LoveToKnow Cats:AllComments

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Hi Tiffany,

There are many different reasons for fur loss. Here are a few:

Fleas and other parasites
Ear mites, which cause the cat to itch and dig (you mentioned she isn't scratching, so this isn't likely to be the problem)
Allergies to food
Allergies to other household items
Hormonal changes
Thyroid issues
Renal issues
Other underlying health problems

As you can see there are many different reasons and it can be hard to narrow down what is causing the problem. My suspicion based on what you've described is a possible food allergy. Also, this is the easiest thing to try to solve at the moment. Try putting her on a high quality food for sensitive skin or for fur. It should use human grade meats and have no fillers. Your local pet supply store should be able to help.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat has been losing hair on both her ears, mostly in the back of them. Shes an indoor cat and doesn't go outside, so I dont think it could be sunburn like previous people wrote. I have'nt seen her itching them, or scratching them in anyway. Im just wondering whats wrong and what can I do to help.

-- Contributed by: Tiffany.

Hi Kristin,

It's possible. White cats and dogs do tend to get sunburned. Is she an indoor only cat? Fleas are typically the most common cause of hair loss. Also, some cats lose hair on their ears when they are allergic to their pet foods, so you may want to look at that as well.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

our cat has been losing hair on both her ears. She is a white cat and spends a lot of time in the sun could she be getting sun burned

-- Contributed by: kristin

Hi Kimberley,

More than likely, it will grow back. It may take several weeks. Cat fur tends to grow slowly. However, if there was damage to the hair follicle, it may not grow back. Hopefully, it will grow back before your show.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, I accidently pluck a little tiny dot of hair from my devon rex kitten she is only 4 months old, I didn't mean to pluck her little hair on her left ear, there was a dry dot on her fur, and I try to clean it but didn't work so I pull it out... It hadn't grow back yet... it been 5 days... I can barely see the mark tho lucky... but I was wondering will it grow back? how long does devon rex fur grow back, will it grow back on the ears too? I taking her to a cat show soon, So I need to know... I regret doing that, but i tho it would grow back... like other cats do... But so tiny and ard to see glad it nothing big... But I like to know tho if it will grow back or not... Thank you

-- Contributed by: Kimberley

Hi Allysha,

I would probably go ahead and have it checked out because of the bump. Cats can develop things such as skin cancer, or it may just be a wound or a parasite. However, it is best to be on the safe side and rule out anything more serious.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, My cat has some significant hair loss around his right ear on the head. In the area where there is no hair, there seems to be a black bump of some sort. Should we seek immediate medical help?

-- Contributed by: Allysha

Hi Amanda,

Since she is otherwise healthy and there is no scabbing, I really don't think this is anything to worry over too much. It very possibly is from stress or overgrooming (often due to stress). Or, she may have a mild allergy. At this point, I'd just keep an eye on it, but I wouldn't worry too much. If she starts to display other symptoms or lose additional hair, then you may want to take her to the vet for a quick checkup. Symptoms to really grow concerned over would be:

Lethargy
Lack of thirst or hunger
Dilated eyes
Troubles with litter habits

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I mean a patch of hair not skin!

-- Contributed by: Amanda

My cat Munchkin has a patch of skin missing where at her neckline underneath. It doesn't look irritated and she's not acting different. I haven't changed her food and I use the same litter everytime. She's an indoor cat. I recently started school and I also work so I don't know if she's maybe stressing out cause I'm not around as much? She's 6 years old. If you could please get back to me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you kindly, Amanda:)

-- Contributed by: Amanda

Hi Helen,

There are a couple of things you can do. First, try to think if you've changed anything to locate her allergy. Examples might be:

New food
New litter
New cleaning products you use in the house
Plants or potpourri

Cats can be allergic to the same types of things that we are. It can take some time for the hair loss to correct itself once the culprit is removed.

