Thread: Help please - Manic licking/scratching

I think I am with you on a lot of it being physchological reading your post & it does sound attention seeking although daughter has a MC that does tend to overgroom & my Welly used to be the same although he is not so bad now,if you have cuddles when you stop he flies round at his back end & has to lick himself but I just bring his head back round & try to divert his attention to something else....he is improving with age though but then we are at home more now & he does seem to be getting a lot more loving towards us. I know you say nothing has changed but as these cats mature & loose the playing/sleeping pattern of kittenhood so do their needs tend to differ so I am going to hide under the table & say this very quickly.....get him a friend to give him some company........ oh have I really said that......of course that may not work either but.....!!!!!
Hopefully someone else will be able to come up with something really constructive to help you both.....xxx

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. The comments you made about giving cuddles and then him flying around to lick his back legs etc definitely sounds the same.
Arthur is 6 now and yes i'm conscious that this isn't something caused by a change at home but more a change in him.
I beat myself up that i'm busy and don't give him enough attention but no amount seems to help at the moment.
I hadn't really considered another playmate - i would be happy to have another MC but i think i may have some convincing with regard to the hubby!

I've bought a couple more toys and try to play with him as much as i can when i'm home but he's so demanding that its never quite enough. Basically i think he would like it if my husband moved out and left me and him alone!
I will continue to be patient with him but i'd have to say getting another cat definitely isn't an option until next year when we plan to move house.
Thanks again though
x

Now you could have brought up another problem there,you say he would most probaly be happier if OH moved out how do they get on together....? Perhaps OH needs to take more notice & give Arthur quality time too I could go on for a long while how I was with one of my furries least to say I am ashamed to say I didn't click with him but oh the difference when I gave myself a good talking too & sorted myself out, I think this breed of furries are so sensitive & want love from both parties, I know men aren't the most likely ones to keep kissing them & giving them the soft talk like we do but mine love the rough & tumble they have with dad.... would it be worth leaving him with one of the feeders that they have to work out how to get to the food during the day to give him a bit of stimulation ours love the maize,try removing some of his favourite toys for a period of time then chuck a couple back in the pot just before you have to go to work to hopefully again stimulate him,if you think about the logic of it he sleeps all day while you are out so it figures he is going to need attention from somewhere the other end of the day, I know another furry is out of the question & I did suggest that tounge in cheek but MC's are great company lovers as we have discovered....pity you don't live closer or I could lend you the choice of six to keep him company during the day if he chose Billy I think I could safely say he would be zonked all evening,when I let mine in from the pen they head staright for head down time with a look of relief that mum is going to take over B's needs......xxx