Why won't my cat groom himself?

I adopted my family's newest member, a gray tabby tomcat named Ziggy, two weeks ago. Per the veterinarian, he is quite healthy-- and my own observations tell me that he's remarkably well-behaved. But this cat has one bizarre behavioral quirk that I've never seen before in a cat. He simply does not groom himself. While most cats will spend hours diligently cleaning themselves, my boy might give himself just one or two licks a day. I mentioned this at Ziggy's first veterinary check-up and found out that there are several reasons a cat might not groom himself. Here are a few.

Obesity

Fat kitties are fun, puffy and cute, but obesity is a serious problem for house cats. Not only does it contribute to incapacitating diseases like arthritis and heart failure, but obesity can also make your kitty unable to groom himself. If he can't reach over his chubby belly, he can't keep himself clean. If your furry friend has gotten so fat that he can't groom himself, it's time to help him lose weight.

Pain

Painful conditions such as arthritis can make self-grooming intensely painful for some cats. Elderly cats may experience intense pain while attempting to clean their fur due to muscle spasms and joint inflammation. Find a good treatment for your kitty's discomfort if the vet determines that pain is the cause of your cat's neglect of hygiene.

Behavioral Causes

The vet determined that my kitty is quite healthy, so there was only one likely cause of his negligent self-grooming. He simply doesn't like doing it. I suspect, based on several of my cat's behaviors, that he was weaned very early. It's possible that his mother never taught him to groom himself. Other cats may simply be lazy or uninterested in grooming. A gentle brushing and a wet rag can address the problem.

More Serious Problems

If a cat who normally has good hygiene suddenly stops grooming himself, it's time for a visit to the vet. A cat who suddenly neglects his hygiene may be dealing with a serious illness that makes him too weak or uncoordinated to groom his own fur. Get in touch with your vet if quickly if you notice this pattern suddenly arise, especially if it occurs alongside other symptoms, such as reduced appetite or incontinence. A qualified expert can help you determine the cause, and solution, to your cat's failure to groom himself.