really need to fasten around her back end to stop them riding up.

This cat needs to break this habit, the vet is thinking about Clomipranine which is like Pussy-Prozac but neither them or us are that keen to start her down that road.

eek:

what does she do? as my boy licks constantly but its due to allergies, does your girl have them?


hahaha!! i bet you found weird stuff!!!!

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I read an article recently about cats that lick and there is some evidence that they will go for areas that follow the chinese meridians - so an acupucnture treatment might be helpful, if you have not thought of this approach?

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www.petloversdigest.co.uk
First aid and homecare 4 pets

I had a friend who used a babygro/vest on her cat - don't know if this would help!

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

What a great idea.Will keep this in mind if I ever need something like that for Meeko (hope not )

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Was just picturing you putting it on him

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Not a chance.

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Have you got any sewing friends? They might be happy for the challenge and whip you up something perfect for just the cost of materials. I would offer but I am not good at sewing stretchy knit material which I think is what this would need to be.

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