Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Given that stress and anxiety are significant factors in overgrooming, it is vital to improve the cat’s living environment. Increasing the range of activities available to the cat will use up a greater proportion of its time and energy budget, leaving less time for introverted self-appeasement. A proper assessment of inter-cat relationships within the home should be made, so that underlying psychosocial stress may be alleviated. More information is available in the sections on [[Housesoiling - Cat|feline housesoiling]] and [[Feline Aggression|feline aggression]].

Given that stress and anxiety are significant factors in overgrooming, it is vital to improve the cat’s physical and social environment to reduce underlying stress. Increasing the range of activities available to the cat will use up a greater proportion of its time and energy budget, leaving less time for grooming. A proper assessment of inter-cat relationships within the home should be made, so that underlying psychosocial stress may be alleviated. More information is available in the sections on [[Housesoiling - Cat|feline housesoiling]] and [[Feline Aggression|feline aggression]].

====Drug Therapy====

====Drug Therapy====

Medical therapy with psychoactive medication is indicated in cases of compulsive self-mutilation or severe self-grooming. The Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) drug [[Clomipramine]] may be given once daily. Initially the lower dose rate may be used, with an increase if there is limited improvement after 4-6 weeks. As with other compulsive problems, it is useful for clients to make an assessment of the number and severity of self-grooming bouts seen during the 7-14 day period before treatment, as a baseline. Drug therapy should be gradually phased out over approximately 4-8 weeks, once the cat’s full coat has been restored and a period of 6-8 weeks without further overgrooming has elapsed. Successful drug therapy should produce around 70% reduction in the behaviour and an increase in normal activity as a substitute.

Psychoactive medication is indicated in cases of compulsive self-mutilation or severe self-grooming. The Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) drug [[Clomipramine]] may be given once daily. Initially the lower dose rate may be used, with an increase if there is limited improvement after 4-6 weeks. As with other compulsive problems, it is useful for clients to make an assessment of the number and severity of self-grooming bouts seen during the 7-14 day period before treatment, as a baseline. Drug therapy should be gradually phased out over approximately 4-8 weeks, once the cat’s full coat has been restored and a period of 6-8 weeks without further overgrooming has elapsed. Successful drug therapy should produce around 70% reduction in the behaviour and an increase in normal activity as a substitute.

If specific events or stimuli are associated with signs of [[Feline Fear and Stress|anxiety, fear]] or directly with bouts of excessive grooming, then these may be desensitised and counter-conditioned. Relapses are common, but may be managed effectively using the same methods as for initial treatment. Response to successive courses of the same SRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug may diminish, so that it is sometimes better to treat relapses with a different psychoactive drug from the same class. Any additional underlying factors that may have initiated another period of self-mutilation should then be identified and resolved.

If specific events or stimuli are associated with signs of [[Feline Fear and Stress|anxiety, fear]] or directly with bouts of excessive grooming, then these may be desensitised and counter-conditioned. Relapses are common, but may be managed effectively using the same methods as for initial treatment. Response to successive courses of the same SRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug may diminish, so that it is sometimes better to treat relapses with a different psychoactive drug from the same class. Any additional underlying factors that may have initiated another period of self-mutilation should then be identified and resolved.