LoveToKnow Cats:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Cats

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Hi Sanam,

You are right to be a little concerned. The fur and skin is often a sign of other illness or issues. This may be as simple as a food allergy or dry skin, however. Try switching him to a high quality cat food high in Omega-3s and see if that helps. If not, I'd go ahead and take him to the vet for some tests, even though he isn't showing other symptoms. Better safe than sorry.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

i have a 1 and half year old cat he eats well and is energetic however the past few weeks alot of his hair has been falling out handfulls when i stroke him i am worried as to what i can do please help!!

-- Contributed by: Sanam

Hi Cheryl,

Good for you for caring so much about this cat that you went to all that trouble. I suspect what you do on the fur loss - stress. However, it may also be a poor diet or irregular feedings as well.

Since he's otherwise healthy from the veterinarian's tests, I'd wait a few months and see if the fur starts to improve on its own. If not, then you may need to have the vet do some additional testing or see if there are any allergy issues. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I took in a cat that's a feral. I trapped him with a Havahart trap. It was difficult at first, but I had to train him to eat from an unset trap. I put the food inside it during the day and throughout the night. I finally caught him by tying a string around an empty plastic juice container that I used to keep the door propped open. I sat and waited for him to go inside and pulled out the plastic container with the string. It worked! He was a tough one to catch, but I've got him inside now. He's missing clumps of fur too and he was very matted. I think it's a combination of being so close to the ground with all the bugs, plus stress of everything. The blood work from the vet said nothing turned up as far as problems, so it must be just overall stressors of living outside finally catching up to him. I'm going to try and tame the little guy since he's not healthy enough to go outside with his bare skin exposed and flea and tick season just around the corner.

-- Contributed by: Cheryl

Hi Kristen,

Food allergies can cause fur loss, as can any type of stress. For now, I'd see if he does better on the original food. It doesn't sound like he is ill in any other way, so I don't think you need to rush him to the vet just yet. However, do be on the lookout for any symptoms that would indicate a more serious illness, such as:

Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Increased or decreased thirst
More frequent urination or trouble urinating
Scratching, biting and digging at fur

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

my mi9ckey he is 11 years old just started to lose hair around his tail his skin is not irritated my husband did give them another brand of food we did switch back do you think its a vitamin issue

-- Contributed by: kristen

Hi Debby,

I haven't heard back from Pauline. I hope her cat is okay. The hair loss is a symptom of another illness most likely. My guess would go toward a few things. First, it could just be allergies. Second, it might be some type of upper respiratory infection, although the vet would likely have caught that. Finally, it could be neurological.

I would probably start by looking at possible allergy issues. Change your cat's food, for example, and see if it helps. Remove any new plants or items in the home. Cats are allergic to the same types of things as we are.

If these things do not help, you may want to seek out a vet who specializes in neurological issues.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi and thank you for posting! I was wondering if Pauline ever figured out what was wrong with her cat since mine has the exact same symptoms. I consider the snoring and head-resting odd because he did not start to do it until he started losing hair/ vomiting food. I also took him to the vet who (like Pauline's) found nothing wrong? If anyone else has had this happen I would love to know if anyone found a solution...

Thank you!

-- Contributed by: Debby

Hi Haukea,

The fleas are the most likely cause of the fur loss, but you can't rule out the stress either. You've taken care of the physical needs by getting rid of his fleas. The grieving will just take time. Cats are just like us. Time helps to ease their grief a bit and he will slowly adjust to his new cir...stances. He's actually a lucky cat to have a good home and he'll likely realize this over time. Most cats of elderly people who pass away wind up in shelters and many are euthanized. It's good that you've taken the cats in and are caring for them.

For now, I'd probably take a wait and see attitude and see if the fur loss stops. It can take several weeks once the fleas are gone for the condition to clear up. If it doesn't, then you may want to take a trip to the vet and see if there is any type of cream or medication the vet recommends for him. I really think the issue will clear up given a little time, though.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My grandmother passed away a couple of month's ago and i had to take in her three cats cause no one in the family would.When i started taking care of them i noticed the male was losing weight he had a bald spot on his belly now it's getting worse he's losing fur on his legs and back i inspected him and found some flea's i gave him a flea bath but it doesnt seem to be working i dont know what to do could it be the stress of losing someone and having new people around?

-- Contributed by: Haukea

Hi Moira,

There are many things that can cause hair loss in cats. Here are just a few:

Stress (could be from the new animal in house, even though it's now gone)
Diet
Food and other allergies
Parasites (not just fleas)
Illness

The most common cause is typically parasites. If you can rule that out conclusively, then I'd work my way down the list. Look first to allergies and then the stress. If he is still losing fur and the condition is not improving, you may want to take him to the vet to rule out illnesses. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Our cat is almost 3 yrs old. About 2 weeks ago we housed an abused kitten, which I am pleased to say we found a good home for, however our cat seems to be having a hair loss problem as of late. He doesn't seem to be digging or scratching out of the norm.....what could be causing this.

-- Contributed by: Moira

Hi Eric,

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's hard to say exactly what might have been wrong. However, the hair loss is likely a result of the illness. Illness stresses the body and cats show stress with loss of fur sometimes.

