LoveToKnow Cats:AllComments

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Hi. My cat is missing a clump of fur from her tail. She has fleas. We have put flea medison and taken her to get a flea dip but she still has fleas. Could that be why the fur is missing? and how can i stop the fleas?

-- Contributed by: Clara

Hi Luba,

Have you noticed him digging at the areas? That is the most likely culprit. The skin may be irritated and itchy and he is scratching or biting it. This time of year, a lot of people fire up their furnaces and it makes a home very dry. Using a humidifier can help some. If that doesn't work, then try looking at his cat food and seeing what allergens might be impacting him negatively. Try purchasing a higher quality, higher protein food and see if that helps.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi,

I noticed that my 2 year old male cat is missing small patches (about 1cm in diameter) of fur on top of his head and around the back of his neck. The skin patches appear healthy pink, some have a very small scab (like a scratch) in them. What could be causing that?

-- Contributed by: Luba

Hi Alex,

Is it possible she could have picked up a flea from the dog or some other skin condition. I suppose it is possible she is allergic.

The next reason could be stress. Cats don't typically like change and bringing a dog into the house is a huge change for a feline. She may be digging and overgrooming because of stress, which should clear itself up with time as she adjusts to the new situation.

Fleas are the most common cause, so I'd check for that first. If it isn't fleas or stress, then you can take her to the vet and have her tested for allergies. This is a fairly simple test and will tell you exactly what she is allergic to. It is possible she is allergic to the dog, although not common.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Well I have a cat I've had for 10 years. This past three months we got a Black Lab. Around the same time she started to scratch a lot and last week I noticed that there is a huge chunk of hair around where she was scratching there is hair that is gone and it's all skin. She keeps itching it and sometimes it bleeds! What should I do for her to stop?

-- Contributed by: Alex

Hi Steve,

The most likely cause is fleas or parasites. I'd treat her for that first. If that is not the problem, some cats and dogs can have grass allergies and other issues. You may want to limit her time outdoors and see if that helps improve the situation.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I got Lola when she was 6 months. If feed her Fancy Feast each evening for dinner and leave a small amount of Meow Mix Hard Food out for all the time to nibble on. Her weight is normal..maybe a shade below. She seems very happy and is quite active. In the past 6 months, after taking my time with it, she's been allowed outside with her harness on. She loves to romp around within 10 yards of the door. I can just leave my front door open, she stays out about 15 minutes at most, then comes in on her own. Just within the past month I noticed that show has lost a lot of fur on her belly and her tail in a very uniform fashion (no patches and strange markings). She seems to clean maybe a little more than I'd expect, but isn't scratching or indication any irritation; however, I am concerned about this fur loss. She used to shed a lot back at the beginning of the year, but with spring and now summer here I don't notice much fur around...if any. Do you know what could be causing this? -Steve

-- Contributed by: Lola has Lost some fur

Hi Merrihart,

It sounds like your kitty is allergic to a lot of different things. You are taking all the right steps by removing allergens. She likely overgrooms because her skin itches, which is common with allergies.

I would cut out the cheese as a treat. Other than mother's milk, most cats are fairly lactose intolerant. With her other allergies, this very well might be a culprit. You would be better off giving her a small bit of her cat food or checking to see if that brand offers treats as well. With time, the fur should grow back, if she stops overgrooming.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have an 8 year old tabby I got from a shelter last year. She is an over groomer, and has a "binkini" wax which is slowly going away. She is also allergic to chicken and plastic, so I feed her Wenaewe organic beef dry cat food in ceramic bowls. As a treat, I give her a little bit of cheese in the morning and in the evening. (About 1/5 slice of colby jack in the morning, and a pinch of crumbled feta at night.)

Every so often, she looses a patch of hair on her left side. It seems to always appear in the same place, about 2 inches long and a half inch wide. It seems to be getting larger each time it occurs.

In addition she has bare spots on her heels, but that could be a reaction to the floor cleaner, which we changed to a hypoallergenic cleaner. They seems to be slowly going away.

Is this a symptom of the food allergy, or the plastic allergy?

I did try a new bowl, but she had a reaction to it, about 2 weeks ago. So she's back to my old dinner set.

-- Contributed by: merrihart

Hi George,

It's really hard to say what might be going on with Claire. It could be anything from a food allergy to some other type of infection. Since she is lethargic as well as losing weight, I would take her to the vet. Describe the symptoms in detail. If you can track her eating for a day or two, that might be really helpful to the vet. Please let us know if she's okay.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Clair is 5 years and lives almost exclusively indoors with her lifelong pal Pearl. Clair is loosing weight and fur on her rear back. Eats only dry food with Hair Ball stuff in it. May spend few minutes daily on patio or back yard. Not very acteve lately.

