✒️Slinky, is our two-and-a-half year-old black cat, and a very special and entertaining member of our family. However, last year, bald patches began appearing on his legs, and around his tummy.
Was this some sort of parasitic mite or disease he was suffering from?
He just meowed when we asked him, and didn’t really have a clue. So, we took him to see the local 👩⚕️veterinary surgeon who we hoped would enlighten us.
We made an appointment, put him in his carrying cage, and drove him the ten minutes it took to get there. I think he remember the place as he began 🐈 meowing loudly as I took him inside. He had good reason to, the last time we were here the vet picked his pockets, and separated him from his testicles, I don’t want to even think about it.
He wasn’t happy to be there and the vet informed us it was a mental or anxiety condition that was causing him to over-groom himself to the point white patches of skin appeared through his shiny black fur. 💊Sedatives were prescribed, which did the trick. His fur grew back and everyone, including Slinky was happy, although we are not too sure how much of his recovery he remembered.
Then it happened again!
Teddy joined our growing family. He is the most beautiful white kitten and was purchased to be Slinky’s friend and keep him company. They seem to get on well, but Slinky began over grooming worse than before. Perhaps subconsciously he wanted to remain and only kitten?
We used up the last of the sedatives we were prescribed. However, the last thing we wanted was a cat which was a junkie, and addicted to feel warm and relaxed pills. Long-term they can’t be good for you, so we started experimenting with other solutions.
The vet suggested a bad tasting spray or solution, if it worked, we were prepared to give it a go and so took a spray bottle home with us.
Tess, and I already knew this was going to be fun.
We had already tried flea spray on Slinky, as well as another to make him smell nice. He objected and did not like aerosol sprays one bit. However, application was necessary and so I held him tightly, while Tess did the application.
The first time, and not to alarm him too much, we applied the liquid sprayed onto a cotton wool ball. It was like trying to hold down a medium-size Jaguar and not an easy or fun five minutes till it was completed.
Then today, we decided to spray rather than dab him with cotton wool.
Actually, he was a lot better than he was the day before, and submitted himself to the ordeal without too much of a struggle. “I wonder what it 😝 tastes like?” asked my wife.
I wondered also as I had some experience of nasty tasting substances as a child when I bit my fingernails so much I occasionally made my quips bleed.
It’s was a terrible habit that really annoyed my mother. First, she told me to stop, but it had become a subconscious habit. I don’t think it was a nervous habit, but something I just did without thought and on autopilot while concentrating on something else. Some people drum their fingers on the table top, others, chew their lips or used worry beads. There are many alternatives, but I chewed on my fingernails. At this point she started experimenting with potential remedies. The worst being what can only be described as toxic nail varnish which she applied to my fingernails and allowed to dry.
It didn’t take long for me to discover how my new shiny fingernails, or what was left of them anyway, would stop me biting them. Within minutes of having the lotion dry I subconsciously slipped one of my fingers inside my mouth for a quick nibble.
The noxious liquid immediately made me pull my fingers out of my mouth faster than they had been put in, as I pulled a bit of face in response. I can’t remember the exact taste but it was pretty awful. It also brought me out in a horrible rash around my mouth which made my mother stop using it.
Back to Slinky!
I held him tightly and my wife quickly sprayed around the areas of over grooming. Being a nurse, she is quick and efficient. I rotated him so she could do a couple of areas on his back, and when she finished I let him go.
He immediately sat down in front of me and licked an area which had just been treated. The effect was quite immediate and the expression of his face was 😝 similar to my experience, and told the story. I have never seen a cat pull such a sour face before.
Worse was to follow!
Suddenly, a stinging pain started to make me blink and I realised although she been careful, I also have been treated and a small amount to spray was now stinging my eyes. I licked my lips, and yes, it was there also and the effect was immediate, I knew how the cat felt, it tasted awful, but worse than that was🔥red-hot. It must contained chilly.
I’m not too sure if it’ll work and stop Slinky over-grooming, but I can tell you, if you sprayed it on me, I certainly wouldn’t lick myself.
Thank you for taking the time to read. As always, I’d love to hear your comments, thoughts and questions. If you would share this with your family, friends and acquaintances, I would be very grateful. Just use the below buttons.
If you have enjoyed this article and would like to buy me a coffee? buymeacoffee.com/KevinNairne