Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Compulsive Grooming and Psychogenic Alopecia

Compulsive overgrooming in cats causes significant physical and psychological distress and is frequently misdiagnosed or undertreated.

Key Facts

Psychogenic alopecia affects stress-prone cats, often those in conflicted multi-cat households
Cats may groom excessively to manage anxiety similar to self-soothing behaviours
Underlying skin disease must be ruled out before a behavioural diagnosis is made
Anti-anxiety medications including clomipramine reduce compulsive grooming
Environmental enrichment and stress reduction are the foundation of treatment

Welfare Considerations

Compulsive grooming indicates significant psychological distress in affected cats. The behaviour itself may provide temporary relief from anxiety but leads to alopecia and sometimes self-trauma. The underlying cause - usually chronic stress - causes ongoing suffering. Identifying and addressing stress triggers is the key welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Consult a veterinary behaviourist if your cat grooms compulsively
Assess the stress environment including multi-cat conflicts and resource competition
Support research into feline compulsive behaviours