-- Contributed by: George Monack

Hi Airah,

The most common culprit is typically fleas. If you've ruled that out, then it may be an allergic reaction. Try to think of anything new that has been brought into the house, such as a new cat food, plants or even carpet or laundry detergent.

Occasionally, fur loss is the first sign of illness. However, since your cat is young and otherwise healthy, I suspect it is fleas or allergies.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My 4 year old cat loss its fur suddenly. My parents were very worried if my cat is sick. My cat is just healthy and fine. He behaviour is normal. Its ears, belly and the below of the ear are a bit bold now. I am so worried by now. What could be the problem? ~~Airah

-- Contributed by: Airah

Hi Kayla,

That does sound concerning. I would go ahead and take him to the vet to be on the safe side. The most likely cause is typically parasites, such as fleas.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Lisa,

Hopefully your kitten will calm down quite a bit with time and once she is spayed too. I too think that the cause is very likely stress related, or possibly from her overgrooming. Nervous cats have a real tendency to overgroom.

Also, the medication she was on could have possibly caused some mild fur loss. I would mention the issue to the vet. Perhaps phone him before the procedure. This will make him aware of the issue, but remind him when you take her in, so he can look at her. He'll probably conclude allergies or stress, but better to be safe than sorry.

If you are extremely worried, they can work up a blood panel before the procedure to make sure she is completely healthy. There are never any guarantees when you give a cat an anesthetic, but these precautions should help put your mind at ease.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello,

We adopted two female kittens in early January. One is a very calm, now 6 1/2 month-old kitten. One is now near 5 months and is a very shy and quite spastic kitten, who is extrememly loving in random instances and runs away from everyone the other times.

This morning, we noticed that this shy one is missing patches of fur from her hind legs. I've read through these postings and have seen the potential causes, so we looked at the bald area and there are no signs of irritation or scabbing - it looks almost as if a groomer just shaved it off - though she has not been to a groomer.

She and the other kitten play with each other - sometimes in what appears to be a really rough way but we haven't seen any scratches or signs of injury on either. Lately, we have been noticing large tufts of white fur (the calmer kitten is black) on the blanket they like to lay on and on the floor.

We do not suspect the cause to be fleas, as these are completely indoor cats, but I guess you never know if someone carries anything on them when they come over to visit.

As far as stress goes, this seems like a potential cause, but for the most part, she lives a fairly calm life with us. Most of the time, she is either laying next to the other cat, playing with her or sleeping. Since she is a nervous kitten, we do not chase her around or try to pick her up. We only play with her when she's calm and comes to us to be pet. We also keep her in the same environment and don't take her from place to place or travel with her. This makes me wonder how it could be stress-related.

On top of this, we have an appointment to have her spayed this weekend. So, as you can tell, we are quite nervous about if this will cause any problems with the procedure or any medication she is given and needs.

If it is worth noting, she also had an ear infection when we got her in January. We had to give her medication every day, and she went absolutely crazy where it would take us nearly 30 minutes to get her wrapped up to put the drops in. We also took her to the vet for her follow-up on that in early February and while she was there, we had them clip her claws. She went so nuts that they had to put a cat muzzle on her and wrap her up in a blanket so that she couldn't move. This was obviously extremely stressful on her, but this was nearly three weeks ago. She has been fine and calm ever since, and we are just now noticing the patches within the past week.

Any help would be very, very appreciated, as we try to treat these kittens like gold. Thank you.

-- Contributed by: Lisa

My male cat has missing fur every where! On his two back legs And two patches on hie left front paw. Also his belly & he was a lot fluffier before. I need help to why he's missing too much fur!

-- Contributed by: Kayla R.

Hi Cara,

How much fur is she losing? Is she completely going bald or just losing a bit of hair?

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat (female) is loose fur on her tail.She still has fur on the top of it but that is it. She is not sick she is eating ok and has lots of energy.I am pretty concern about this issue. Should i be?

-- Contributed by: Cara

Hi Shiela,

Cats can lose fur due to stress. Things that stress cats can include moving to a new home, new people or animals in the home and other major upheavals. Once the stress is past, the cat should stop losing fur. Do you have any ideas about what might be causing her stress?

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat is still loosing hair, she is not sick, if this is a stress issue how are cats treated for stress?

-- Contributed by: shiela

Hi Breeze,

Cats lose fur for any number of reasons. It could be a result of an illness, but there are other causes that are usually more common. For example, your cat may have parasites (fleas or worms), may be overgrooming from stress or may have allergies to foods or household products.

I would treat the most common causes first, but if you are truly concerned about leukemia or noticing other symptoms, you may want to go to the vet and have a blood test done.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat is 3, and he just started losing his fur a couple weeks ago. Is it a sign of feline Leukemia?

