A woman away at college came home for winter break to a heartbreaking discovery that the family cat had been stressed without her.
TikTok user @valid8.me has been away from home for three months, and while at college, the family's 17-year-old orange cat started missing her. With each passing day, the cat became more upset at her absence. She became "lonely," so much so that the cat turned to licking to relieve her stress.
The woman's December 28 TikTok video shows her cat's neck licked raw. The fur in the spot where she had been licking was gone, showing red spots. The thought of her cat doing this while she was at college immediately brought her to tears.
"This is the first time while we've had her that she's done this," she told Newsweek. "The vet said cats do this when they're stressed, but also if it's an allergy."
She explained that the family doesn't believe it is linked to allergies since they haven't changed anything in the cat's lifestyle. More likely than not, it was because of stress and her way of coping without her human living in the house anymore.
The vet prescribed the cat can ointment called Animax. The topical ointment is made from a combination of medicines, including antifungals, antibiotics, antimicrobials and steroids, according to PetMD.
Certified cat behavior consultant Lisa Stemcosky told Newsweek that while part of this cat's neck could be due to licking, she believes it could've been done by the cat's claws, considering the location.
"Many times, I have seen over-grooming in clients' cats," Stemcosky said. "Typically, we see it on their legs, hips, sides or stomachs, areas that are all easily reached by the cats. While this can be an indicator of pain, it can also be an indicator of stress."
She added that cats will lick the painful areas as they try "to soothe their discomfort." However, anxious cats might also lick or pluck to cope with the stress.
"When I see a cat with hair loss, I have to take in the whole picture and really dig into the cat's history," Stemcosky said. "It's always important to rule out medical issues that may affect behavior changes."
She suggested adding more enrichment and resources to a cat's routine to help reduce stress. This could include giving them play sessions that mimic their hunting instinct or offering them food puzzles.
However, sometimes they need more than a quick fix. Stemcosky recommends going to a veterinary behaviorist about possibly adding medication to help and support them.
Viewer Reactions
The heartbreaking TikTok video amassed over 1.5 million views as of Tuesday, with users flooding the comment section with their concerns.
"Oh my gosh that looks so painful, poor baby," commented a viewer.
A second person wrote: "Oh gosh, I really hope she heals and gets better. I pray they can find if there is an underlying cause, or if it's just behavioral. I'm sorry."
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