If this does not solve the problem, then I would ask the vet to do a skin test and narrow down the allergy.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

hi My cat is lossing hair from her head near the ears and also under the chin. we keep bathing her hair loss places in warm water. but we dont no wat else to do. we took her to the vets and she said that she was allgic to something and wasnt sure what.

do you no what she has? and if so tell me what i can do to help her

thanks helen

-- Contributed by: helen

Hi Sara,

You did the right thing in taking your cat to the vet. It sounds like it could possibly still be from some type of bug bites. Sometimes pets will have a severe allergic reaction to a bug bite. This can include severe swelling in the area and even shaking and such.

If it were my cat, I would go ahead and do several things in this order:

Take the cat back to the vet and tell him about the shaking. He may want to run some blood tests to rule out other illnesses.

While the cat is in his office, have him dipped for fleas. Also have the vet check for any type of ear mites.

While the cat is at the vet, bug bomb your house to rid it of any fleas. You will need to take out any living things from your house and stay gone for around 4-6 hours. Read the directions carefully, as the time varies from product to product.

Thoroughly vacuum carpets and furniture and clean all bedding

I think this will likely clear up the problem. Also, since the cream seemed to offer some relief, go ahead and keep using it with the vet's okay.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a French Chartreux male cat. He's 10-1/2 years old. Recently, I noticed that he had small red patches near his ears, above his eyes, and the hair was slightly missing. He's been to the vet for his shots about a month ago, and they thought he probably has some kind of skin allergy, and that I should keep my eye on it. Then, last weekend, I noticed that he had a bump right above his eye, the size of his eye. I called the vet to see if it might have had to due with the skin irritation. and she thought it might be a bug bite. She recommended to try an over the counter hydrocortisone cream. I bought it and rubbed it on both sides of his ears where I know he's had the irritations, but he just licks it off with his foot, rubbing it immediately. The bump seems to have gone down, but there were smaller bumps on the surface of the skin where that big bump was. This morning, he was sitting next to me on my tub, and I noticed his head starting to shake a little. I was not him shaking it... it was shaking on its own. This worried me a lot. Do you have any idea as to what might be wrong with him? His head stopped shaking after about a minute. I haven't seen it shake again.

-- Contributed by: Sara

Hi Joan,

It sounds like while the mites are probably gone the skin is irritated. You know how a scab will sometimes itch? That is likely what is happening with her and thus she scratches and digs, which reopens the wounds. The collar is the best thing for her right now along with the medications from the vet. She likely does hate the cone, but it's for her own good. Just watch her carefully while she has it on for her safety. Once she heals, she'll likely leave the area alone. As long as the mites don't come back or she doesn't get fleas, she'll likely be fine.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi: We have a long haired cat (white) with a few black hairs around her ears and tail. She is 2 years old and has developed some bad sores and hair loss around her ears. We took her to the vet the first time, and he tested and thought she had ear mites. He treated them and gave her some steriods and salve to put on the wound as well as an antibotic. She got better but it happened again. My son bought some medicine for ear mites at the pet store and he treated the cat. When the cat didn't seem to improve we took her back to the vet who said it was not ear mites and treated her again with an antibotic and steriods. We still had some of the salve, so we continued using that on the wounds. The cat got better but now she has the open wound and hair loss again. We are currently treating with the salve and have her wear a cone so she will not scratch. Its a slow process, but I think the wound is healing. She hates the cone and acts like she is dying. She just lays around in odd positions and moves very slowly and acts like her equalibrium is compromised when she wears the cone. If we take it off, she is suddenly better. Any thoughts on this situation?

-- Contributed by: joan

Hi Roxanne,

The most common cause for hair loss with sores is fleas. I would probably start by treating all the cats for fleas by dipping them (you may want to have the vet or a groomer do this, as it is a real task). You may also need to go ahead and set off a bug bomb in your house to rid the carpets and furniture of any parasites.

