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Why is my cat licking her belly, losing fur, and has skin rashes?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed

My cat is licking her stomach a lot and there is almost no hair around her nipples. There is some rashes where she is licking.

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4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on July 18th, 2021

Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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7Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on October 2nd, 2020

    Poor Sony! Hair loss can be caused by a large number of things in cats, so a vet visit is a good first step to rule out any issues. Allergies (food or environment), parasites, medical conditions, etc can all be potential causes of the redness and hair loss. In some cases, stress can also cause a cat to overgroom. Usually this is treated by reducing the stress and anxiety (medication, making sure Sony has a place to eat, drink, go potty and rest without being bothered, pheromone diffusers, etc) as well as stopping the learned behavior with a T-shirt or Elizabethan (cone) collar to block access. Until you can get to the vet, an E-collar or shirt may help stop the excessive licking and reduce irritation.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Jeffrey Milner

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 24th, 2017

    While it is entirely possible that this is a behavior problem, I would be more concerned with a primary medical issue relating to the skin or hair. The most common causes of licking and scratching in cats include flea allergies, food allergies, environmental allergies, and atopic dermatitis. If Seuna is not currently on a flea preventative, I would suggest getting him on one as soon as possible. Dermatitis on the belly is not usually a flea related issue, but it would be nice to rule this out. Having itching and scratching on the belly tends to be more related to an environmental allergy, such as a new detergent, soap, or material that Seuna might be spending time on. I would try and think back to when this all began, and think if there could have been some thing new like that introduced into his environment. If neither of these work, I would recommend you visit your local vet and discuss your thoughts. If they believe it is a behavior issue, barbering and self-mutilation can sometimes be helped in cats with medications, pheromones, and other supplements.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Karly Macon, DVM, MS, CVA Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 4th, 2017

    Hello! The most common reasons for licking the belly and legs are allergies and anxiety. Even though you haven't changed the food, Mittsee may be developing a food reaction, or having a reaction to something in the environment that you can't see or control. I would schedule an appointment with your vet. Be prepared that he/she may want to do skin tests to r/o infection, put Mittsee on a prescription allergy diet, or try specific anti-itching allergy medications. If these things don't work, I have had success with anxiety medication, anti-depressants, or calming products like Feliway and Zylkene.

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    3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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