Why Is My Cat Getting Bald Spots

Treatment With Antidepressants And Antianxiety Drugs

Medication may be administered to aid cats with psychogenic alopecia, or hair loss caused by mental problems like stress. In many situations, this treatment has been effective in reducing grooming requirements while the drug is being administered.

The drug used in this procedure poses a risk of side effects, but they are rarely severe. Its common for this form of therapy to be accompanied by behavioural and environmental changes.

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.

Why Do Cats Have Bald Spots Next To Their Ears: Facts Guide

I believe certain cats may suffer from male pattern baldness as a form of sympathy for their owners. Facial alopecia, the medical term for hair loss between the eyebrows and the ear, is a common occurrence as people age.

If you have more than one pet, dealing with ear mites can be a big hassle. Infectious mites can spread between cats, as well as to your dogs and other animals.

If you detect dark crusty gunk or something that looks like coffee grounds on the inside of your ear, you need to get a closer look. Scrape it onto a sheet of black paper using a cotton ball. Everything seems to be still. Youll need a light source and a magnifying glass to get a good view. Moving white dots are visible. Sadly, your loved one has ear mites. Its not a fun procedure, but you have to handle it that way.

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Why Do Cats Have Bald Spots Near Their Ears

Most cats have sparse ears around their ears because the hair is thinner there in general. A black cats skin is easier to see.

There are areas where your cat has thin hair, and the area around their ears is one of them. That does not mean that your cat has a problem, though.

Genetics also plays a factor in this. If the mother and father of your cat have sparse hair around their ears, then there is a good chance your cat will have thin hair too.

When your cat has fleas, the area around their ears is one of the areas targeted too. Since the skin is so thin there, scratching can easily remove the hair from around your cats ears.

Sometimes the hair around your cats ears will grow back, but most of the time, your cat will have hair that is thinner than on other areas of his body.

Treatment Of Hair Loss In Cats

Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your pets hair loss. Use of an Elizabethan collar may be recommended if your pet is licking or biting the skin. The collar helps prevent infection and allows the hair to regrow.

Possible treatments may include:

• Parasiticide treatment , which may be prescribed for eight weeks for all pets in the house. This is recommended even if no parasites are found on exam, as cats are excellent groomers and may effectively remove most of the parasites from their hair coat before you see them.

• Topical therapy which may include medicated shampoo, mousse, or ointment.

• Systemic antibiotics and/or antifungals.

• Elimination diet trial for 8 to 12 weeks with a prescription allergy diet or a limited-ingredient diet.

• Medications such as prednisolone, cyclosporine, and/or antihistamines to reduce itch.

• Behavior-modifying medication and environmental enrichment, including improved access to resources , playtime, and interactive toys.

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Types Of Cat Skin Conditions

The following are some types of common cat skin problems you should be aware of:

Cats with allergies will exhibit other traits like:

• Eosinophilic granulomas or plaques in Cat
• Asthma / respiratory symptoms
• Sneezing, nasal discharge, watery eyes
• Excessive grooming and hair loss
• Gastritis, vomiting, and diarrhea

Schedule an appointment with us as soon as you see any of these symptoms.

Why Does My Cat Have Some Bald Spots

Although weve been talking a lot about your cats head and face, your cat can experience bald spots all over his body.

Many of the same reasons apply to bald spots over your cats body as they do their face.

You may also find bald spots on various other parts of your cats body. Take a look at some of these areas:

• The joints on your cats legs
• Behind your cats ears
• Your cats stomach
• The base of your cats tail

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Ailments Hair Loss In Cats Can Be A Symptom Of

Just like people, cats can experience hair loss. And while it may just be the result of old age or an unseen accident, it can also be a symptom of something more serious. Fortunately, its rather easy to know whether its time for a visit to the vet when a bald spot appears. If you find a single tiny patch of fur missing and there is no sign of blood, pus or irritation, it may just be that your cat scratched too hard or rubbed against a rough surface as we know they love to do. Keep an eye on the patch if you dont see hair growing back within a week, the patch changes in size or appearance, your cat looks to be irritated by it or you start to see more bald patches showing up, youll know its time to visit the vet. We consulted PetCareRxs vet verified information to bring you five reasons your cat may experience hair loss. Read on to learn more!

Reasons Why My Cat Has Bald Patches

We all know what dandies cats are theyll spend a third of their waking hours just washing themselves! They are obviously preening themselves so that the whole world can see what a well-turned out kitty cat looks like. So you can imagine this suave lady or gentlemans distress if, after all that licking, nibbling and evacuation of the smallest particle of dirt, he ends up looking like something the cat dragged in! So if whole patches of that perfectly preened pelt are falling out, what do you do about it? Why does my cat have bald patches? Read on!

