Glossary
Overgrooming
Licking, chewing or pulling at fur so much that it causes thin or bald patches, with causes ranging from skin disease to stress.
Also called: excessive grooming, psychogenic alopecia, barbering, fur mowing
Cats spend a good share of their day grooming, which is normal. Overgrooming goes past that, with a cat licking, chewing or pulling out fur until hair is short, thin or missing. Common sites are the belly, the insides of the thighs, the flanks and the front legs. The skin underneath may look red or have scabs, although sometimes it is healthy.
Do not assume it is stress. Fleas, food or environmental allergies, skin infections, painful joints, bladder problems and other illnesses are common causes, and a cat often licks the spot that hurts. Only after your vet has ruled these out is a behavioural cause likely. In that case anxiety, boredom or conflict at home may play a part, and the grooming can calm the cat, so it keeps going.
Ask your vet before trying to fix it yourself. Treatment depends on the cause: it might include parasite control, a diet trial, pain relief or changes to the cat's environment, see enrichment. Keep a note of when and where the cat grooms, and take photos of the bare patches. Collars and cones are for your vet to advise on.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026