Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Compulsive Grooming and Psychogenic Alopecia

Psychogenic alopecia in cats - excessive grooming causing hair loss without skin disease - is a stress-related condition that requires environmental and sometimes pharmacological intervention.

Key Facts

Psychogenic alopecia causes symmetrical hair loss typically on the belly and inner legs
The condition is stress-driven and often worsened by owner attempts to interrupt grooming
Diagnosis requires excluding dermatological causes including allergy and parasites
Environmental enrichment and stress reduction are first-line treatments
Anti-anxiety medication combined with enrichment achieves best outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Psychogenic alopecia represents chronic, visible anxiety in cats. The compulsive grooming is a self-soothing behaviour triggered by stress, often from multi-cat tension, environmental changes or owner conflict. Treatment that addresses the underlying stress - improving environmental resources, reducing conflict, providing enrichment and sometimes medication - resolves the grooming and restores welfare.

What You Can Do

Investigate and address sources of stress in a cat's environment rather than punishing grooming
Provide enrichment and multiple resources to reduce inter-cat stress
Consult a veterinary behaviourist for cats with established psychogenic alopecia