Hello,

I live in NYC and adopted my pet cat from a rather hairy situation - I'm not going to say this woman was a cat hoarder, but she exhibited many qualities of one, keeping dozens of cats all together in her residence while adopting them out one by one.

My cat Fink was around 2 years old when I adopted her, and it became apparent pretty quickly that there was some sort of respiratory issue - she was sneezing all the time, shaking her head. Other than that, she was calm, quiet, and happy as a clam in her new home.

I brought her to a vet to examine the sneezing, and the vet told me it seemed likely Fink had contracted Ocular Herpes from the other cats at the shelter. The vet informed me that the condition was not fatal, but that she wouldn't expose Fink to any other cats for fear she might pass it on. No other treatment was suggested, saying that she could live a perfectly happy life with it.

The troubles really started after I moved apartments last year. Fink's respiratory issues became a lot worse - no more sneezing, but constant snorting, snoring, wheezing, and running out of breath. She no longer wanted to play so much.

Not long after moving, she also began to overgroom - a specific spot in the middle of her back. It would get better every now and again, and I tried playing with her more. But soon the overgrooming became near-constant, and she would lick herself to bleeding and scabs in multiple places on her back.

Eventually I got her a cone to stop her from aggravating the area, but she continues to overgroom any other part she can reach while wearing the cone - her haunches, her tail. Her fur is very thin there.

I took her to another vet to see what I can do, and he didn't address the respiratory issue. He said to give her catnip, leave the TV on while I'm at work, and play with her more. He also gave her some calming treats that she does not like or eat.

I leave the TV on (YouTube bird videos for cats) when I'm away, and I have coated all her toys and scratching pads with catnip. She doesn't play very much as she gets out of breath easily, and I don't want to get any other cats for fear of exposing them to her possible medical condition (which was never confirmed). My dad speculates that her breathing issues are what's affecting her nerves and causing the overgrooming.

She seems nervous all the time. She overgrooms even while I'm trying to engage her in play. I'm very sad that her breathing has grown so labored and that there seems to be nothing I can do about it. It's not getting better and I wonder what is best for the welfare of my poor kitty.

She's still covered in scabs that don't heal, and her hindquarters are getting bald, and her breathing is worse than ever. She's in a cone 24-7 for over a month now.

Has anybody else been in this situation? How do I fix my poor kitty? What is the best thing to do in this situation? I'm so upset by it and feel so badly for my poor kitty who, despite her breathing and nerves issues, remains a sweet little kitty. I'll take any advice. :(