Page 9 - Autumn 23

Daisy – A Dainty Wolf
by Kay Barkley, UK
Consultation 30.01.23
A very pretty 10 year old, female, neutered, smoky-grey cat, emerged boldly out of the basket and began to confidently investigate room. Thin but not emaciated, delicate looking and small. She presented with a three- week history of intense licking and pulling out her fur, resulting in alopecia over her caudal spine and tail base, damaged fur, excoriation of the skin, weeping sores and scabs from overgrooming and self-mutilation, despite the ever present blow up ‘donut’ Elizabethan collar. Her fur was thin and dry generally, sticking up and sparce in regions. Otherwise, she was well with a good appetite and normal defecation and urination which she preferably did outside but was tidy when she used the litter tray. Thirst was unremarkable and occasionally brings up furballs.
There was a chronic history of similar symptoms treated previously by homeopathic colleagues intermittently since 2017. Remedies include: Staphysagria 1M and Lac Leoninum 1M. Relief was maintained for periods but with relapse. She had been treated for fleas and been wormed with conventional medications. There was no evidence of fleas found, however her fastidious nature may well have delt with them.
She adopted the family approximately seven years ago having previously lived in and around the local park. She was ‘skin and bone, had fur missing and scabby bits’. She had been grooming excessively, was nervous but very loving. It was thought she had had two litters prior to joining the family.
She was described as liking company and sitting on the owner’s lap, playful and fun but feisty when she wanted to be. Brave and would see off other cats but tolerant of the neighbour’s cat. Territorial.
She was very friendly with visitors and elderly neighbours. She would run over to children and adored the owner’s teenaged sons sleeping in their rooms with them. She was affectionate and liked to be stroked but when she had had enough would go off or bat the owner’s hand with a slight claw. She liked to be outside but didn’t use the cat flap. Liked to be home.
Anxiety displayed itself in her watchfulness ‘always looking’, ‘nervous’, ‘twitchy’. She was quiet, rarely meowed except in the car when the engine is on. She was the boss of the family dog, not bothered by him, but would go away when he barked. Although in the past she would catch and eat mice that had ceased.
Symptoms were worse in Autumn, when the heating was starting to be being used and the weather turning colder and wetter. She tended to stay home more. She lied on bed all day in Winter following the sun around. She licked more at night, and when the owner was not around.
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