Why is my cat grooming so much it is losing fur?
Overgrooming usually starts with itch — skin disease, parasites, allergy — and only sometimes with stress.
Grooming is normal cat behavior, but licking one spot until the fur thins — often the belly, inner thighs, or forelegs — is not. Owners tend to blame stress first, yet veterinarians more often find a physical itch underneath: flea allergy, food or environmental allergy, mites, or skin infection.
Itch first, psychology second
Because cats often groom in private, owners may never see the licking — only the symmetric bald patches it leaves. A veterinary visit can check for fleas and mites, examine the skin, and work through allergy possibilities step by step. Only when medical causes are excluded does psychogenic alopecia, the stress-driven form, enter the picture.
If stress is the driver, look for what changed: a new pet, a move, renovation noise, or a bored indoor routine. Enrichment — play sessions, perches, hiding spots — helps many cats, though how quickly the coat recovers differs by individual. Persistent licking despite these changes is a reason to go back to the veterinarian.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.