poor Rufus! It does kind of look like he was over grooming or just pulling the fur out the way it's in clumps. I hope they can get it figured out.

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Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

I don't know that the valerian in the toy would cause hair loss in a cat, although allergies can as well as parasites that maybe you can't see. Stress and anxiety can also do this. The best thing is to take the cat to the vet and let them examine the area and make the determination of what is going on. Those are huge patches of fur that are being pulled out. The cat appears to be a medium-haired kitty and the fur can get matted easily. This is more than your average hair loss. I'd never heard of valerian filled toys. I'm not sure what would happen if a cat ingested some. Let us know what the vet says.

My cats have some Valerian toys from Happy House Cats. They've had them for years with no problem. But that's not to say that it wasn't the cause here. It sounds like an allergy to me. The cat's skin is probably inflamed and itchy, so the cat pulls out his fur. You might try catnip instead of Valerian next time, now that you know this.

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The little monsters 3

Thanks for your replies ladies ( and now Brian ).

I've just spoken to my SIL and Rufus has been to the vet - he checked out OK and has been given a cortisone injection and a Cone Of Shame to stop him licking himself. Jacqui, my SIL, is not looking forward to explaining to Rufus that he's not allowed out and has a special outfit to wear for the next 5 days. She even offered to come and cut Ada's claws if I popped back to the UK to fit the collar myself.

I'll be buying shares in Elastoplast this evening - they are due a large order in the near future.

I couldn't find anything at all via Google to suggest that Valerian would cause that sort of problem, in fact I couldn't see anything suggesting that it caused any sort of problem with cats, but it was one of the things that he had recently had access to for the first time and so I wondered if that could be the cause. In the meantime, I've been told that Rufus, who is/was a big bruiser of a cat is being challenged territory-wise even in his own garden- so there could be a stress related element to the over grooming.

Brian - I guess that Rufus won't be getting any more valerian toys for the time being. My 2 love them* and have never shown any sort of issue, nor my mum's cat or my brother/SIL's 2 other cats, so I doubt that they were the cause of the problem.


* I got an order sent through recently and left a sealed bag with 2 Bunny Bits ( http://www.shop.happyhousecats.co.uk/in ... cts_id=129 ) on the kitchen table and Ada thoughtfully spared me the job of opening it and giving her one of the toys - she was in heaven with it.

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The little monsters 3

I'd stick with catnip toys! LOL. Since you've mentioned "territory," it is possible stress is playing a role in the pulling out of the fur! That is probably why the vet couldn't find anything. If this is the cause, then the fur pulling will continue until the other problem is gone, which could easily be another cat in the area. Cats are extremely territorial. Raiden doesn't like any other cat coming into our yard either. Rufus should be kept indoors or trained to walk on a harness and leash. The fur will grow back in time, if Rufus leaves the area alone.