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Cat Health

5 Medical Reasons Your Cat May Be Overgrooming

Licking excessively can signal your cat has a medical issue, an allergy, or stress and anxiety.

Lauren Smith, MAGhanasyam Bey, DVM
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Ghanasyam Bey, DVM
Updated on April 15, 2025
Reviewed by Ghanasyam Bey, DVM | April 15, 2025

Cats spend a lot of their waking hours grooming themselves. Your cat may be licking too much if they are leaving bald spots, or if they seem fixated on certain spots. In this video, learn possible causes of overgrooming in cats.

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Ghanasyam Bey, DVM
Reviewed by:
Ghanasyam Bey, DVM
Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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