-- Contributed by: Missing fur on the butee and the base of the tail

Hi Kersten,

I'm sorry to hear about the staph infection but am glad you are on the mend. You asked about the symptoms of staph in a cat. The truth is that Staphylococcus is a type of bacteria that is common on the skin of cats and dogs and humans. It is only when the skin is irritated under the right conditions that it can be activated and turn into an infection.

This is usually caused by scratching, such as if the cat has fleas. It is actually rare for humans and animals to share staph infections, but it isn't entirely unheard of.

Staph is usually found because of a patch of red, irritated skin with a pimp like white nub in the middle. Or, sometimes it looks almost like ringworm with crusty edges. You may want to check your cat for this.

Because cats can lose hair for a huge number of reasons, it is hard to say what is causing the hair loss in your cat. If the bare skin is not irritated where the fur is missing, then I'd just watch the cat closely for a bit.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello, I have recently been diagnosed with MRSA, what should I look for in my cats that may show signs of this? One of my cats was missing a patch of hair with no other signs of infection at all and no change in behavior. I was misdiagnosed a few times so I have had MRSA for about a month but I am now getting the treatment I need, needless to say I am now broke, I was wondering if anyone knew what signs to look for with MRSA in cats and if can give it to them? My other cat shows no hair loss at all.

-- Contributed by: Kersten

Hi Misty,

Cats are particularly susceptible to upper respiratory infections and such. I would go ahead and take your cat to the vet. He may simply need something like antibiotic drops for his eyes, but it is best to be sure. The bald spot is likely just from the irritation of watering eyes. Since it doesn't appear irritated, I don't think it is anything to be overly concerned with. It will likely grow back on its own once the eye issue is cleared up. You may want to point it out to the vet just to be on the safe side.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a 3 year old male cat that has always been healthy... He normally has sleep or some kind of goup in his eyes everyday and I mother him and wipe it off with my finger or a warm washcloth.... Today I realized that he had a bald spot under his right eye in the shape of a tear drop running down his face. It doesn't seem to bother him and it isn't red or anything...What is going on with my cat?? Is he okay? What should I do for my cat??

-- Contributed by: Misty

Hi Jeanette,

This could be caused by any number of conditions from mange to parasites to an allergy of some sort. I would go ahead and take her to the vet to be sure, since your grandchildren play with the cat. He will be able to do an exam and tell you what the cause most likely is and prescribe treatment accordingly.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Thank you for the artical

-- Contributed by: daela

Hi Charlott,

You mentioned that he seems stressed. Have you noticed him biting or digging at these spots? Stress can cause that. The most common culprit is parasites, such as ticks and fleas. I'm not sure what part of the country you live in, but ticks in our area have been especially troublesome this year. You may want to try flea and tick treatments.

Since your cat is not in immediate danger, I would try that and keeping an eye on things before stressing him out further with a vet visit. If the fur loss does not stop, you start to notice scabs or the cat takes a turn for the worse, go ahead and take him to the vet.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

hi my bengal a strictly indoor cat had a small patch of hair missing on his front leg it started to get bigger and then the skin where the patch is missing is a pinkish red not scabbing i have just noticed a small patch on his leg that is starting to do the same. They go for regular check-ups at the vet, and has always been fine touch wood, but he hates it so i don't want to take him it if it is unneccesary. Could you help. he is of quite a stressy disposition but i can't think of any stress factors. Charlotte

-- Contributed by: Charlott

Hi Riiko,

This is most likely just normal seasonal shedding, unless you are noticing a lot of bald patches. One thing that will help is a good daily brushing. I recently bought one of those shed ender combs and it works great. Longer haired cats seem to have this problem more than most and brushing will also help prevent any mats.

If the loss leads to bald spots or sores, then you may want to take her to see a vet.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello, I was wondering, although it might be nothing, but my cat recently has started losing her hair not huge chunks, but when I pet her it easily comes out in almost clumps. Im not sure if it's just shedding her winter coat or what it is but it worries me to see that much fur come off of her with just petting her once. The hair seems to come off around her back end near her tail. She's also an indoor cat, and I've never taken her to a veterinarian before, she was given to me by a friend about 5 years ago. She's also extremely small like kitten size, I don't know if that is relevent or not. Thank you very much for your time. Riiko

-- Contributed by: Riiko Sakurai

Hi Annabelle,

It does sound like a stress reaction. Cats will overgroom and even pull out their hair when extremely stressed. Imagine how scary the trip must have been and then being in quarantine. On top of that she is adjusting to a new home and animals she isn't used to being around the property. Give her a few weeks and she'll likely settle back down. In the meantime, if you notice any of these symptoms take her right back to the vet:

Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Increased thirst
Change in litter box habits

I hope she settles down soon. Poor little kitty.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Beth,

Have you treated her for fleas? Since she was abandoned, it is very likely that this is the main culprit.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Dear Kerri

I have a problem and I'm not sure how to deal with it and was hoping you could help me. I've recently moved to Australia and have brought my cat along. Whilst in quarantine, she started pulling her hair out along her spine - in the middle of her back. The patch is about the size of the palm of my hand. The vet at the quarantine said it was stress. My cat came to our new home and I wanted to get her injected against the HIV virus, so I took her to my local vet. He said that it appeared that the problem with her back was caused by muscle ache (she's a tad over weight). He xrayed her for spine problems (there were none) and gave me some anti-inflammatry drugs (meloxican) to go in her food - which has been changed in order for her to lose weight. $600 later, the xray was fine and nothings changed.

Although my cat had not torn her fur out much whilst she was settling in at home, tonight she's started to do it again and there was quite a bit. Enough for me to type this message! I've started a new job today and am now not with her for the full day. I don't know if it's stress or what but I'm really concerned. She is happy enough in herself, although appears to be very hungry (although she is getting a decent amount for a cat that's on a diet). One other thing that maybe stressing her out are the tom cats approaching the property which are clearly upsetting her - but only when she sees them, which isn't often.

I hope you can offer some advice.

Many thanks Annabelle

-- Contributed by: Annabelle Lewis

We found a kitten in my flowerbed and took it in - it may be 4 - 6 weeks old. We have had the cat for 3 weeks. In the last 10 days, it has begun to lose fur down to the pink skin. At first it was just a single spot on the back of her neck. Last week another spot appeared on the front of her neck under her chin. Yesterday, yet another spot appeared on her neck around the top of her right front leg. Everything, with the exception of the cat litter, has been the same. Could she be reacting to the litter (Arm & Hammer)? Her behavior is just as fun and playful as it has always been. Any suggestions or recommendations?

-- Contributed by: Beth

Hi Jacqueline,

Her dietary habits may be causing her fur problems. Since she has lost so much weight and because of her advanced age, I would definitely take her to the vet for treatment. Please let us know if everything is okay. He may just prescribe a sensitive stomach cat food or such.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a seventeen year old cat and she is starting to lose her fur. She is a long-haired tortoise shell. She used to be a very large cat, overweight if you will. Over the last six months she has lost roughly ten lbs and is losing her fur on her belly around her front legs.

Her fur wads up into knots which is not uncommon for long-haired cats but when we brush them out and groom her she goes bald and it doesn't seem to be growing back. Her fur also looks rather oily. I really just don't know what to do. She's still eating well but she's gone from about 15-16 lbs to about 6lbs. I'm really worried.

-- Contributed by: Jacqueline

Hi Linda,

Some breeds of cat shed a lot, particularly in the spring. The first thing I'd do is to look him over carefully and observe his other behaviors:

Are there any bare spots or scabs on his skin? Do you notice any fleas?
Is he lethargic?
Is his appetite and thirst the same?
Any other unusual behaviors?

If he seems fine and is not experiencing bald patches, try bushing him every single day and switching to a high quality diet. If he continues to lose fur, then I would consult a vet just to be on the safe side.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Mr. Gato, aka, papa cat, <no more then 1 year old>strayed himself in to the yard one day. He needed neutering, I took him to the vet to have it done, that was 3 months ago. He has been fine since the operation. However, his long hair become so matted that I took scissors to a few areas, careful not to cut too close to the skin. For a few weeks now he has been leaving tracks of his hair inside and outside of the house. Just a few moments ago, what looked to be the length of a tail, was more hair from papa gato. Help, I feel over whelmed that I don't know if I should take him to see the vet or to wait. Help! S.O.S.

-- Contributed by: castro.linda

Hi Joe,

I would be more concerned about the lethargy than the fur, actually. I'd go ahead and take him to the vet.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Dawn,

My first suspicion would be some type of parasite. Check for fleas and take a fecal sample to the vet to check for worms. If that isn't the problem, then he may have a seasonal allergy of some sort.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat is 10 years old and last year he lost tons of hair by the but and tail. It eventually went away and grew back.This year he has the problem again. SCabes, and missing hair. what is wrong with him.

-- Contributed by: Dawn

i have a three year old long haired cat that is losing fur from his sides the fur comming off is matted and hard and long it seems to be trying to heal but its in a few areas now,it dosent seem to bother him and the skin seem normal but he does seem a little lethagic and not himself.