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Why Is My Cat Getting Bald Spots

Allergies: Theyre the top cause of hair loss. Like people, your cat can be allergic to food, insect bites, medicines, dust, or pollen. To ease the itch, shell lick her fur until there are bald spots. Parasites: Fleas, mites, lice, and ticks can make her scratch and lick, too, causing bald spots and even sores.

Also to know is, why does my cat have patches of fur missing?

Hormonal imbalances, specifically too much thyroid or increased levels of steroids in the body, may lead to hair loss. Some cats experience skin allergies, which can also cause hair loss to occur. Parasites that bring about mange, and fungal issues like ringworm, are also a common cause of alopecia.

Why do cats have less hair above their eyes?

The normal hair loss between the eyes and the ears in cats is called facial alopecia, or preauricular alopecia. It is seen in male and female cats and is more noticeable in the shorthaired varieties. Facial alopecia is not a medical disorder or a disease. It is a normal aging process.

What kills mites on cats?

Applying a hearty apple cider vinegar mixture to your cat topically can kill fleas, mites, and ringworm. This mixture can also clean their skin thoroughly, removing allergens that cause acne and itching. Please note: the acid in apple cider vinegar can be abrasive to a cats tender skin, so be sure to dilute it.

Is Your Cat Losing Hair 6 Reasons For Hair Loss In Cats

One of last years litters of foster kittens brought more than joy and heart-melting cuteness to my house. Unfortunately, the outdoor kitties and their mom came with a pack of fleas, and the pests took up residence in the fur of my resident cat, G.G., who had a maddening itch. The itch soon turned into thinning hair on her belly, at the base of her tail and on her hind legs. So, is your cat losing hair? What causes cat hair loss? In G.G.s case the hair loss turned out to be caused by a flea allergy. Lets learn more about hair loss in cats, also known as alopecia in cats.

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How To Prevent Hair Loss

Not all of the causes of hair loss in cats are preventable. However, you can take steps to keep your cat as healthy and happy as possible.

• Ensure that your cat’s personal stressorswhether it’s a change in its environment or another animalare kept to a minimum so it does not resort to over grooming out of frustration.
• Provide a nutritious diet, plenty of exercise, and regular veterinary checkups to bypass serious health issues.
• Keep your cat on effective flea prevention monthly to prevent infestations of parasites that can cause hair loss.
• Keeping your cat inside can reduce its exposure to many mites as well.

Cats can lose fur on their hind legs due to a variety of issues. The first step in treatment is finding out the underlying cause of the hair loss. If you notice your cat is losing hair, take your cat to your veterinarian for an exam. The sooner the cause is diagnosed, the sooner the cat can be feeling better and growing back their coats.

Acquired Loss Of Hair

In most cases, itching is caused by a condition other than hair loss. Cats with itchy patches will scratch, chew, lick, or rub the affected areas until the fur is completely removed. There are many more probable reasons, some of which are communicable, if inherited factors are eliminated. To be clear, the information offered here is not designed to substitute a professional diagnosis from your veterinarian.

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Symptoms Accompanying Cat Hair Loss

In addition to the usual hair loss in places such as the belly, underside of the tail, sides, legs and genital area. Note that you may actually notice changes to the coat, excessive shedding or rough fur before seeing bald patches. Your cat may also show other symptoms depending on the underlying cause of hair loss. These symptoms include:

• Dry skin that is itchy and scaly
• Skin that has red patches or darker in color
• Dandruff and excessive shedding

Understanding Alopecia In Cats

When referring to hair loss in cats, the term alopecia is often used, which simply means baldness. There are different types of alopecia in cats. The most common causes of alopecia usually occur because of an underlying condition and are considered acquired alopecia.

However, alopecia can sometimes occur without an underlying condition present. For example, some cats, such as Sphynxes, have hereditary alopeciathey are born without hair and never grow any. Siamese cats often experience pinnal alopecia, which is hair loss on the outside of the ear pinnae that usually grows back on its own. Many different breeds of adult cats experience preauricular alopecia, which is the thinning of hair between the ears and eyes. Preauricular alopecia is considered normal and not due to an underlying illness.

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Why Do Black Cats Lose Their Fur

Like all cats, black cats may lose their fur, but nothing about a black cat makes fur loss more common.

As I have been saying throughout this article, hair loss in black cats is just easier to see than on other colored cats.

