Cats With Itchy Skin Other Causes
Less common reasons for cats having itchy skin are bacterial infections as well infections such as ringworm.
Ringworm is caused by a fungus that can grow on the cats skin and which uses the skin hair and nails as a source of nutrition.
Despite its name, it has nothing to do with worms!
Some skin cancers can also cause irritation that drives cats to groom and chew excessively, often making things much worse.
Itchy skin can also be a side-effect associated with some medications.
Why Is My Male Cat Pulling His Hair Out
There are a number of reasons why a male cat may pull his hair out. One possibility is that he has a medical condition called psychogenic alopecia, which is caused by stress or anxiety. Another possibility is that hes overgrooming due to a flea allergy or other skin irritation. If your cat is pulling his hair out, its important to take him to the vet to rule out any medical causes and to get treatment if necessary.
Some cats over-groom themselves, leaving fur that was previously loose. When cats lick or bite too frequently, they frequently develop bald spots on their bodies and skin infections. Your cat will undergo an examination and be given a detailed history of the problem by a veterinarian if he/she becomes overly greedy. Cat psychogenic alopecia is frequently caused by a specific event or situation, which can often be traced back to the triggers. In some cases, cats may need anti-anxiety medications or behavioral modification therapy to reduce their stress levels. Before giving your cat medication, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Can Hormones Make Cats Lose Their Fur
Bald spots on your cat and hair loss can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Specific hormones are responsible for your cats hair growth and a surplus or deficiency in this may also be the reason why your cat is losing fur.
You might also find that your pregnant or lactating cat loses their hair due to the changes in their hormones during this time, but dont be too alarmed as fur should eventually grow back overtime.
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Why Is My Cat Biting Her Newborn Kittens
Is it a one-time thing?
It could be an allergy to harvest mites, pollens, trees, or plants if the behavior is worse in the spring and summer and improves in the winter.
If, on the other hand, the behavior only occurs during the winter, it could be a sign of boredom or irritation.
Billy, my Siamese cat, sucks the tip of his tail throughout winter, a behavior he developed as a result of not wanting to take advantage of the magnificent outdoors and all the stimulation it has to offer, despite the fact that its cold and wet.
So I have to put up with being smeared by a wet and slimy tail for at least three months of the year!
Over Grooming From Stress Or Anxiety
Cats take pride in their appearance and hygiene. They constantly groom their own fur by licking themselves all over. Whilst this is completely normal behaviour, a cat under stress or suffering from anxiety may lick too much causing bald patches to appear. This can result in thinning of fur all over the coat or it may result in a bald patch localised to a certain area. Particular patches commonly affected by this kind of behaviour include around the stomach and the tail.
In these instances, treatment should focus on relieving stress in whatever way possible. Causes of stress can include a change of home, the introduction of a new pet or animal or something present in their environment that they perceive as a threat or danger.
Owners who notice over grooming should focus on preventing the behaviour by distracting their pet with toys or cuddles. They should also consider using a feline pheromone diffuser or spray, like Feliway, which will help put your cat at ease. There is a danger that the cat might develop over grooming as a long term habit if left uncorrected.
On some rare instances over grooming may occur as part of a neurological disorder or pain. If your cat continues to over groom you should return to your vet.
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How To Stop Your Cat From Over
Cats frequently scratch and chew at their fur, especially if the fur is pulled out at the base of their tails, and if you scratch or chew on their fur, you may have pests like fleas, mites, or even ticks on your hands. You can keep your cat from pulling out its hair by removing potential allergens and irritants, which can cause itchy skin and lead to over grooming. Dust and pollen can cause allergies if not properly cleaned. A vets use of an anti-inflammatory medication can also reduce irritation to the skin.
How To Help Your Cat Cope With Itching
You can help your cat cope with the itch and prevent them from biting off its fur by offering a few tricks. Dust and pollen can be a source of allergic reactions. I am irritated with this. The consumption of this product will reduce the dust and pollen accumulation that can occur. If your cat is irritated, give him an anti-inflammatory medication. Scratch posts and toys can keep your cat stimulated and distracted from an itch.
