Pierre’s cat overgrooming began after a stressful move and has turned into an ongoing battle involving food allergies, anxious travel, and fur-plucking frenzy. From vet-approved hypoallergenic food to DIY oatmeal spray, salmon oil, and a soft collar, I’m trying everything to help his skin and soul recover. Here’s our full story and my current strategy.
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It Started With a Diagnosis… and a Move
In July 2024, my sensitive soul of a cat – Pierre – was diagnosed with a food allergy. That alone would be enough to stress any feline out. Because why not add a complete home relocation to the mix, right? Cats love that sort of thing.
That’s when the cat overgrooming began. At first, I thought he was just adjusting. But no – Pierre wasn’t just licking. He was plucking tufts of his fur, obsessively. His belly looked like a poorly sheared sheep.
I switched him to a hypoallergenic diet (dry food only, vet’s orders). And that’s when I discovered: he despises the insect-based kibble. Not even the local strays would touch it. In the end, only the neighborhood hedgehog showed interest. Pierre looked at me like I’d betrayed him.
Our Furry Odyssey: The Travel Triggers
A month later (after the move!), we packed up and traveled over 1400 km to our house – just like every Summer. A lovely place – unless you’re a cat who thrives on routine.
Pierre went from mildly annoyed to full-on gremlin. He started overgrooming worse than ever. So I tried Zylkene for three months. Nothing.
Back we went to the apartment (another 1400 km), with an overnight in Germany. His stress level? Nuclear. His belly? Nearly bald. Months after, I tried Anxitane for few months. Again nothing.
In May 2025, déjà vu: we had another round trip (1400 km each way) with a stopover (each way). After that? Pierre went ballistic. He couldn’t stop plucking. Not just grooming – plucking. Hair flying like confetti.
I Became a Cat Wellness Lab
So here we were: Pierre’s fur is flying, my patience is fraying, and the calming arsenal is officially in play:
- Calming sprays (including Feliway)
- Calming collars (valeriana infused)
- Valeriana sachets (they just became toys)
- Dr. Anne’s calming pills (no change)
- Endless cuddles, one-on-one time, and whispered promises of stability.
Nothing helped… and then I had to transform… into DIY Feline Dermatologist.
What I’m Using Now (The Pierre Protocol™)
Here’s my current setup for dealing with Pierre’s cat overgrooming – a full-body, skin-soothing, hair-saving protocol:
- DIY colloidal oatmeal spray – I make it fresh by blending oats and water, then straining and spraying it on his itchy spots. It soothes like magic – for a while.
- Soft collar – Arriving soon. The goal? Prevent him from overgrooming and giving himself bald patches while still letting him nap in style.
- Salmon oil – Just ordered. Omega-3s are fantastic for skin health, and this one will go directly into his mouth with a syringe if needed (wish me luck).
- Itchy skin balm – Gently applied to reduce inflammation and stop the urge to scratch and pluck. Bonus: it smells like a spa.
- Multi-vitamin paste – Because stress burns nutrients faster than a cheetah on caffeine. It’ll support his coat and overall resilience.
- DIY Cat onsie – Yes, I cut up old leggings into a onesie. No, they didn’t work. He Houdini’d out of them in five seconds flat.
- Antibiotics on standby – As per my vet’s recommendation, just in case any of the overgroomed skin areas get infected.
DIY Colloidal Oatmeal Spray for Cats
The simplest soothing spray you’ll ever make – gentle, natural, and perfect for calming itchy, irritated cat skin.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 tbsp of plain oat flour (or grind whole oats until super-fine)
- 1 cup (250 ml) of warm, filtered water
- A clean glass jar or bowl
- A spray bottle (optional, but makes you feel very official)
- Fine strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter
- Fridge space and a slightly annoyed cat
How to Make It:
- Grind your oats (if you’re not using pre-made oat flour)
Use a blender, coffee grinder, or food processor. It should look like baby powder or moon dust. - Mix 1 tbsp of oat powder with 1 cup of warm water
Stir like you’re making a magic potion. Let it steep for 10–15 minutes so the oats release their skin-loving goodies (beta-glucans and avenanthramides – science!). - Strain it well
Use cheesecloth, a tea strainer, or even an old clean stocking if you’re feeling retro. You want a smooth, milky liquid, not porridge. - Pour into a spray bottle
Label it: Anti-Itch Elixir (optional but fabulous). Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
How to Use It:
- Shake well before each use.