-- Contributed by: joe

Hi Jenny,

The most common cause of fur loss is fleas. If you've ruled that out, then it could be caused by some of these problems:

Allergies to food
Underlying illness
Other parasites
Stress

I would start by looking at parasite problems and then move to potential allergies. Allergies can be to food or environment, such as new carpet or new laundry detergent. Rule out these things and then move on to stress and underlying potential illness.

At this point, since there are no scabs and the cat seems otherwise healthy, I'd probably try to treat for fleas and change his food before you take a trip to the vet. If that does not start to clear up the problem in a month or so, I'd go ahead and take him to the vet for further diagnosis.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a 3 year old cat that is losing fur the back of his body. There are no scabs and his not scratching, the skin is visible and pink. Any ideas? Its his only symptom. Thanks Jenny

-- Contributed by: jenny

Hi Maggie,

It sounds like she probably has some type of parasite. I would start by treating her for fleas and also take a fecal sample to your vet to test for worms. This will likely take care of the problem for you, but if not, please don't hesitate to come back and let me know and we'll talk about some other things that cause this, although they are more rare.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a female cat that is a little over 2 years old. She has all of a sudden starting loosing fur around the base of her tail. It seems to be a little irritated but no signs of a ring. We moved into a new house about 3 months ago and she got outside a few times, but she is a strickly inside cat! I also bought a new cat food about a week ago, that she seems to hate. I'm not sure if it could be fleas or the food or something far worse. She has never had fleas because I've always kept her inside but I know how quickly they can latch on just by her escaping for a few minutes out the front door. Please let me know what you can..

-- Contributed by: Maggie

Hi Tanya,

He is exhibiting some strange behavior. My guts says to trust your instincts here and take him to the vet. Since he is losing chunks of fur, that could be an indicator of an underlying illness. It might be something as simple as a minor infection that needs treated, or it could be something like diabetes, which can be treated as well and with diet changes.

When you take him to the vet, be sure to write down all of his symptoms and behavior changes. This way, you won't forget to tell the vet anything. This should help with diagnosis. Also, keep track of his litter box habits until your appointment time and be sure to take in a fecal sample to be tested.

Please check back and let me know if he is okay. Hope it is just something very minor.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a cat aged 13, who is becoming more and more grouchy, he seems to cry all the time, for food or for me to pet him, which of course I don't mind but I'm beginning to wonder if something might be wrong with him and he's unable to tell me. Also he used to love spending nights out, I wouldn't see him from 10pm - 7am, now though for the last six months or so he stays out at night for a maximum of two hours and then he's crying to come back in again. He doesn't seem over stressed, but he does sometimes do strange things like going into my bedroom when he knows I'm not there and crying, he seems a bit confused at times. I read that cats cry more if they are going deaf, could that explain why he doesn't want to stay out at night?? He's eating a lot aswell, and seems to always be hungry and he's losing chunks of his hair from his back, the skin is clear and unblemished. I'm worried as I'm not ready to lose him. What should I do?? Tanya

-- Contributed by: Tanya

Hi Caroline,

There are a couple of things that might be going on. It does sound as though Zack went through quite a bit of turmoil from the little dogs. They sound like real terrors. I'm glad to hear they won't be getting into your house again. The stress would be likely to cause fur loss. However, the fleas were the most likely culprit. Even if he is on the mend, his skin might still be itchy and he may even be overgrooming and pulling out his own fur.

I would give him another month or two and see if the problem clears up on its own. If it worsens, you see scabs or he has any other symptoms (lethargy, lack of appetite, etc.), go ahead and take him to the vet for further diagnosis.

I hope Zack feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Jenny,

There are many things that can cause bald spots. Here are just a few:

Allergies (to food or other environmental changes)
Parasites (other than fleas)
Illness
Stress

Since she is an aging cat, I would keep a close eye on the spots. If you notice any scabs or the problem increases, go ahead and take her to your vet to have some tests run. There may be an underlying health issue or it may be something as simple as the cat overgrooming.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi I have lovley black cat called Zack he is 4 years old and has started to loose fur on hi belly nad on the inside of his legs, I have taken him to the vets who has treated him for fleas, worms and alos he had a cause of steroids. He is still loosing fur but very slowly.

I am wondering if it could be stress related as we had a problem a while back when our neighbours two small terrior type dogs got into the house through the cat flap and must of chased zack around the house, he even tried to escape through the glass as there were cat marks on all the bedroom windows. Since then he has been very jumpy. The dogs got into the hous again and done some damage, so thankfully they were re-homed and that wont happen again.

Is there anyting I can do if it is stress?

Caroline

-- Contributed by: Caroline Ryan

My cat is about 9 years old and has bald spots near the base of her tail and along her back on either side, I do have a dog but he doewsnt seem to bother her much, I havent had a problem with fleas, what else could be the cause of her hair loss?

