My cat is licking his belly a lot. Is it stress or an allergy?

Question

Can you help me, my cat isn't itchy just licking his belly a lot. I thought he may have been stressed but it's gotten worse. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

I am sorry to hear about Benny. Licking his belly excessively is a sign of itching (in cats they don't always scratch, sometimes they lick instead). With lesions like we see on the belly (it is hard to tell from the photos as they are a little blurry and not seeing the area in person also makes it difficult) we worry about eosinophilic granulomas. These are often the result of an underlying allergy to something (food, environmental allergen, insect bite). Unfortunately, getting it under control usually requires the use of a steroid (oral or injectable). I would recommend taking Benny in to see his vet so they can check the area out (he may also need an antibiotic for secondary infection). You can read more about this problem at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=656. I cannot say for sure that is what Benny has without seeing him in person, but it is one of the most likely causes.

My cat is licking his belly a lot. Is it stress or an allergy?

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