Thread: Help please - Manic licking/scratching

Hi all - I'm at the end of my tether with this on going issue with my beloved Arthur so i wondered if anyone could shed any light/have suggestions for this?

For most of this year i've been back to the vet almost monthly with Arthur. His symptoms are often the same - obsessive licking and biting of his skin. Not to the point of making himself bald but generally in the same areas - rear hind legs or round his main area.
We've tried the obvious flea treatment etc - but there is never any actual visible irritation on his skin or fleas.
I would go as far to say that i think the scracthing/biting is almost entirely pshychological.
We all know our cats - and i know that Arthur gets this look in his eye, almost maniacle and then he starts with the biting/scratching.
He has at points made his skin sore but its just small random scabs at points he persistently attacks. He has had a number of steroid injections and these seem to calm things down in the short term but i don't want to rely on it and i think it only resolves the itchiness from his self caused scabs. The Vet initally thought he might have an anal sack issue but this has now been ruled out.
The vet has said i can have allergy testing done but i haven't taken this step thus far because i fail to see what it can acheive. Nothing has changed in the home environment - he has a sensitive stomach so i am very careful about what he eats. At a last guess the vet suggested it could be a tree pollen issue because it seems to coincide - or the worse bouts could be said to conincide..
However i feel a lot more of the issues are down to Arthurs obsessive nature. Yes he is on his own all day and doesn't go out - but this has always been the case since i got him 6 years ago. He seems to persistently crave my attention - i know he starts licking/scrathing in my eye sight because he knows i will tell him to stop it. Unfortunately its so persistent that its beyond irritating - i have raised my voice to him and thats made him more nervy.
I've tried telling him firmly "no" the first time and then if i repeat myself - i silently remove him from the room for five minutes. Arthur is so so stubborn though that this just doesn't seem to have an affect.

Has anyone encountered anything like this? I'm struggling beyond belief with this and i am almost 100% sure its a behavioral issue. I have feliway plug-ins in the house and they seem to offer Arthur no relief.
I don't want to shout at him as i know this won't help the issue but i'm at the end of my tether.
He is a healthy big boy but i would really appreciate some help with this OCD behavior if at all possible?

Thank you everyone
x