If that does not clear up the problem, then I'd look at food and other items that might be causing the fur loss. That is the best place to start, however.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, about 3 weeks ago I noticed my cat had some hair loss and little red sores on her hind legs and a little up her tail. Since then the sores have healed some and the hair is thin but growing it seems. I have 6 other cats and one or two of them have shown thinning hair. She does not seem to be itching or grooming, Any ideas?

-- Contributed by: Roxanne

Hi Josh,

It could be an allergy to the soap. Another common cause is fleas. Since it is just a small patch and the kitten seems otherwise healthy, I wouldn't be overly worried. Just mention it to the vet the next time that you take him in for his regular shots and check-up.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, take him in immediately:

Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Increased or decreased thirst
Tremors
Scabbing in bald areas
Not using litter or using more than normal

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

my 1 year old kitten is showing minor hair loss on his left ear, but does not seem irritated by it. hes just been acting normal. no scratching and he is showing his regular behavors. he does have a habit of playing in the sink and shower after after i use either one. I am wondering may this be caused by exposure to a soap. i am trying to get some advice if this is something to be extremely concerned about. all advice will be greatly appreciated.

-- Contributed by: josh

Hi Grace,

I'm glad it is something minor. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Since you are noticing some dry skin, you may also want to try adding a humidifier. The cat may be overgrooming because his skin is itchy. The bonus is that a humidifier will help his human companions as well.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

The vet tested for mites (negative) and for ringworm, but only as a precaution. She said the way it was presenting itself -- only above the eyes and with no signs of flaky skin, just thinning of the hair, and symmetrical -- indicated it was an overgrooming issue. I'm going to change their cat litter brand, just in case. And I noticed some 'dandruff' showing up throughout the coat, so I'm also going to try adding more wetfood to the diet. Hopefully, it's just the change in weather + heater on in the apartment all the time. Thank you! :)

-- Contributed by: Grace

Hi Grace,

Since they are all experiencing hair loss, I would hazard a guess that it is likely some type of parasite. It is possible they are having a reaction to their food or a new detergent you might be losing, but really unlikely that they'd all have the same reaction. It sounds like you already have plans to take them to the vet and I think that is a wise move. You should also take feces samples and have the cats tested for any type of worms at the same time.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello. I have a stray cat outside that has been suffering from reoccurring ringworm for a few months now. I even managed to pick it up myself (erk!). (Ironically, a stray cat that hangs out with the infected one hasn't shown signs of the RW even once. Go figure!)

But my question is this: I'm starting to see some hair loss on my indoor cats' faces, above/around the eyes, but the skin doesn't appear irritated (red, flaky, etc) at all. It seems odd that it's the same place for all three, just the hair thinning out. No hair loss anywhere else on the body. So I was wondering if there may be some other cause. They rarely go outside, but with the weather warming up they've been out recently. I've noticed one of them shaking his head on occasion, which he didn't do before, and once this weekend I saw him rub his face on the bedspread quite enthusiastically. I haven't seen what the other two cats are doing (they were rescues, and more shy around me, even though I've had them for years).

I'm hoping this is a case of mommy overreacting, since I'm just finishing getting rid o my ringworm and don't want to deal with the whole thing all over again. I'm taking one of my cats to the vet in the next day or so to check, but I figured I'd ask here, too. :) Thanks!!

-- Contributed by: Grace

Hi Aziza,

It sounds like he either is stressed, has allergies, or possibly a skin parasite of some sort. I would go ahead and take him to the vet to rule out the parasites. If that is not the issue, then I would look at changes in the environment since he started this behavior. Here are some questions to ask:

Have you changed your laundry detergent?
Have you gotten new carpet?
Have you changed his cat food or cat litter?
Any other changes?

If that doesn't seem to be the issue, try switching him to a high quality food for sensitive skin. You should be able to locate this through your veterinarian or local pet supply store. Some health food stores also carry extremely high quality, organic cat food. It will cost more, but his coat will be healthier overall.

