Feline Allergies & Abdominal Licking

If you see your cat licking its abdomen, it could just be natural, healthy grooming behavior. Abdominal licking can become excessive, however, resulting in damage to a cat's fur and skin. When this happens it is often a result of feline allergies, which can cause health problems and behavioral issues in cats.

  1. Feline Allergies

    • If your cat has allergies, then when it is exposed to an allergen its body will overreact to it, trying to expel the allergen from its body. Rejecting the allergen most likely will not bother you or another cat in your household, however. Common allergens include pollen, fleas and cleaning products. Allergies show up in all breeds of cat. A cat can also develop an allergy at any age.

    Symptoms

    • According to the ASPCA, common symptoms of feline allergies include sneezing and watering eyes. Your cat could experience itchy skin because of an allergy. You might notice her scratching herself more often or licking at her fur. The symptoms will be concentrated where your cat comes in contact with the allergen causing the problem. If it is in food, then your cat's face and ears will itch. If it is in fabric your cat sleeps on, then your cat's paws and abdomen could be itchy.

    Treatment

    • Your veterinarian can help you figure out what your cat is allergic to. The best way to treat feline allergies is to prevent your cat from coming in contact with the allergen. If your cat is allergic to fleas, for example, keeping it indoors and your home free of fleas will help. Dusting your home and cleaning your cat's favorite places to sleep can remove problem pollen and dust. Allergy injections and antihistamines can help control your cat's allergies.

    Abdominal Bald Spot

    • Feline allergies can cause health complications beyond itchy skin and sneezing. If your cat experiences itching from an allergy, it could groom excessively while trying to relieve the itch, states The District of Columbia Academy of Veterinary Medicine. If your cat licks at a patch of fur on its abdomen long enough, it could pull out the fur. If your cat swallows the hair, it will increase your cat's risk of hairballs. Your cat could also develop a bald spot.

    Acral Lick Dermatitis

    • Itchy skin caused by feline allergies can trigger compulsive behavior in some cats. If this happens, even after the allergy is treated, your cat could continue to groom obsessively in the places that once itched. Your cat could lick its abdomen until it wears away the hair and the skin ulcerates, resulting in a thick, raised skin lesion called acral lick dermatitis. Behavior modification is needed to stop this type of abdominal licking, according to "Atlas of Canine and Feline Cytology."