Any of the cat people I am dealing with a cat that is over grooming due to stress not mine btw and its going to be difficult to change his environment very much. I am considering giving him zelkene and was also thinking about a collar. It seems there are a number on the market and I wonder if anyone has any recommendations. Atm the owners are giving him rescue remedy. he is going to the vet tomorrow just to check it isnt something else but I am pretty sure as he has been checked out by a family friend who is a senior vet nurse.
As he will be seeing the pdsa I am not sure if the treat this type of thing tbh

What about a plug in?

Something like this http://www.feliway.com/uk/

WHERE is the over grooming? On the stomach, on the flanks? A LOT of vets mistakenly pronounce "over grooming" when in fact it is a problem with the anal glands. The vet I worked for treated many a cat with anal gland problems, that had even been put onto Valium by other vets when it wasn't stress at all. It was always on the lower stomach or the flanks.

spot on goldmali ! yep that describes it exactly! and as a lay man I hadn't thought about it in cats its good speaking to someone with experience  . So now to politely suggest that to the vet if they don't go for it. I imagine the treatment is to empty them as in dogs? Any thoughts on prevention for the future if its is that. Is it worth asking for them to empty them before  trying the other things anyway or is it hat a no no
I would like them on raw and as halfway mark they are on bozita   a Swedish  :) high meat cat food its the closest to raw I could persuade daughter to use.However if it helps him I might push them further with the raw and add chicken wings he will eat those 
any thoughts Marianne. These are the same cats that arrived with cat flu ! in and out the vets since then and the change of food and heading towards raw was because felix type foods upset them and they kept being sick. |I have never seen two cats who have needed so much in the way of vet treatment :( Breeder was a show person and supposed good repute.these two are crossbreeds not that that should matter a jot. Not saying any more as I don't wan tto be done for liable or whatever
Dill the plug ins I have thought about but they will need one in each room and their funds don't go that far at £15 a plug in they would need 5 !

They do collars for the dogs so probably fro cats too for the pheromones.

They do but I  cant find a dap one for cats and although there are others I wanted to make sure I picked a safe one. Too many stories about off the shelf flea products and the like that scare me

Yes it is the same as in dogs, except I find cats' anal glands are easier to empty as it is easier to get behind them with your fingers, dogs' can be very deep set at times and of course bigger. Of course, the cat has to be fairly cooperative, but it isn't usually difficult. I have a couple of cats at the moment that I have to empty the glands of now and then. Both are old, one is 13 the other 14. It tends to be mainly older cats but like in dogs, having soft/loose motions can cause it as they don't empty naturally then.

Back when I worked as a vet nurse very few vets seemed to even know cats HAD anal glands, thankfully that isn't the case these days, but it hardly ever seems to be considered a possible problem.

wish me luck I am about to insist the vet checks them . lets hope its avet that does no they exsit ! :) thanks Marianne think its worth a try anyway, not sure I would have ago though.

Feliway is the cat version of DAP :-)

thanks nikita I still cant find a collar under felaway either :) but will see what vet says re anal glands first

http://www.tesco.com/direct/feliway-diffuser-pack/578-7212.prd

its an I not an A...:-) if you google even Tesco sell them

I'm pretty sure Feliway don't do a collar - cat collars have to be removable in emergencies unlike dog collars.

Ooops, should have read right through, I thought it was just the diffuser.............sorry

You're absolutely right, I was having a "special" moment!  Sorry :-)

Just back from the vet . no comment about cause but gave steroids to reduce irritation , then inspite of pulling a face when I suggested anal glands and saying wrong symptoms she did empty them and yes there was ooze from one. Am hoping goldimal advice was right then :)
Daughter bought up stress and a dap diffuser and zelkene to which vet said  up to you do one at a time and see what happens. so inspite of no fleas wants them treated. they are indoor cats so we will see about that as I am not keen  without sight nor sound of fleas or similar parasites. I was pleased to find she didn't like frontline and suggested advocate
Think we got more done than she would have given my advice form here:)