If you've ruled all this out and think it might be stress, then you may want to try to find someone to come in and visit with him while you are gone for the day, so he doesn't get so lonely. Siamese are a very social breed, so it is possible this is the problem. My little Siamese is naturally a bit high strung too, but so sweet and loving. Perhaps an older child in the neighborhood would be a good choice to come in and spent 20-30 minutes with him, giving him some attention.

I hope some of these ideas help and that his fur grows back quickly.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat has been losing hair above his eyes. It was shedding gradually and it appears that he is scratching himself in grooming. I believe it is allergies because he was scratching a lot - so I bought an allergy soap for pets and use that to give him weekly baths. I had stopped the baths for awhile, but his hair still has not grown back. Then I noticed one night when I came home that he had a scar on his face. It looked like a scratch. I have been reading up on different issues and I am starting to wonder if he is stressed. He cries a lot and longs for attention. I am usually gone for long hours. Oh and he is a siamese mix. Any ideas?

-- Contributed by: Aziza

Hi, Julie,

It sounds like Calvin and Hobbs very likely do have feline acne. You have probably seen your cat rubbing his or her face on furniture, you, the walls and so on. This is a way of marking their scent on objects. The scent comes from Sebaceous glands, which secrete an oil called sebum. However, sometimes these glands become blocked and create little blackheads which will appear as small sores on your cat.

While there is not an exact known cause of this acne, experts suspect it could be caused by:

Stress
Plastic food bowls, which may contain bacteria and irritate this problem
Poor grooming
Overly active glands
Allergies to food

You really need to go ahead and take your cats to the veterinarian and have them checked to make certain this is acne. If so, treatments may be things such as oral antibiotics (usually only when severe) or topical treatments. You may also want to switch your cats to a high quality cat food for sensitive skin and avoid plastic food bowls.

Do not use any treatments for humans as they can be highly toxic to cats.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi there -- I just posted about the scab and sore on my cats chins. It may be important to know that they are indoor cats. Thanks so much for your help!

Cheers, Julie

-- Contributed by: Julie

Hi there -- I have two 14 year old cats, Calvin and Hobbs, who recently developed some skin irritation on their chins. Calvin has some thinning of the hair at the root of her whiskers and has a scab on her chin. Hobbs has a small red, bald spot on her chin. A few months ago we moved in with my fiance, his eight year old daughter and four year old cat. All the cats are females and the transition is going well. I thought perhaps the skin irritations are stress induced and/or having to do with the dryer winter weather we're now in, however is there any other reason they could have developed? Hobbs has had this little kitty "acne" before however it's a first for Calvin. They are eating and drinking the same and there has been no change in their bowel movements.

Curious to hear your thoughts.

-- Contributed by: Julie

Hi, Liz,

It really doesn't sound like anything to worry about. If it was a serious issue, the vet would have caught it and the fact that the plugs or scabs have not come back is a good sign. Even if you treat your pets for fleas, they can sometimes be carried in on socks and the pet can pick one up temporarily. It is possible he had a small flea that caused irritation and has since been cleared up. Or he may have overgroomed the area, although this is rare in the area you are describing.

Also, you might just want to look at if you have changed anything, such as food, type of litter, new carpeting and so on. Cats can have allergic reactions to new items in their environment, just as humans do.

If you notice the plugs come back, I would take a feces sample to the vet and have him tested for ringworm, although it doesn't sound like this is the problem. It would be best to rule it out, however. The vet can then go from there and work at diagnosing the issue. If the plugs do not come back, then I would just take him during his regular annual checkup.

I would also brush him several times a week. This will help with the hairballs too because there will be less loose hair for him to ingest while he is grooming. Long-haired cats often need help with their grooming more so than a sleeker variety of cat.

