CASE_STUDY The present report describes a case of distal tail self-mutilation in a 5-year-old neutered male domestic short-hair cat. The cat started licking his tail few months before the behavioural visit. Because of the severity of the self-induced injuries, the veterinarian performed a surgical partial caudectomy. After 3 months, the excessive self-grooming of the tail recurred. Neurological and dermatological examinations, radiographs, urine and blood tests did not show any abnormalities. During the behavioural visit, through direct observation of the cat’s posture and behavioural history, the pet received a diagnosis of psychogenic alopecia. The cat was treated with clomipramine for 2 months (0.5 mg/kg/PO SID) along with behaviour modification and environmental changes. After 1 month, the cat no longer showed excessive self-grooming. Even if no other systemic pathologies were identified, it is always recommended to address these patients with a multidisciplinary approach. https://macvetrev.mk/Files/Article/2019/10.1515/macvetrev-2016-0098/macvetrev-2016-0098.pdf 2017-03-15T09:00:00 103 107 10.2478/macvetrev-2016-0098 cat compulsive behaviours psychogenic alopecia self-directed behaviours caudectomy Zita Talamonti zita.talamonti@unimi.it false 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DiMeVet),Università degli Studi di Milano Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy LEAD_AUTHOR Simona Cannas false 2 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DiMeVet),Università degli Studi di Milano Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy AUTHOR Clara Palestrini false 3 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DiMeVet),Università degli Studi di Milano Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milano, Italy AUTHOR Hewson CL, Luescher UA, Voith V. L, Borchelt P. L, Compulsive disorders in dogsReadings in companion animal behaviour 1996; Trenton, New Jersey: Veterinary Learning System; 153-158.PMCid: PMC38998 1 Overall KL, Overall K. L, Undesirable, problematic, and abnormal feline behaviorManual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats 2013; Elsevier; 441- 2 Pekmezci D, Sancak AA, Cakiroglu D, Meral Y, Psychogenic alopecia in five catsAnkara Üniv Vet Fak Derg 2009; 56: 145-146. 3 10.1501/Vetfak_0000002175 Landsberg G, Towell TL, Multimodal management of feline psychogenic alopecia 2011; Proceedings of small animal – behavior NAVC conference; 233-235. 4 Mertens PA, Torres S, Jessen C, The effects of clomipramine hydrochloride in cats with psychogenic alopecia: A prospective studyJ Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2006; 42: 336-343.5 PMid:16960036 5 10.5326/0420336 Werner A. H, Manigot GA, Thoday K. L, Foil C.S, Bond R, Diagnosing and treating psychogenic alopeciaAdvances in veterinary dermatology 2002; Oxford, England: Blackwell Science Ltd; 280-281. PMid:12381908 6 Virga V, Behavioral dermatologyClin Tech Small Anim Pract 2004; 19: 4240-249. 7 10.1053/j.ctsap.2004.10.006 Amat M, Camps T, Manteca X, Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implicationsJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 2016; 18: 8577-586. PMid:26101238 8 10.1177/1098612X15590867 Luescher AU, Horwitz D. F, Mills DS, Repetitive and compulsive behavior in dogs and catsBSAVA Manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine 2009; 2nd Edition. 9 Luescher AU, Diagnosis and management of compulsive disorders in dogs and catsClin Tech Small Anim Pract 2004; 233-239. 10 10.1053/j.ctsap.2004.10.005 Landsberg G, Compulsive disorders 2006; Proceedings of OVMA Conference; 128-131. 11 Curtis TM, A smart approach to feline psychogenic alopeciaProceedings of The North American Veterinary Conference 2007; 118-119. 12 Waisglass SE, Landsberg GM, Yager JA, Hall JA, Underlying medical conditions in cats with presumptive psychogenic alopeciaJAVMA 2006; 228: 1705-1709. PMid:16740071 13 10.2460/javma.228.11.1705 Seksel K, Lindeman MJ, Use of clomipramine in the treatment of anxiety-related and obsessive-compulsive disorders in catsAust Vet J 1998; 76: 317-321. PMid:9631696 14 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1998.tb12353.x