Why is My Cat Missing Fur

Could the solution to this cat's missing patch of fur really be so simple?

Questions from Visitors About Fur Loss

Fur Loss on Cat's Belly

Hello,

My six-year-old male cat, Sydney, is losing hair on his belly. It is on the lower part of the belly, and it is in the shape of a heart. Now, he is starting to also lose hair on the inside part of his back legs. He doesn't seem uncomfortable or in pain, he doesn't groom any more than usual, and I do feed him indoor cat food. He has never been outside and is strictly an inside cat. He hasn't lost any weight. I am just wondering what is going on with him. At this time I don't really have the money to take him to the vet because I'm not currently working. However, if he needs attention, I will certainly take him. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

~~Lori K.

Expert Reply

Hi, Lori,

There are many different reasons Sydney could be losing his fur. Most of the time, fur loss is stress related, particularly if there are no other symptoms. You say he isn't grooming more than usual and seems fine other than the missing fur. Is there any scabbing in the bald areas? If so, this can indicate a flea irritation or other skin problem. If no scabbing, then I would probably just keep a close eye on him and see if any more hair falls out or the skin changes at all. You may want to start putting aside a few dollars a week so you can take him for his regular vet checkup or if the situation worsens any.

If the skin changes color, it is probably best to take him to the vet so that the vet can do some skin patch tests for fungal infections, etc. If the fur loss is stress related, which again is common, you may want to ask yourself what changes have occurred recently. Have you changed cat food? Added a new pet? Moved furniture around? Is there anyone new in the house? Even small changes can create stress for cats, so look at small things you may have changed too.

Nothing can replace an exam by a veterinarian, but if Sydney seems otherwise healthy it is probably fine to put off the visit until you would normally visit the vet anyway for his annual check up. If anything changes or he continues to lose fur, I would try to find a way to take him in for a checkup.

~~Lori

Feline Hair Loss in Elderly Cats

We have fourteen-year-old male cat. He has been losing patches of fur around his shoulder for the last couple of months. At first it appeared to grow back, but the color was much darker. Recently, he has continued to lose fur. It falls out in clumps and I find fur all over the house. He doesn't scratch the area and it isn't inflamed or red. He has no sores or lesions. He has no change in appetite, thirst or urinations. He's had no change in mood or behavior. He doesn't mind being petted, but I'm afraid to groom him. I'm wondering if there may be something I can do at home. I hate to stress him out by going to the vet at his age.

~~Tena

Expert Reply

Hi, Tena,

I have a fifteen-year-old Siamese and she was experiencing the same symptoms, except on her back. Feline hair loss can be frightening when you aren't sure of the cause. There can be many different reasons for a cat to lose its hair.

Unfortunately, it is usually a sign of poor health and is often caused by diet. I noticed a marked improvement when I switched my cat to organic food with human-grade meat (no byproducts). I chose a brand that had a sensitive skin formula as well with extra vitamins. This has helped the shedding issue quite a bit and her fur looks much better.

Also, don't be afraid to groom your cat. While this will not by itself make his fur grow back, it is important to a cat's health to keep him well groomed. As cats get older, they sometimes do not do as good of a job grooming.

One of the most common reasons for fur loss is thyroid issues. Even though he may not like the vet, I encourage you to follow up. At his age, he really needs regular physicals. There are many medications that can help our older cats deal with aging bodies and live long lives as our companions. Please check back in and let us know how he is doing.

~~Lori

What's Causing Cat's Fur Loss

My cat is nine years old and has hair loss on her butt and the base of her tail. At first, I thought she might have singed her fur on a lit candle, but then I noticed one of her long eyebrows was also missing.

I also noticed that she has scabs between her should blades that look like cat scratches. We do have another cat and they play quite roughly.

I have had both the cats on Innova dry cat food, which I have heard is a great food. They also eat Friskies wet canned food every other day as a treat. Could this really be diet that is causing the problem?

~~ Feline Hair Loss

Expert Reply

Hello,

No, at this point it doesn't seem like your cat's hair loss is related to a dietary problem. The scratches sound like exactly what you think they are, marks form your cats' rough play. I also think that the missing "eyebrow" can also be attributed to these tussles.

That just leaves the patch of fur loss on your cat's rump near the base of her tail. A candle flame would have left the area looking burned and probably a little sooty. Typically, spots like this are due to some sort of skin irritation that causes a cat to lick and chew at the site. Does the skin look irritated in any way? Are the patches circular with a slightly raised "ring" look to them?

What we're searching for are signs of a parasitic infestation that would cause your cat to worry at the site. This could be a flea or mite infestation, or even a fungal infection such as ringworm, which is fairly common in cats.

At this point, there are several routes you can take.

• One route would be to search your cat for signs of fleas, take the necessary steps to eliminate an infestation if you find anything and wait for the hair to grow back.
• Another route would simply be to observe your cat's behavior for clues to the hair loss, and see if the bald patches grow in size. If they do, a trip to the vet is definitely in order.
• A third route would be to let your vet take a look at the patches now and possibly take a skin scraping to check for mites beneath the skin.

If you're really concerned about the loss, heading straight to the vet is probably the most direct way to discover what's going on.

Thanks for your question, and I hope you find at least one of these suggestions helpful.

~~ Kelly

Visitor wonders, "Why is My Cat Missing Fur?

I just had my seven-month-old cat neutered, and he has always been very healthy. I brought him home from the vet and had to rush him back the next morning due to a post operative infection. They kept him for two days.

I brought him home, and he appeared fine. Two days later I noticed a sudden hair loss, right down to the pink skin, on his right foreleg. It looked like a bracelet, not quite completely circling his "wrist".

I am at a loss. The vet says he must have caught his foot on something, like trying to explore under a closed door. I don't buy it. I think if he did get his foot caught under something he would have signs of actual trauma/injury, not simply a loss of hair.

Any thoughts? Ideas?

~~ Geri

Expert Reply

Hi Geri,

This may sound ridiculously simple, but the first thought that occurred to me is that the spot you describe is the general area where your cat's intraveinous line (IV) would have gone in. Typically, vets shave a patch of fur away to allow unobstructed access to the vein. Some vets even shave a little extra fur so the vet wrap used to cover the line adheres better.

Is the vet that you spoke to the actual vet that worked on your cat? It seems incredible to me that this wouldn't occur to him/her.

It might also comfort you to know that fur loss is common for a pet that has been under anesthetic, so perhaps the additional fur loss you're seeing could be attributed to this. Stress also causes hair loss in cats, and you pet certainly went through a trauma with the surgery and infection.

Watch to see if your cat is shedding in other areas. If your cat continues to have significant fur loss, do take him back to the vet for a thorough examination.

I hope this puts your mind more at ease, and thank you for your question.

~~ Kelly.

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