He sounds like a beautiful cat. And you're smart to keep him inside. Cats are much safer indoors.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Lori: He's been to the vet recently and they said he was healthy (even though he's a 30 lb. cat :) ). It looks like 3 very small patches right between his eyes and slightly above. There's a single very small patch as well on each cheek, on either side of his nose also. After I removed the "plug" (for lack of a better word for it), there's no longer a "bumpy" feeling there. He's current on all vacs, and his behavior hasn't changed (he's still as arrogant as ever). He didn't seem to mind that I removed these weird things fromhim and if fact, he was purring the whole time. I haven't changed his food and he's definently NOT stressed (that would be beneath him-haha). Now it looks like the fur is already growing to cover the original spots and I haven't seen any others. I just thought the whole thing was unusual. We bought him 6 years ago from a reputable seller who took meticulous care of her cats. He's never had any major health problems in the past aside from vomiting on occasion, though it's hairballs (he's a medium hair). He's never even been outside, not even as a kitten. Plus, he's the only cat in the house. We have a Boston Terrier who's also very healthy. Thanks for asking for more info. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my email.

-- Contributed by: Liz

Hi, Liz,

I'm a little unclear about what you're describing. Do you mean that there is a bald spot and then there is a small wound with hair attached? Could you describe in a little more detail so I can try to be of the most help? Thanks so much. I wouldn't worry too much if he's eating and drinking okay and shows no other symptoms.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a 6 year old solid black Himalayan male cat. He's in very good health. Tonight I noticed a couple small patches (1mm) on his head between his eyes. When I took a closer look, it looked like a dark plug with a bit of fur attached. He's acting and eating/drinking fine and is definently not stressed (AKA rules the house). Have you seen this before? We've had him since he was 6 wks. old, neutered, declawed and strictly an indoor cat.

-- Contributed by: Liz

Hi, Kelly,

Does he wear any type of collar or flea collar? It's possible it is an allergic reaction. However, because of his age, if the hair loss continues, I would go ahead and take him to the vet. Hair loss can be a sign of many different things. It can be caused from stress or illness. There may be an underlying hormonal imbalance, which is common in cats with some age on them. The only way to diagnose this is with a blood test.

I hope this helps and that your cat does better soon. If you don't already have him on a high quality diet, I would switch him to something with Omega 3 and for sensitive skin, if it at all possible. I switched my fifteen-year-old cat to an organic, human grade meat (no by products) and high Omega dry food this past year and she is doing great. Her hair was coming out in clumps, but has stopped and is shiny again. It did take several months to see the difference. Also, make sure you are brushing him daily as this will help distribute the natural oils on his skin throughout his fur.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My 16 year old house cat continues to be active and spunky. About 1 month ago he started to have noticed bald patch on his uper collar line. I just thought him and the younger cat were restling too hard. Since then he has literaly lost a huge amount of his collar line all the way around, and he doesn't wear a collar. He has always had thinning of his ear hair for last 2 years, but he went from a beautiful silky black coat to a almost poor homeless looking cat over night. Please help. What is this? Kelly S.

-- Contributed by: Kelly S.

Hi, Elise,

The hair loss doesn't concern me as much as the scabs and flakiness. That is an indication of a potentially serious irritation and he runs the risk of the wounds growing infected if it continues. Although it may not indicate a serious health issue and may just be the result of past parasites (irritation from a flea or worms, for example), he probably needs to be seen by a vet.

You may want to see if there is a local vet clinic in your area. Some vets will work with you on a sliding scale. It is very possible that he will need medication. If there is not a clinic or inexpensive option in your area, then perhaps you could work out some sort of trade with the vet and do office work in exchange for treatment. Most vets really care about the animals they treat and will try to work with you, even if it is through a payment plan, etc.

Your other option is to watch the area closely for any other problems and see if it heals up on its own. Make sure he's been treated for fleas and worms and that he is not grooming the area excessively (this will cause fur loss and irritation but is a sign of other problems that he would need to see a vet for).

