Welcome to Sphynxlair! Connect with Sphynx owners & enthusiasts around the world!

Does your cat bite itself while grooming?

pussiette

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
3,642
Points
318
Hi everyone
  1. She has a history of OCD to her tail and previously chewed the tip off
  2. She has started to self groom quite aggressively and use her teeth to clean not just on her nails but all body parts and sometimes does this to us when suckling. I am not sure if this means she is feeling unwell / has OCD / anxiety / self harm.
Anyone else received advice on this?

We are seeing the vet soon and wanted to see what others experienced here.

Thanks

 

Catzzzmeow

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Messages
37,525
Points
673
Can you get a video of the behavior? I know I catch all of ours licking and quick little biting movements at times. It is short bursts but definitely a biting action.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

rafayetrabbi

Lairian
Joined
Feb 20, 2025
Messages
1
Points
2
I’ve noticed that cats biting themselves while grooming can be totally normal or a sign of something deeper. A quick nibble is usually just them detangling fur or getting rid of an itch, but if it turns into obsessive biting or leads to hair loss, it’s worth looking closer. Flea allergies, dry skin, and even stress can trigger overgrooming. One thing that surprised me was how anxiety plays a huge role—some cats start biting more when their routine changes or if they’re feeling unsettled.
Have you noticed if your cat bites more at certain times, like after eating or when stressed? If it’s happening frequently, checking for skin irritation or even trying a calming diffuser might help. I wrote about this recently and found that even diet adjustments (like adding omega-3s) can improve skin health and reduce overgrooming. Would love to hear if anyone’s tried different approaches! here
 
Back
Top