You don't really mention the age of your cat, but the wobbling and following down really does sound like something to be concerned over. Without an autopsy, it's impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of death

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi I just came to this site to see what was wrong with my cat. He died today. Over the past year he lost the fur on the back of his hind legs and lost alot of weight. He was so boney but still ate the same as he had before. We took him to a vet and she said he was just alittle underweight. I didn't believe her. Once in a while he could hardly walk. He would wobble around and fall down. But then a day or two later he could walk again. What was wrong with him? Thanks, Eric

-- Contributed by: Eric

Hi Michelle,

It is possible that she is simply digging at the areas due to irritation and causing the sores. I wouldn't worry too much until the vet sees her. However, if she grows lethargic or stops eating or drinking, I would get her to the vet much faster. Hope she feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I half a 1 1/2 year old cat that is pregnant but i flea'd her about 3 weeks ago before i found out that she was, now she is losing clumps of fur around her neck where her collar was and has got very sore patches also, but this morning i noticed that even more hair along her back has fallen out with a bigger sore which has been bleeding a little, what could this be as i can not get a vet's appointment till next week and am a bit worried for her??

-- Contributed by: michelle

Hi Matsuko,

I would probably go ahead and take her in for a checkup to rule out any health issues. She may just be getting older and sleeping more. I've noticed that my elderly cat sleeps a lot, but it's always best to check out any changes in energy levels to be on the safe side.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Shawn,

Even one flea can cause a lot of issues, so I'd try to take care of that problem first. It is also one of the most common reasons for the fur loss. I would also check my home and make sure they aren't in the carpet etc.

The rattle in her breathing is more concerning. I would take her to the vet for that. She could have a respiratory infection of some sort that needs treated. A vet can test her for that and offer medications.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a ten old female cat and she seems to have bald spots on under belly, legs, and sides of her body. Plus she's been sleeping more offen during the day time. Is she just getting old or should I take her to the vet?

-- Contributed by: Matsuko

i have a bobtail cat that is about 7 mo old and just recently she has had hair loss on her neck and now she is scratching a bigger spot plus she has a couple of smaller spots that is starting to form. aside from that she has started to have a rattle in her breathing more pronounced when she purrs, is there something you can tell me about this and maybe some treatment in this? oh the spots are moist and somewhat bloody and has no hair... i noticed this when i had took her collar off to give her a bath since then i have not put the collar back on... she scratches constantly around her neck. recently i treated her for ear mites and now those have been gone for about a week and a half. she does have a few fleas but not many because i do bath her reg. thanks for taking time to read this i hope you can point me in the right direction!!

-- Contributed by: shawn

Hi Bosh,

I'm curious if you changed her brand of cat food with the reduction. If so, she may be having an allergic reaction and/or some hot spots that are irritating her. If you did not change the food, but simply reduced it, your suspicions about stress could be correct. I'd try reducing slowly as you mentioned and see if that helps. If not, then I'd look at other causes, such as other types of changes or stresses or parasites. Let us know how it turns out.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have an older female who has been over-grooming the base of her tail. This happened in conjunction with a reduction in her diet because the vet told us at her last visit (2 weeks ago) she was slightly overweight but overall healthy. Other than more vomiting due to more hair consumption she seems as happy as ever and no habits have changed. I'm guessing that we reduced her diet too quickly and she's stressed over it and over-grooming. Hopefully we wont have to choose between an unhealthily fat cat vs an unhealthily stressed cat. We may have to increase her diet and then reduce it more subtly. Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: bosh

Hi Camille,

It's possible that she has some sort of infection, possibly from the surgery. The hair loss isn't that concerning by itself, as it could be caused by any number of factors, including stress. However, combined with the weight loss, I would be more concerned. I would go ahead and take her in to be on the safe side.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat is not old at all but is balding on the sides of her neck then up to her ears. She seems to be a normal cat but has recently lost a large amount of weight. She looks slightly sickly. These symptoms did not begin until after she got fixed. Please tell me what this could be.

-- Contributed by: Camille

Hi Spencer,

There may be a couple of reasons. She may have done some overgrooming, which is sometimes caused by stress. A cat's tongue is rough, so grooming too much or too often can lead to fur loss. Also, stress itself can cause fur loss. The most common reason for fur loss is often parasites, such as fleas, so you may want to check for that as well.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hey! My cat Gretchen is about two years old. A while ago, we had taken a three or four day trip and left the cat here with her automatic feeder and waterer. She was fine and was loving to us when we returned, but we noticed that the hair was missing off of both of her back legs, all the way from the top down to the ankle.

Is there any reason for this?

Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Spencer

Hi Samantha,

Some breeds of cats molt at certain times of the year. It is also possible that he has lost some fur due to stress (this can also be stress from an illness), and it is now growing back, which is what you see coming in. Since he is thin and you feel worried, I think you should trust your instincts and go ahead and take him to the vet. If nothing else, it will give you peace of mind in knowing there isn't anything serious wrong.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

hey i have two sick cats one was caught in a snow storm and is now looseing hair under neck. there is also puss and bleeding and i don't know what to do. My other cat just lays around all day she doesn't move you pick her up she is stuck in that spot. she only moves her tail when she is laying down and i am really worried about both of them. Please help

Hi Sophia,

I'm sorry to hear your cats are having such problems. The very best advice I can give you is to take them both to the vet right away. The pus and blood on the one cat's neck may be due to an infected injury. Your second cat sounds like she is seriously ill. You will need your vet's help to figure out what is wrond and provide treatment. Please take them in as soon as you can.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes that they both fully recover.

-- Contributed by: sophia

Hi, My cat Giles is about two years old. He has always been a small cat, but he seems a little thin. I feed him, of course, and I just don't really know what to do about it. Also, something has occured the past couple of weeks that is worrying me..He has a bunch of areas all over that he is losing fur on. It is weird though, because there is still fur there, it's just not the same or as long as his "regular" fur and it is a lighter color....basically what I'm saying is his baby fur is just there...I'm not sure what to do...

-- Contributed by: Samantha

Hi Pat,

It is possible that he has some type of parasite on his skin or an infestation of fleas. Both can cause hair loss as well as illness. All three would likely be contagious to the other cats. I would try to catch him and take him to the vet. There are many cat traps on the market that will help with this. You can also have him vaccinated while he is there or neutered, if he hasn't been already. The vet can also test him for contagious, typical stray cat diseases.

Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

We feed many feral cats and have trapped and spad or nuetered most of them. One of the males, he is about 2yrs. old recently within the last two weeks has lost a patch of hair on his back that seems to be growing. He is very skitish, he has never let us pet him, what do you suggest we do? Does this sound like something that could effect the others?

-- Contributed by: Pat

Hi Nichole,

Fur loss can be caused by many different things. Sometimes, it is caused by stress. At other times, fur loss is caused by illness, allergies or parasites. I would ask the following questions to try to determine what might be causing this problem:

Is it possible she has fleas?
Have you changed her food?
Have you changed anything in your home, such as carpet or started using a new cleaner?
Is there any reason for your cat to be stress. Things that stress cats can include new people or pets, moving and other big changes.

If the skin does not look inflamed and irritated and she is otherwise healthy and eating and drinking normally, I would probably wait before taking her to the vet, and just mention this at your next regular visit.

Hope this helps!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Our cat is just turning two. She is a no-tail female. And she has lost hair on her back and on her stubb tail. It looks like she just rubbed it off. Could it be more serious? Thank you. Nichole

-- Contributed by: Nichole

Hi Liz,

If it weren't on top of his head, I would be more likely to suspect that this might be from overgrooming. However, it is unlikely he could do so in that spot as he would have to lick his paw and then use his paw to groom between his eyes.

Cats do sometimes have what is called feline acne. Cats excrete oil through the skin and sometimes these ducts become blocked for whatever reason. This can lead to what appears to be acne or small scabs. However, it sounds like you also removed a larger spot.

Since he is eating normally and shows no other symptoms, I would probably wait until my next regular vet appointment if it were my cat. I would definitely mention the problem and seek treatment at that time, however.

In the meantime, you may want to try brushing him daily to distribute the oils in his skin, particularly in that area.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello: Recently, I posted a question about our cat. He's a 6 year old half Himalayan, medium hair. Neutered and front/back declawed. He isn't excessively grooming or scratching. He had a few bumps on his head, right above his eyes and I was able to remove them. Today, I noticed a larger one and removed it as well. I looked at it under the microscope and it's not a flea or parasite such as a mite. It's just a scab with hair attached. Other than this he's eating well, his bowel/bladder habits are normal, he's acting fine and his nose is cold and wet. I'm wondering if anyone else has ever had this happen with their cat. He's strictly an indoor cat and isn't exposed to any other felines. We have one dog (Boston) and she's been with us for almost 3 years.

-- Contributed by: Liz

Hi, Heather,

When ill or in pain, cats will often go into hiding. Also, with the changes in her eating, increased thirst and staying in the litter box, I would be very concerned that she might have a urinary tract infection or kidney stone. My advice is to take her to the vet as soon as possible. Try to track how much she is urinating if at all possible and describe all of these symptoms to the vet. If it is an infection, it can easily be treated with antibiotics.

Please check back and let me know how the cat is doing.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My boyfriend's cat of 8 or 9 years has suddenly stopped eating. She holed herself up in our office day and night for a few days, and would not come out for anything. I would take her to the food bowl, which she would promptly ignore, but she would then go to the water and drink from it for minutes at a time. She wouldn't even come out to the litter box, although she also didn't make any messes in the office either. But she'll only drink and use the box if I take her there myself. It seemed like she was suffering from fur loss, and she's also started smelling a bit, so I don't think she's grooming herself like she used to. I don't actually notice any missing patches of fur. She would get excited to see us when we 'visited' her in the office, and got rather vocally upset when we locked her out of it to encourage her to come out into the living space. There aren't any new persons or animals to the household, but we can't figure out the reason for her recent behaviour behaviour.

-- Contributed by: Heather
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