-- Contributed by: Jenny

Hi Katie,

Stress can cause hair loss. You may also want to look to the other common cause, which is parasites. Even if she is an indoor cat, fleas and such can occasionally come into your home on a sock or such. All it takes is one flea to cause irritation.

An underlying illness will sometimes cause fur loss as will food allergies.

As long as she seems otherwise healthy, I don't think this is a reason to rush her to the vet just yet. I would probably begin to eliminate things. I would start by treating for fleas. If that doesn't stop the fur loss, then I would look to allergy triggers, such as her food, new carpets or even a new detergent you might be using.

If you finally rule all of these things out, or the condition worsens, then you should take her to the vet. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat is missing fur on the back of her legs and on the spot where her tail starts. She is also missing fur in the lower area of her tummy. I am wondering what could cause this. She has also been in heat about four times and is an inside cat and is NOT going to get pregnent. and I was wondering if that could cause the hair loss from stress of the time of her being in heat.

-- Contributed by: Katie

Hi Lisa,

An illness, such as the UTI could also be the cause of the fur loss. Once kitty starts feeling better, he will likely stop losing fur and begin growing it back. It should not be contagious to your other animals, since it was not parasite related.

$700 sounds pretty costly. We just had to take our dog to the vet for a UTI and it cost around $116.00. We're in the Midwest, so that may make a different, but we paid for office visit, antibiotics and a urine test. My suggestion would be to shop around. Vets do charge different prices and also from area to area. You may be able to find a vet that meets your budget better, so that you can keep all your pets. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I took my cat to the vet at pet smart with loss of hair and he said it was stress . Noe he is lossing more hair on his abdomin and under tail. i am worried that it could be catchy to me, my children and to my other two cat and my dog. I do not have money for any more vet procedures as the trip cost me over $700 with the shots and medicine for the balding ones urinary tract infection. They also had tape worms and the medicine for that was costly. I really need to get rid of at leasttwo of my cats because I can't aford them all.

-- Contributed by: Lisa

Hi Sara,

Stress can cause hair loss. You may want to have her checked for worms, since she is losing hair in the rear area. This is very simple. Just take a sample when she defecates and have the vet test it. He will be able to tell you if she has worms and treat her for the specific type she has. If the test is negative, then I'd just watch her for a while and see if the condition worsens or clears up now that the other cat is gone. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat, Bella, a 6 year old tabby, had gone through some stress when my sister brought home her cat, which has since passed. I started noticing bella's hair loss about 3 or 4 months ago, when it was concentrated around her neck. Now, her neck is grown back to normal, but her entire back area (hind legs, upper part of her tail, and her bottom) is almost completely hairless. all that remains is a little fluff. she is constantly licking that area. how can i make her stop? why does she do this?

-- Contributed by: SARA

Hi Angie,

I'm a little confused. He had burrs when you took him in to get neutered or he had large patches right after the neuter? If you could provide a few more details, I'll try to isolate a little what might be causing this problem. Any other major changes besides the surgery? New pet? Move to new place? Change in diet? Etc.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I JUST GOT MY MALE CAT NEUTERED AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER HE STARTED LOSING LARGE PATCHES OF HAIR EVERYWHERE YOU CAN SEE SKIN WITH MAYBE A VERY FINE TREACE OF HAIR HE HAD BIG MATS EVERYWHERE FROM BURRS AND THE VET WAS TRING TO GET SOME OUT AFTER HE NEUTED HIM

-- Contributed by: angie

Hi Jerry,

Often it can help to take a look at anything in your home that has recently changed. For example:

New cat food
New cat litter
New laundry detergent (the cat then sleeps on your bedclothes, thus this affects the cat)
New carpet
New pet in the household
New person in the household
Person leaving or pet leaving household
Moving to a new place

If none of these things have changed, then the next most common cause is parasites. I would go ahead and treat the cat for fleas. Even indoor cats can sometimes pick them up, although it is not as common.

The next likeliest culprit is allergies. This is usually to the pet's food, so you can try switching to a high quality cat food.