- Spray directly onto your cat’s itchy or overgroomed areas.
- Or: spray onto a soft cloth or cotton pad and dab gently.
- Use 1–2 times per day, especially after cuddles or during calm moments.
DIY Cat Onesie from Leggings
What You Need:
- A clean pair of soft, stretchy leggings
- Scissors
- (Optional) Needle and thread or a safety pin for custom fit
- A cat who’s at least mildly cooperative (Pierre: optional compliance level)
How to Make It:
- Cut the leg off the leggings
Use the lower calf or ankle section – that gives you the right tube shape. This will be the body of the onesie. - Measure against your cat
Hold the leg piece up to cat’s torso. You’re going to cut four leg holes: two in front, two in back. - Cut leg holes
Start small – make four tiny vertical cuts (about 2–3 cm) for the legs. Place the front holes closer to one end, and the back leg holes a bit farther apart to match your cat’s proportions. The stretchiness of the fabric will do the rest. Confession time: I only cut holes for the front paws because I wanted Pierre to be comfy. Not my smartest move – he wiggled out of it in seconds. Lesson learned: make all four leg holes unless your cat is secretly a loaf. - Tip: Use a small round object (like a coin) to trace the holes before cutting. It keeps everything neat and prevents fabric from tearing.
- Create a tail hole
Cut a little slit or scoop shape for cat’s tail at the back. He’ll thank you. Or glare less. - Try it on
Slide the fabric gently over cat’s head and guide each leg through. If it’s too loose? Pinch & pin. Too tight? Cut and try again.
Why Is Pierre Doing This?
While food allergies were the first piece of the puzzle (you can read all about that in Pierre’s food allergy article), it’s clear that the root cause is stress – especially from too much change and travel. Pierre isn’t just picky; he’s profoundly affected by environmental changes.
This is textbook psychogenic alopecia (a fancy term for stress-related fur loss). The repetitive grooming acts like feline self-soothing – but goes way too far.
Cats have fewer sweat glands than humans – mostly in their paws and around their noses. That means their skin can become inflamed more easily when they’re stressed, allergic, or itchy. Overgrooming is their way of trying to soothe themselves, even if it backfires.
Lessons Learned (So Far)
- Overgrooming isn’t just cosmetic – it’s a cry for help. Don’t ignore it.
- Moving and traveling can be deeply destabilizing for sensitive cats.
- Calming products may help, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
- Consistency and comfort matter more than exotic supplements.
- Salmon oil might be my secret weapon… stay tuned.
What’s Next?
I’m in observation mode now. The plan is to:
- Use the soft collar to break the overgrooming habit.
- Boost Pierre’s skin health with salmon oil and vitamins.
- Rebuild his sense of safety with time, cuddles, and zero travel.
If nothing helps in the next few weeks, we’ll explore further options with the vet. Meanwhile, Tito and I are testing this comforting homemade food for cats with beef and barley – paws crossed it gets the whisker-lick of approval!
Final Fur-thoughts
If your cat is overgrooming, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating, heartbreaking, and sometimes even funny (leggings, really?). But it’s also manageable with patience, trial-and-error, and lots of love.
Pierre may still have bald spots, but he’s loved, supported, and finally starting to relax. His story is still unfolding – but we’re moving in the right direction.
And we’re not moving anywhere else. For a while. Seriously.
Since writing this about cat overgrooming issue, we’ve tried even more treatments – from salmon oil to Apoquel. If you want to see the latest update in Pierre’s allergy saga (spoiler: he’s still a flower-collared warrior), check out our follow-up: Pierre’s Allergy Drama: The Cat Skin Allergy Treatment We’re Trying Now.
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