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About Dr Pete Wedderburn Dvm
Dr Pete Wedderburn qualified as a vet from Edinburgh in 1985 and has run his own 4-veterinarian companion animal practice in County Wicklow, Ireland, since 1991. Pete is well known as a media veterinarian with regular national tv, radio and newspaper slots, including a weekly column in the Daily Telegraph since 2007. Pete is known as “Pete the Vet” on his busy Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, regularly posting information on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic. He also write a regular blog at www.petethevet.com. His latest book: Pet Subjects, was published by Aurum Press in 2017.
Have You Gone To Give Your Cat A Loving Stroke And Felt That Their Fur Isnt As Thick As It Usually Is Or Have Noticed That Theres A Bald Patch On Your Cat There Are A Number Of Reasons Why Your Cat Could Be Losing Their Fur And Its Always Important To Get Your Vet To Take A Closer Look To Solve The Problem Of Hair Loss In Cats
Check-ups with your vet are the best way to spot any signs of possible illness as soon as possible.
Here are some of the symptoms of cat hair loss to watch out for. Bear in mind that this list isnt exhaustive, and you should always speak to your vet if you have any worries about your pets health.
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Remedies For Hairballs In Cats
While hairballs arent typically dangerous, theyre not pleasant for your cat to cough up. Its also not enjoyable for you as the owner to hear your cat go through the experience. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help prevent hairballs or reduce their frequency.
Try Cat Food Formulated for Hairballs
If your cat coughs up hairballs regularly, you might consider switching to a diet specifically formulated to help reduce the issue. Many cat food brands have a product to deal with hairballs. The formulas typically include things such as increased fiber, oil, minerals, and vitamins that can help the swallowed hair pass through the digestive system naturally.
What To Do If Your Cat Is Pulling His Hair Out
Irrespective of the cause, in all cases where cats are pulling their fur out, it is imperative that they are examined by a veterinarian.
The vet will ask you for background information about the behavior, what it looks like and when its happening, so its always a good idea to be prepared to give as much information as possible.
Here are some things to look out for:
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Symptoms Of Hair Loss In Cats
Since feline alopecia is a symptom of other health issues, cats experiencing hair loss should see a veterinarian who can perform tests to determine the cause. Your cat may have physical medical conditions that lead to it losing patches of its fur, or it may simply be rooted in behavioral problems like stress that can be managed with lifestyle changes. Youll notice these signs:
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General Poor Health Nutrition Or Underlying Disease Might Cause Hair Loss In Cats
Its important for cats to have a balanced diet, as an unhealthy diet, poor health or an undetected disease can all be causes for your cat to lose their hair. As these are all quite broad reasons, its important to visit your vet to identify the underlying cause.
Some causes for hair loss in cats can also affect humans, and are contagious. Although this is unusual, its worth booking an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to avoid an unhappy pet and owner, too.
Remember that a cat shedding it’s fur happens all year round, but they tend to shed more in the summer and autumn, known as cat moulting season. If the hair loss is from all over their body, with no bald patches appearing, this is completely natural and will soon pass.
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Identifying The Sore Spot
If your vets investigations show that your cat is over-grooming because of pain in their joints or bladder, they will treat the underlying problem with necessary medication. When the pain stops, the cat hair loss will too.
Once the cause for the alopecia in cats has been found, you should hopefully have a happy and healthy pet again! Make sure to brush up on your knowledge on destructive cat behaviours and how to avoid it, next.
How Do I Get My Cat To Stop Pulling Out His Hair
Parasitic problems such as fleas, lice, and mites, can easily be treated and prevented with regular use of suitable antiparasitic products . If your vet diagnoses pain or infection, they will recommend treating with an appropriate medication, such as antibiotics or an anti-inflammatory. Allergies and stress can also be managed in several different ways, and your vet will guide and support you through the best ways to do so to get your cat back to his usual furry self!
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While the comfortable bowl shape and wide lip to rest their heads on are ideal for sleepy pets, youll appreciate the removable and machine-washable fleece liner for easy cleaning. It doesnt get any better than this! to try it out.
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Investigating And Treating Other Possible Allergens
How To Prevent Your Cat From Overgrooming
The best way to prevent psychogenic alopecia is to get to know your cat and determine what makes them happy and what may cause them stress. Many of the aforementioned treatments can be used before theres a problem.
