Q: The other day, I got home from getting my hair dyed and I was watching television and the next thing I know, I hear this licking sound and it’s my cat at my head and I think he was almost trying to eat my hair! It was actually wet with saliva. What in the world is wrong with him?
A: Believe it or not, they say that if a cat tries to groom you it’s the ultimate sign of affection. Cats will groom themselves and their littermates and their offspring.
I’ve even seen cats who groom dogs and other animals. I know it can be weird when they do it, but take heart! It may mean he likes you.
Whisper is a 3-year-old girl who came into the shelter as a stray. She’s a sweetheart with a sweet face who is just looking for a place to call her own. Could you help her out?
It also could have to do with the fact that you just had your hair colored. I know from experience (why yes, there is gray in my hair I’m trying to cover up – sigh) that after putting hair color on your head, it can have quite a pungent aroma.
Cats have been known to lick a lot of odd items, from photographs, to hand lotion, to plastic bags. Some people seem to think the cats are attracted to the different smell and taste, while others theorize it’s because of the different texture.
In the world of the cat, sometimes all we can do is make guesses. As long as your guy didn’t get sick from nibbling your head, I think you can chalk it up to crazy feline fun!
Rex was surrendered to the shelter when his owner could no longer care for him. He is a sweet, 3-year-old lab who is 90 pounds and sometimes forgets how big he really is. Rex lived with other dogs, as well as children, but he can be a little much for those that are not used to being around large, excited dogs. It is recommended that Rex go to a home without cats. Rex does know sit, shake, and down! He loves getting treats and would love to find his loving forever home soon!
Q: My older cat is losing his hair. Can they go bald like people?
A: Man, you all are coming up with some fun questions. From what I’ve been able to discover, animals can lose hair because of their age, but for the most part, hair loss is associated with some kind of disease or genetics and isn’t terribly typical in animals.
There are obviously animals who are born without fur – certain breeds of cats like the Sphinx and of course dogs like the Chinese crested don’t have that much fur, and it’s a naturally occurring phenomenon. A loss of fur, though, is usually because of excessive itching; some type of disease of the hair follicle; allergies to any number of items, such as fleas, food or even grass; a possible hormone imbalance; or even an obsessive compulsive disorder.
As our pets age, they can develop a number of issues, some of which could have hair loss as a symptom. To be on the safe side, you should have your boy checked out by a vet to rule out anything serious.
Ask the Shelter is a weekly feature aimed at pet education. If you have a question, contact Jennifer Vanderau, public relations coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, at cvascomm@cvas-pets.org or 263-5791.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Can cats go bald like people?