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Fleas, ticks, and other parasites won’t hesitate to set up camp on your cat’s tail. If you suspect that parasites may be causing your cat’s hair loss, get a professional to do a thorough examination and check for any signs of fleas, or other parasitic infections. You may also want to ask your vet about using flea control products such as shampoos and sprays. Ask your veterinarian about safe topical treatments that can relieve pain and itching. Your cat has a better chance of healing if you break the cycle of scratching and biting the inflamed skin.
Overgrooming
Any change in appearance can be alarming—but a sudden change in the fur pattern? Congenital alopecia, which may or may not be hereditary, shows up at birth or shortly after. Hairless breeds, such as the Sphinx, have been bred for this lack of hair follicles resulting in hairless adult cats. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
When should you worry about cat hair loss?
In some cases, hair loss in cats can be brought on by other lesser-known causes such as Notoedres cati, more commonly referred to as notoedric mange. Hair loss from Notoedres cati is seen on the ears, neck, eyelids, and other facial and upper body regions. This type of mange is rare but highly contagious to other pets and humans. Treatment for notoedric mange is similar to that of demodectic mange. As we have seen, the causes that can lead to hair loss in cats are quite diverse. Depending on what triggers it, the veterinarian should establish treatment to enable the cat to recover.
Fungal Infection
There are several skin parasites that may lead to hair loss and skin changes through excessive itching, scratching, and licking. Most commonly, these are fleas and various types of mites, such as ear mites, canine and feline scabies, walking dandruff, and feline demodicosis. Should you notice excessive hair loss, unusual cat behavior, or other symptoms like the ones listed above, bring your cat in for a veterinary assessment to determine the underlying cause. Thankfully, most hormonal disorders are treatable through medication. It’s very common in older cats, so if you are concerned your cat has a thyroid condition, take them to the vet.
Losing fur after flea treatment
Be prepared to discuss your pet’s medical history, any medications or toxins they may have ingested, and any symptoms you have observed. Your veterinarian will perform a full physical examination while paying special attention to hot spots and the condition of the skin. A smear, culture, or biopsy of the affected area may be required for analysis.
Side Effects from Medication
Learning about the possible causes can help you get your cat the help they need. It is important to take appropriate steps to identify the underlying cause of your cat’s alopecia. If you suspect that an endocrine disorder may be causing your cat’s hair loss, get it checked out by a vet. Your vet may recommend treatments like thyroid replacement therapy or behavioral changes to help manage the condition. The treatment for alopecia in cats will depend on the cause of the cat’s hair loss.
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Your vet may also advise using a plastic cone or shirt to help protect them from further licking or scratching until the underlying issues have been addressed. Because fleas and mites are such common causes of hair loss in cats, effective treatment for these parasites is an important part of treatment for many cats with hair loss. However, not all flea preventatives are equally effective and not all are also effective against mites. Your vet can help you find the safest and most effective options for your cat.
Again, without the presence of additional symptoms like these, you can likely rule out cancer altogether. With that said, some rare forms of cancer—such as neoplasia—can lead to feline hair loss. On the other hand, you may not see your cat clean themselves at all. Kitties will often find somewhere out of sight to lick and pull at a skin irritation. This tendency to hide can make it more challenging to recognize that your fur baby is over-grooming.
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Psychogenic alopecia is a compulsive disorder that drives a cat to groom itself obsessively. Excessive licking and chewing leads to hair loss, and some cats will even pull out their own hair. A vet will only arrive at this diagnosis if all other underlying conditions can be ruled out. In many cases, this type of alopecia caused by over-grooming is a result of stress or anxiety. Calming solutions or adjustments to the environment can help these cats stop barbering to promote hair regrowth. Flea allergy dermatitis, an allergy to a flea's saliva when they bite a pet, can lead to hair loss.
We put a strong emphasis on preventive medicine as well as low-stress handling to help pets have a more pleasant veterinary experience. We use Fear Free techniques for every cat and dog to help reduce their anxiety and calm their nerves. Just like how weather and environmental conditions can cause our skin to become irritated and cracked, the same thing can happen to a cat’s skin. It takes a lot of stress for a cat to reach this point, but if your pet has recently gone through some major changes in life, they may be very anxious and upset. I'm a practicing holistic veterinarian offering house call veterinary care in Seattle, Washington.
Fleas can irritate cats, particularly if they have an allergic reaction to their saliva, causing them to itch and over-groom the area. This can cause more damage to the skin underneath the fur, resulting in unsightly scabs and loss. Sometimes the hair loss can be minimal, with a coin size piece missing. Other times, a large amount of fur spanning almost half of the back can occur, but that is an extreme example. Hair loss in cats can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, so it’s essential to seek professional help to diagnose and treat the underlying cause. Adding supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids to their diet may also help reduce shedding and clumps of fur in cats.
Watch for short patches of fur or bald spots, more frequent hairballs, and red sores beneath the cat's coat. Unless you have a hairless Sphynx cat, full or partial cat hair loss (also called feline alopecia) is a sign that something is not quite right. However, if you are concerned about your cat’s hair loss, taking them to the veterinarian as soon as possible is key to reducing any long-lasting damage to the coat and skin. You can treat this in several ways, beginning with giving your cat a breathing space to de-stress. Plenty of distractions, including cat toys and scratchers, can also help. Finally, cat-appeasing pheromones can help reduce stress levels in the home.
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