A cat was over-grooming its belly raw. Previous vets treated for allergies (steroids, diet trials) with no success. A behavioral assessment revealed the owner had adopted a new puppy three months prior, and the cat had no vertical escape routes. The over-grooming was a displacement behavior due to chronic hypervigilance. Treatment: Install cat shelves and provide a puppy-free safe room. Grooming stopped.
A cat was over-grooming its belly raw. Previous vets treated for allergies (steroids, diet trials) with no success. A behavioral assessment revealed the owner had adopted a new puppy three months prior, and the cat had no vertical escape routes. The over-grooming was a displacement behavior due to chronic hypervigilance. Treatment: Install cat shelves and provide a puppy-free safe room. Grooming stopped.