I hope this helps. It's hard being on a budget and trying to decide if something is serious enough for a trip to the vet. I've been there myself. Keep us posted on how he's doing.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My Male cat, Bugsey, is an indoor & outdoor cat, and fixed. He can be a tuffy when it comes to other cats in his territory and has had his fare share of abcesses but has never had any other problems getting sick or anything. Hes about 10 years old. He has developed a skin problem recintly. It doesn't seem to bother him except that the skin is a bit sensitive. He has some hair loss at the base of his tail with some scab like flakyness. There are no open wonds, ever. No blisters, no swores of any kind. He doesn't scratch it anymore then he does any other spot on his body and he doesn't lick it excesivley witch would be an indication of a major problem to me. the skin is never hot and it's never swollen. I have sevral cats and I take good care of them on a limited budget. None of them have been infected by it and he's had it for a few months now. I have been researching skin problems in cats for the past 3 days and I keep reading the same stuff over and over again. I'm wondering if there are other fungus' or other mites or anything else that this might be. It doesn't seem to fit any of the descriptions I've read so far.

-- Contributed by: Elise

Hi, Anne-Marie,

Poor Lucky. She sounds like this friend I had in grade school. The poor girl was even allergic to trees. It was very limiting to her. Keep me posted on what the vet says. This sounds like a special case and I'd be interested to find out what treatment ultimately works for her. Don't give up. Sometimes it is the simplest solution that finally works.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Lori, Thank you for your suggestions. Let me add a few more facts: I have already consulted with homeopathic physicians, one here in my local area. We went through all the remedies she could come up with based on her long visit with Lucky (the cat), including oral and topical remedies. Nothing worked. She referred me to one of her colleagues in another city. Same thing, nothing worked.

Lucky was tested extensively for all the usual possible culprits, including skin scrapings. The latest was a course of immunotherapy based on skin testing (just like for humans), with injections of a desensitization preparation progressively stronger. Lucky is allergic to house dust, mold and a variety of plant inhalents from pollen to grass and weeds. There may have been mold in my previous residence, but have now lived in a brand new house for nearly three years. This therapy has not generated any improvement since we started on March 16, 2007.

She is an indoor cat with access to a screened porch to catch the sun and watch birds. I use the best quality allergen-removing filters with my A/C system and they are changed every three months. I am going to discuss with the veterinerian the possibility that she suffers also from a form of hives triggered by some hidden stress factors (given her stressful episode at the time of her rescue), and maybe try some transdermal fluoxetine (kitty Prozac) and, as you suggested, maybe antihystamine.

-- Contributed by: Anne-Marie

Hi, Anne-Marie,

Although steroids are effective in treating feline itching, unfortunately they are not a good long term solution as you are finding out. There are many alternatives out there, but it may necessitate finding a veterinarian who is willing to work with you on finding a holistic alternative for the cat. It can take a lot of patience to find a solution to this type of problem. Here are some treatments that have been effective for others that you may want to discuss with your vet:

Antihistamines (used with steroids but helps reduce the amount and frequency of steroid use)
Evening primrose oil
Witch hazel
Aloe Vera gel

You may also want to check into visiting a skin specialist and having your cat's skin tested to see what specific allergies she might have.

Good luck! Keep us posted on her progress.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, Daphne,

Your answer is on the page Ask the Cat Experts under "Hair Loss on Ears". Thanks for your question!

Lori

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat was rescued as a kitten under stress (attacked by two big dogs). After a few months with us as the only cat, she strated scratching her ears and face. We have tried every thing, from rabbit and pea diet to homeopathy to immunotherapy. Nothing works. Worms and mites were ruled out early on. She is now six years old and on steroids every 4-5 weeks. Not good, but nothing else releives the itching. I think she is becoming steroid tolerant. Can you suggest anything else?