Finally, underlying illnesses can sometimes cause hair loss. If none of the above seems to apply, then it is time to go to the vet and begin eliminating potential causes. Go in armed with as much information as possible to help with the diagnosis. Things you'll want to observe:

Any change in appetite or thirst
Any change in litter habits
Any change in grooming habits
Any unusual behavior
Any lethargy

Hope this helps.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Megan,

This could be a couple of different things, but is possibly a parasite problem. I would go ahead and take him into the vet. The vet will likely swab the area for sample tissue (this should not hurt the cat). This will tell him what exactly is going on. Since this happened so suddenly, it likely isn't anything too serious. It will probably be something treated with medication. However, do not let it go, as minor issues can develop into major ones if left untreated. Please let us know if he's okay and how he's healing.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Angel,

If the flea problem is completely gone, because you've treated all the cats, put them on preventative and bombed/treated your home, then it may just be that her skin is irritated. She likely bit and groomed herself when she had the fleas to relieve the itching. A cat's tongue is very rough and this causes irritation. It could take a while for her to rebound. A couple of things you can try in the meantime:

Brush her daily. This will help with her grooming and hopefully discourage her from overgrooming during the time her fur grows back.

Speak to your vet about a cortizone shot or anti-itch ointment to help relieve her skin in the meantime. Do not use anything over the counter as many substances are toxic to cats.

Make sure the fleas don't come back by keeping the cats indoors and giving them a preventative.

Good luck! I hope she feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi My questions is somewhat the same as the others about losing cat hair. The cat is 9 years old black & white short hair, she has started to lose quite a bit of hair on her one side of her body, I think it probably started a couple weeks ago, she is inside all the time . Thank you for your time Jerry Anderson

-- Contributed by: Jerry

I noticed a scratch on my cats ear for days ago and thought he jsut cut himself. Now the scracth seems to be gone but there is a circle right where his ear connects to his head of missing fur that looks slimy and red. it doesnt seem to bother him at all and he is not scratching but it worries me because it has doubled in size in two days. Any thoughts as to what it is and how to treat it

-- Contributed by: Megan

I have an 8 yr old fixed female cat, and 3 fixed male cats, a few months ago we had a slight flea problem because one of the boys kept running outside everytime the door would open... we took care of the little buggers so we no longer have fleas! durning that time our female cat licked herself and scratched herself alot now she is missing fur on her back legs and bum.... I'm confused at why she still frantically licks and scratchs herself...

Angel

-- Contributed by: Angel

Hi Dawn,

There are many different things that can cause a cat to lose fur, including overgrooming. However, since you've had him to the vet and the vet thinks it is an allergy, that is likely the culprit. It sounds like the vet has tried to rule out the most common allergies with a change in diet. The other thing you can do is to have the vet test your cat for allergies. This can help you narrow down what specifically he is allergic to and reduce those issues. This isn't going to be cheap. You may also want to try brushing him daily to help a bit with his grooming, since his fur is coming out. This won't stop the fur loss, but will help in a variety of ways, including keeping him from ingesting all that loose fur. There are some wonderful shed ender combs on the market right now. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat Alley was a perfectly healthy boy. Suddenly he started to experience hair loss on his face and neck with scabs. We went to the vet and they put him on antibiotics and sterioids which didn't really work and changed his food to Science Diet zd. He even stayed at the vets for a week. He has been home for a while and experienced a minor episode of hair loss on his face which is growning in. The problem is that he just sheds tons of hair constantly and has bouts of diarrhea which started when we changed the food. The vet is convinced it's an allergy and I am just at a loss right now. He is perfectly healthy and has a good appetite, but he's shedding tons all over his body. No bald spots and the spots which were are actually growing in. Help.

-- Contributed by: Dawn

Hi Susan,

There are a lot of different things that can cause fur loss. You've ruled out the most common, which is fleas. I'm assuming the vet also checked for other parasites while you were there and ruled out mange. That leaves:

Stress: Many cats lose fur when they are stressed, or the cat will overgroom (this includes digging). If there have been any major changes in your household, such as a move, new pet or someone leaving or joining household, this could be the culprit.

Other Illness: Sometimes an underlying illness can cause fur loss. This can be something as simple as the cat's hormones being a little out of wack to something more serious. Again, since you've had the cat to the vet, I would probably rule this out for now, unless another solution cannot be found.

Allergies: This is more common than you might think. Cats can be allergic to anything humans are allergic to. Look at factors such as if you've added new carpet or changed your laundry detergent.

Food: I would go ahead and switch him to the highest quality cat food you can find. This would include something with high grade meat, no by products, and possibly for sensitive skin. Talk to your vet about what options are available and then visit your local pet supply store and health food stores for a selection.

I hope you are able to find the cause of the fur loss, but if the minor changes do not help, you may need to have the vet do some further testing, such as some blood tests. Good luck. Maine-Coon cats are beautiful creatures.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My 1 year old Maine-Coon is loosing hair on his neck. He gets regular flea/deworm treatments and even the vet could not find fleas on him. The vets just don't seem to know whats going on with my boy. I changed his flea treatment as that might have been an allergy, but he's loosing more and more hair. He scratches it and there are a few scabs. Any idea what this might be?

