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Exploring Normal to Abnormal Variations of Grooming Behaviours in Cats
Mathilde Guillon1, Léa Naudin1, Noëlle Cochet-Faivre2,3
1Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire D'alfort, Ethologie, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Veterinary Dermatology
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Cats with psychogenic alopecia (fPA) exhibit abnormal grooming, spending significantly more time on skin chewing and altering body part focus compared to healthy felines. This research aids in identifying abnormal feline grooming behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Behavior
- Animal Behavior Science
- Feline Ethology
Background:
- Grooming is a vital maintenance behavior in cats, constituting 4% of their daily activity.
- This behavior can be significantly influenced by pruritus and certain psychogenic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document normal grooming patterns in cats, considering variations related to hair length.
- To investigate alterations in grooming behavior in cats diagnosed with psychogenic alopecia (fPA).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 118 videos from 29 healthy cats and 7 cats with fPA.
- Observation of grooming activities, duration, and bout frequency across nine body parts.
- Comparison based on hair length and health status (healthy vs. fPA).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean grooming bout duration based on hair length or health status.
- Cats with fPA groomed fewer body parts and spent significantly more time chewing their skin compared to healthy cats.
- fPA cats showed increased grooming of hind limbs and decreased grooming of the neck, unlike healthy cats.
Conclusions:
- The study enhances understanding of typical feline grooming behaviors.
- Identifies specific grooming modifications associated with fPA, supporting its classification as an abnormal repetitive behavior.
- Provides a basis for distinguishing normal grooming from pathological patterns in cats.