-- Contributed by: Anne-Marie

My cat is 6 months old.. I have noticed a circular bald spot on the base of his ear on the top of his head. it also looks like his ear tips are losing a bit o hair also.. do you know what could be the problem?

-- Contributed by: Daphne

Hi, Caroline,

Is it possible she is being bothered by fleas? If so, try treating her for fleas and see if the irritation clears up. If not, she could have another skin condition that would need medication from a veterinarian. Watch the areas closely for infection too. If you notice any discharge or oozing, I would get her to the vet immediately.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi my kitten has a patch above her right ear but below her ear without hair. It is scabbing and lightly bleeding sometimes. I was wondering if there was anything I could try at home before I take her to the vet that would improve her condition?

-- Contributed by: Caroline

Hi, DES,

You don't mention how old your cat is. Some hair loss can be normal with aging. However, it sounds like her health has been in question for a while because of the anemia and I suspect that you are right in thinking that this is causing a lot of stress to her body.

The most important thing to look at is the condition of the skin where the balding is occurring. Is it dry and flaky? Are there any scabs? Or does the skin look pink (or darker if it the cat has a dark color of fur) and healthy?

One thing you may want to ask the vet to test her for is AutoImmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA). Some of the signs include:

Pale gums
Lethargy
Loss of weight
Lack of appetite

While hair loss is not a direct result, the related stress could certainly cause this. Also, a cat with anemia is more prone to other infections because of a weakened system.

Your best bet? Even though you feel badly for her, take her to the vet and try to pinpoint what is going on with her body, so that she can be treated. Sometimes blood transfusions are necessary in cats with AIHA. And remember that you can always get a second opinion from a different veterinarian. They each have different areas of specialization. Good luck. Let us know how she's doing.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat has hair loss on her ears. None of the above applies to my cat. She is a strict indoor cat. However, stress is a great suggestion....she doesn't constantly clean herself. Matter a fact, I rarely see her clean herself. My concern is back to another problem she had. She was anemic at one time due to some virus she some how got. I took her to the vet b/c she felt warm (I never had a cat that ran a fever). Her blood work showed that she may of not lived through the weekend. She also was licking the cat liter. This combo got her on this vit gel I give her. Which I have been giving her since then. (in the beginning she was on other meds as well). The vet never figured out what she really had, I do feel as if her body is in complete battle with anemia. Some days she seems normal (not completely) and others very tired. Could this hair loss be just another symptom of anemia. I guess it could be related again to stress of her little body in constant conflict. I feel terrible for her, but I don't want to constantly put her through trips to the vet and lots of blood work over and over to figure out what is going on. We have done that three times and the vet can't pin point what is wrong. The hair loss thing is new, only a few days old. Thank you, DES

-- Contributed by: DES

Hi Bob,

My own research has come up empty, so I can't take you any further on the genetics. Hereditary hair loss in humans is sex-linked, but I can't say it's the same for cats. Your veterinarian may have an answer for you. Your breeder should also be a good source of info on this topic, since some breeds are predisposed for hair loss.

Thanks for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

How does one determine hereditary hair loss? What is the genetic mode of transfer...dominant or recessive, one parent or both parents? Can you elaborate on this? My purebred cat has no other symptoms other then thinng hair on the ears. I can find no genetic information on this disorder. Thank you

-- Contributed by: Bob

Hi SS,

Is this your cat or a stray? If the cat has ear mites then you'll probably also see some dark reddish-brown build up inside the ears as well. If the spots are kind of circular, it could be a sign of ringworm, but it's hard for me to say without being able to take a look.

If this is a stray, the white spots you refer to may be scars from a fight, and this could account for the hair loss on the ears.

If the cat's condition looks bad enough to cause real concern then it would be a good idea to take the cat to the vet and let him/her have a closer look.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I noticed some hair-loss on a cat, I am not certain if, it is mites, but there is hair-loss but not oozing or crust around the white spots on the ears...

-- Contributed by: SS
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