A STRESSED-out stray cat named Elton is so anxious for new home that he has started tearing his fur out.
The eight-year-old black moggie, currently being looked after at the RSPCA’s Southall Cattery, is suffering from a condition that means he over-grooms himself when he becomes worried.
Staff at the cattery believe that Elton, who already has bald patches on his face and body, needs a loving home urgently before he does any more damage to himself.
Hayley Willis, animal care assistant at the centre, said the stray, who was found in east London and brought to the centre in May, cannot cope with life in the cattery.
She said: “There isn’t enough stimulation for him here because he is kept in a pen, so he resorts to pulling his fur out in frustration.
“He just loves to be around people and needs an owner who can spend at least a couple of hours a day with him and give him lots of fuss.
“Elton has been over-grooming since he got here but the situation is getting worse. Of all our cats he is the one in most urgent need of a home.”
Cats wash and groom themselves for relaxation but they can overdo it when they feel stressed or anxious, leading to bald patches and even skin damage. Animal experts believe excessive grooming is a type of obsessive-compulsive behaviour.
Anyone who can offer Elton a home should call 0300 123 0746 or drop in at the cattery in Burket Close, Norwood Green, UB2. Visiting hours are 11pm to 4pm every day except Wednesday.
