This was long before I was making recovery shirts for dogs.
Back in 2013 I was living with my landlords, and they had a cat. She was extremely stressed. The cat, I mean! LOL.
She was grooming herself so much that she had no hair left on her chest. Completely bald from over-grooming.
I thought - if I make her a shirt, it might help.
So I made her a little navy blue turtleneck shirt. Long-sleeved, in soft cotton jersey. 100% cotton, nothing scratchy.
She started wearing it, and two things happened. Her hair grew back on her chest, and her stress level reduced.
It wasn't just that she couldn't lick anymore. It was like the gentle, soft hug of the jersey all around her body made her feel safe. Like a little security blanket she could wear all day. She calmed right down.
I still think about that navy blue shirt. That was in 2013, and it was the first time I saw with my own eyes that a simple cotton shirt can do more than cover skin - it can help an animal feel calm and secure.
That is why I still make all my recovery and anxiety shirts in soft cotton jersey with a gentle fit, with long sleeves when they need that chest coverage. Not tight lycra, not polyester.
If your cat is over-grooming or losing hair from stress, please see your vet first to check for allergies, pain or medical reasons. But a soft cotton shirt can sometimes be part of helping them feel safe again, alongside your vet's advice - just like it did for my landlord's cat in 2013.
Tiina x
This is just my own experience with a cat I knew, it is not vet advice. Always talk to your vet if your cat is losing hair from grooming.
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