Help for an overgrooming cat before I spend $700+ on allergy tests?
I've got a beautiful 6 year old cat who has been overgrooming to the point of giving herself scabs. She's been wearing a cone since Feb. I've been doing my best to help her, but I wonder if I'm missing anything or if there's anything that I should discuss with her vet. I would love to get her out of a cone and back to her old self. I've got an appointment with a veterinary dermatologist next month and it will be at least $700.
Here's the whole, long story:
It started last Dec. She gave herself a scratch, she over groomed it, then it got infected. After $1200 urgent vet visit and 3 weeks of treatments (antibiotics and animax) she was better. No history of overgrooming before this.
In February, she began overgrooming again, this time on her stomach. She took off most of her tummy hair overnight and gave herself several boo boos. I took her to the vet and they put her on a hypoallergenic diet, a short course of prednisolone, and gabapentin (50mg twice a day) to help with her discomfort or anxiety if the overgrooming was psychological.
At the same time my other cat was very sick and I was stressed trying to save him and navigate all his medical needs. Eventually, it was revealed that he had an aggressive cancer and it was clear that he needed to be euthanized, so a vet came to our home. I let my girl-cat smell his body to help her understand what had happened. My heart was broken and she was clearly shaken after he died (even though she barely tolerated him when he was around).
For a while in April, she was doing great---her tummy looked good and she seemed calm. I've tried taking the cone off, it went great for hours at a time... then I let her keep it off while I ran errands as a test. I came home to new boo boos.
She got put on cyclosporine last week, and I know it's too early to tell if it's working, but I just gave her a cone break and she immediately started overgrooming.
She's been on Bravecto for flea meds this entire time.
I have been giving her conventional pill pockets, which I know breaks the hypoallergenic diet, but there's no other way to get her to take pills. Please trust me on this.
I've got a derm appointment that is part of a top-rated vet school. They warned me it will likely cost $700+ for allergy tests. Is it worth it?
I'm so exhausted and broke from two sick kitties. I've thought about taking her off gabapentin and cyclosporine (and therefore pill pockets) and seeing if the strict diet helps.
Timeline/Stressors:
Nov. - my ex and I broke up, he moved out (we'd been together her whole life)
Dec. - my Christmas cactus bloomed
Dec. - girl kitty starts overgrooming the scratch
late Jan. - my boy cat got sick
late Jan - new roommate moved in (though she loves the new roommate)
Feb. - Christmas cactus bloomed again + our area had a ton of pollen
Feb. - girl kitty starts overgrooming belly and legs
Feb - girl kitty started hypoallergenic food
March - my boy kitty died
March - I connected the Christmas cactus timing and rehomed the plant
April - doing better, then overgroomed when coneless
May 10 - started cyclosporine
* Species: Domestic cat
* Age: 6
* Sex/Neuter status: spayed
* Breed: shorthaired tortoiseshell
* Body weight: 12 lbs
* History: no health issues prior
* Clinical signs: overgrooming
* Duration: since Dec.
* Your general location: Florida, USA
* Links to any test results, X-rays, vet reports etc. that you have: none