Cat has an irritated spot on his stomach. Is it anxiety licking?

Question

My cat has a spot on his stomach. It doesn’t seem to bother him or hurt him when I touch it, and I don’t think it’s a lump though I haven’t pressed on it much because I’m afraid of hurting him. He’s an indoor cat soI can’t think of anything that could have caused it. His behavior is normal. I see him cleaning it often. It showed up when I came home from after a day away and I assumed maybe something happened with my other cat when they were playing but it seems like it’s gotten worse over time. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered

Penelope Graben, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there! It appears from the picture that it's a patch of irritated skin- this can be caused from self trauma (obsessive licking), allergies, or a skin infection. Many cats cope with anxiety by over-grooming themselves, and they most commonly do it in the belly area. From your story, I'm suspicious that Jack was nervous while you were away and possibly did this to himself. For this spot to go away, he needs to stop licking it. This can be done by putting on a cone collar or a shirt- whatever you think he will tolerate best. As far as fixing the problem in the future, I'd recommend using Feliway products. It's a natural feline pheromone that helps to relieve anxiety. If that's not helpful, your vet can recommend a low dose anti-anxiety drug to help him get through stressful times, like when family members are away. If the area begins to ooze or smell bad, it is a sign of an infection. Your vet will likely take a sample to find the cause of the lesion, and then treat with antibiotics and possibly antihistamines or anti-inflammatories. I hope this helps!

Cat has an irritated spot on his stomach. Is it anxiety licking?

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