When the overgrooming has stopped and the hair has grown back, you can slowly try to discontinue the medications, but close monitoring will be very important to see if it returns. While some cats will adjust, others may need medication for a long period of time, potentially for life. If all else fails, a referral to a veterinary behaviorist may be your best bet.
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Cat Overgrooming For Medical Reasons
Allergies or parasites can considerably change your cats grooming schedule.
Lice, fleas, mites, ticks these almost invisible creatures can make your cats skin extremely itchy which can lead to a second problem, that of excessive grooming.
If you think this is the reason why your cat is incessantly licking their coat, speak to a vet for advice for the most effective treatments. Our cat fleas and ticks article will provide an overview of the causes and possible solutions for these pesky parasites.
However, it is important to keep in mind that when it comes to fleas and ticks, prevention is your best ally. Keep up with the regular preventive treatments against fleas, worms and other parasites and you are likely to avoid the problem altogether. It is also important to treat the environment on a regular basis 95% of fleas are contracted this way, so environmental management as well as treatment of the pet itself are very important.
Something Is Itchy To The Cat
The majority of the time, a cat that is over-grooming is doing so because he feels itchy. The only ways a cat has to scratch an itch are with his back claws and his teeth.
Medical conditions that can cause a cat to feel itchy and subsequently over-groom include:
A veterinarian will do a thorough exam and take a detailed history of the problem from you if your cat is over-grooming. Then, he or she may do some tests such as a skin cytology, culture, or scraping to look for some of these issues.
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Does Your Cat Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Just as humans develop obsessive behaviour so do cats. Stress can make some people pull their hair out, and its possible your cat could develop similar behaviours. Unfortunately, your cat cant tell you whats wrong, so its up to you as a cat parent to find out.
Some things are very obvious but others can be much harder to detect. For example, if youve recently moved this could make your cat stressed. A new neighbourhood means unfamiliar territory. Your cat will feel vulnerable from other kitties until shes settled.
There are many ways your cat could display signs of OCD, with fur pulling being just one of them. If the behaviour has developed suddenly, and your cat seems otherwise ok, think of any recent changes that may have triggered it.
What Is Feline Hyperesthesia
Feline hyperesthesia is a poorly understood condition that has also been referred to as rippling skin syndrome, rolling skin syndrome, or twitchy skin syndrome. It may be a compulsive disorder but it is also possible that there is an underlying medical or neurological cause, behavioral cause or that the problem arises in situations of high arousal or anxiety. The normal response of many cats to having their back scratched can include rippling of the skin,an arched back and varying degrees of vocalization. In hyperesthesia, the affected cat may have a more exaggerated response to touching, rubbing, or scratching of the back. This behavior may then become a compulsive disorder as the frequency increases, the response becomes more intense and the signs begin to appear with little or no apparent stimuli. In addition to rolling skin, muscle spasms and vocalization, the cat may have dilated pupils, and may seem to startle, hallucinate, and dash away. Some cats will defecate as they run away. There may also be some grooming or biting at the flank, tail or back displayed along with the above behaviors.
“In hyperesthesia, the affected cat may have a more exaggerated response to touching, rubbing, or scratching of the back.”
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What Can Your Vet Do To Help Cat Hair Loss
Your vet will give your cat a thorough check over to find out whats causing their alopecia. If they discover fleas, which are a common cause of itching and subsequent hair loss, they may recommend flea treatment .
Your vet might also take hair samples or scrape a little sample of skin to test for ringworm and parasites dont worry, this is completely painless. Occasionally your vet may decide to take a small skin sample from your cat under anaesthetic or to perform an allergy skin test to check for cat skin conditions. Alternatively, they may take a blood sample to look for underlying diseases that could be causing your pet’s hair loss.
If, at the end of their investigation, theres still no obvious reason for the feline alopecia, your vet may refer you to a veterinary dermatologist.
If, however, you or your vet suspect that there could be a behavioural reason for your cat’s over-grooming and making themselves lose hair, then you may need to discuss your cats lifestyle to work out what might be causing them stress.