Sassy had a beautiful long coat, until you looked at her belly, where a mass of matted hair had formed, which she would not allow anyone near. Any attempt to touch her abdomen triggered hissing and scratching, making grooming impossible. Although affectionate in most situations, this reaction created serious difficulties in finding her a home.

I suspected that Sassy’s behaviour was driven by pain in her abdomen, possibly linked to her spay surgery, even though it had taken place years earlier. To explore this, she was offered a range of plant extracts commonly selected for post-neutering support and gastrointestinal discomfort. Of all the remedies offered, she showed interest in only one: St John’s wort infused oil. She immediately lapped up a teaspoon, then curled up and slept deeply for several hours. St John’s wort is frequently selected in cases involving pain associated with the reproductive area. While cats generally engage with essential oils through inhalation, infused oils are sometimes taken orally. 

When Sassy returned the following day, she only wanted a few licks of the St John’s wort infused oil. Once settled, I gently approached her with a brush and began grooming her abdomen. This time, there was no resistance, no hissing, no scratching. Instead, she purred continuously as her belly was brushed. The change was remarkable. 

When an animal resists being touched in a particular area, there is often a meaningful reason. Sassy’s case clearly illustrates how addressing underlying pain can resolve behavioural challenges that might otherwise be misunderstood or mislabelled.