Obsessive grooming

My cat is almost 13 & he has started to overgroom in a compulsive manner, leaving his tummy totally pink & he's now started on his hind leg joints. I've looked very carefully for any signs of fleas or other skin problems but everything looks perfectly healthy & normal. I'm considering using Bach remedies (maybe crab apple or elm?); does anyone have any experience with these that may help me? many thanks!

RESPONSE:

We have used Crab Apple in combination with Star of Bethlehem for over-grooming with some success. Over grooming usually indicates an anxious cat in need of comfort and grooming offers a form of comfort so the addition of the Star of Bethlehem seems to help.
Spirit Essence has an essence called Obsession Remedy that also has been effective.
For especially difficult cases, St. John's Wort has been effective in calming the cat initially while the essences offer continued support.
Your cat should still be checked by a vet to be certain there is no skin issues there that you can't see. He may be having pain or some other illness that has triggered the over grooming.
You should also try to think back to when this behavior first started and see if you can figure out what the trigger might have been. Sometimes, correcting the trigger will stop the over grooming behavior.
Be sure to keep your cat on a healthy diet and offer additional play time. Play helps calm many cat behaviors and can help with the anxiety associated with over grooming.
Good luck and be patient!

Donna
House Full Cats Mom