Black cats are not genetically different to make hair loss are probable than other colored cats.

To recap, lets talk about some of the reasons why your cat may have thin or sparse hair, whether it is on their face, stomach, or any other part of their body:

• Mites, fleas, or other bugs
• Facial alopecia
• Dry skin, also known as eczema

What Is A Bald Spot

A bald spot is an area of missing fur. Bald spots can sometimes be a singular patch of hair loss or they can be multiple patches over a larger area. Often the distribution of the bald spots can be important in helping your Vet to make a diagnosis. If you notice that your cat has bald spots, contact your Vet for advice.

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Why Does My Cat Have Bald Spots Between Eyes And Ears

The normal hair loss between the eyes and the ears in cats is called facial alopecia, or preauricular alopecia. If you see this hair loss in your cat and there are no lesions or scratching, what you are seeing in your cat is a normal aging process and should not cause any concern.

Does hair grow back on cats ears?

A cats ear hair will eventually grow back if cut. However, various factors may cause a cats ear hair not to grow back at all. This is usually the case if you cut off too much or there are underlying issues not treated before trimming the ear hair.

Recovery Of Hair Loss In Cats

The chances of recovery from alopecia depend on the cause of the hair loss. The hair loss in both total and partial cases may be permanent, especially when follicle conditions are the cause. In the event that infections or other treatable conditions caused the loss, the prognosis is usually good after treatment of the cause. Continue to monitor your pets condition, follow all instructions provided by your veterinarian, finish the full course of medications, and return for further medical attention if the situation worsens. Reducing stress in your cats living environment and feeding them a healthy diet will aid in their recovery. Avoid making any major changes until your pet is well on the path to recovery. If hair loss is permanent, your pet can still live a full life. Special attention should be paid to the temperature of their living environment in these cases.

Hair loss can be symptomatic of a serious medical condition. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection youll have from unexpected vet costs.

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Is Alopecia In Cats Ever Normal

Some cats have hereditary alopecia. For example, Sphynx cats are born without hair and never grow any.

Another type of normal hair loss is pinnal alopecia hair loss on the outside of the ear pinnae which is common in Siamese cats but usually resolves on its own. Many adult cats also experience preauricular alopecia thinning of fur on the skin strip between the ears and the eyes, which is considered normal in cats, Dr. Hayworth says.

With A Cat Losing Hair Will That Hair Grow Back

The good news for cat parents is that this hair loss in cats usually doesnt indicate a serious illness, and the hair can usually grow back, Dr. Bateman says. Dr. Hayworth, of VCA Northview Animal Hospital in the Pittsburgh suburbs, explains that how well a cat losing hair can be treated and reversed depends on the underlying cause.

Generally, if we can reverse the cause, then we can get the hair to grow back, Dr. Hayworth says. This is especially true with over-grooming related to allergies. So, if you notice hair loss in your cat, it is definitely worth a trip to the doctor.

These are six of the most common conditions behind a cat losing hair. Note that this isnt an exhaustive list, as alopecia in cats is a broad condition with many potential factors.

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Why Is My Cat Losing Hair Cat Hair Loss Explained

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Does your cat have a bald patch or even multiple bald areas on its body? Most cats naturally shed fur, but more significant hair loss can be concerning.

Bald areas on your cats body can look different depending on the underlying cause. There can also be scabs or skin irritation where there used to be hair.

Hair Loss In Cats Due To Ringworm

If your cat is displaying hair loss in the form of round patches, especially if they are on the top of the head, then it is likely to be due to ringworm. Not actually a parasitical worm as you might expect, ringworm is a fungus which infects the skin. Also known as dermatophytosis, it is a relatively common disorder especially in younger cats. In adults cats, it usually begins when a cat is subject to stress, which could be due to anything from moving home to having a new family member.

Inadequate hygiene conditions are also a predisposing factor. Ringworm is usually self-limiting which means the cat’s own immune system can work to restore their skin back to a healthy condition. When the skin is healthy, the patch of hair will grow back. Without the help of medication, improving immunity, controlling diet and ridding the cat of certain stressors can resolve the problem.

If, however, the case is severe, the veterinarian will likely medicate with a ringworm antifungal treatment for cats. This is likely in the form of a topical cream, an oral pill or even an antifungal cat shampoo for lesser cases. For acute cases the treatment can continue for up to and over 4 weeks, although a resolution should present itself around this time. When healed, any bald spots on the cat should regrow with hair.

Ringworm is diagnosed with the help of a wood lamp. This is a special device which is passed over the suspected area and can illuminate the presence of the infection.

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