-- Contributed by: Susan

Hi Valerie,

Surgery can be stressful on cats and it can take a while for the fur to grow back. The main thing I would do is to watch him closely and make sure he is not overgrooming the area or losing what hair is starting to come back in. Otherwise, his fur will likely begin to grow better when it warms up a bit. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My four-year old male cat had PU surgery two months ago and still has almost no hair regrowth.

Any thoughts on how we can kick-start his hair growth? We live in a very cold climate so it is very definitely disrupting his routine of going outdoors. I thought that his hair would back more vigorously in this climate.

-- Contributed by: Valerie

Hi Kiki,

It's good that you've ruled out any health issues. That allows you to focus on what might causing the stress licking. Have there been any major changes in your home? Some things that stress cats:

Moving
New people in the house
People leaving the house (such as a child leaving for college)
New pets in the hoome
Emotional turmoil from others in the family (some cats are very sensitive)
Major renovations or moving around of things

If you can rule out any source of stress, then you may want to look at possible allergens. Even if the cat is on a high-end pet food, she may have some allergies to it. You may want to experiment with different formulations. For example, we have a dog whose stomach gets upset on anything but lamb based foods. Other things that can cause allergic reaction:

New carpet
Plants
Change in laundry detergent (and then cat lays on bed)
Flea medications

I hope this helps, but if not and the fur loss is still a problem, please don't hesitate to come back and update us, so we can offer some additional advice.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I noticed my 4 year old female indoor cat had a bare spot on her foreleg. I took her to the vet, concerned that there might be a health problem but the vet looked at her and said it just looked like stress licking. She asked about the type of food we fed her and we told her. The vet approved the food as it is a high end food. However, now I am noticing a bare patch under her foreleg in the pit area. I haven't noticed any changes in appetite, activity level, thirst etc in my cat. What could be causing this hair loss? Her last check up, which was about a month ago, gave her a clean bill of health except for the stress licking. Should I be concerned about this continual hair loss?

-- Contributed by: Kiki

Hi Loraine,

Sukey may have had an allergy to something in the food. Food allergies are actually very common in cats. I would switch her to a high quality food from your local pet supply store or health food store. It will cost a little more, but since you only have two cats, it shouldn't be too much. We use an organic food with no by products for our cats and it has helped their skin and coats tremedously. It runs about $16.99 a bag, but I can often catch it on sale.

Remember to switch her food slowly in 25 percent increments, like this:

25 percent new food to 75 percent old food for three days to a week
50 percent new to 50 percent old (3 days to a week)
75 percent new to 25 percent old
100 percent new

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Ihave two cats my oldest cat she fine it my younger cat sukey she be a year old in May she is a long hair tabby she started to lose her fur after i got this food from wal-mart for hairballs all of her fun from her middle of her back to her tail the fur fell off she look like she has short hair to the back and long hair to the front i can't fine any fleas on her she has ballspot around her neck she scratches alot around her neck and it smell.

-- Contributed by: loraine

Hi Lorna,

Cats generally do not enjoy being moved out of their comfort zone. As they get older, some cats seem to stress more over this. There are a few things you can do that might make your cat feel more comfortable. Place a towel or piece of bedding into the carrying crate, speak soothingly and cover the cage when taking it into the vet's office. Some cats are frightened at the sight of other animals, particularly dogs.

You will also want to soothe your cat during the visit. Try giving him or her a treat several times as well. Hopefully, the cat will learn that vet visits are not to be feared and will stop stressing.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat has recently started to get stressed on his visits to the vet, why is this

-- Contributed by: Lorna

Hi Kim,

Cats tend to feel a little warmer to us. Since he is overgrooming, this probably a nervous habit. There are a couple of things you can do. First, I would try brushing him several times a week. This may make him feel more groomed and he may not feel as much of a need to groom incessantly. I would just watch him for now. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you may need to go ahead and take him to the vet:

Scabbing of the skin
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Change in drinking patterns
Change in litter habits
Yowling

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Matt,

There are many different causes for hair loss. It could be something like a single flea to an allergy to new carpeting. Stress can also cause fur loss. I wouldn't worry too much at this point, since she seems otherwise healthy and is eating and drinking okay. Keep an eye out for anything that may have changed and you might also want to consider switching her to a high quality food, which you can get at your local pet supply store. Cats can develop food allergies over time.

If you notice any scabbing, change in appetite, or lethargy, get her to the vet immediately.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I too have a 6 year old male cat. He does not have fleas, but constantly licks himself to the point that he has licked his fur off. He seems to have a slightly warmer temperature that my other cats (who are all fine). The cat seems OK, bright eyes, good apetite. I cannot afford a vet trip. Does anyone know what this could be?

-- Contributed by: kim

my cat acts healthy and playfull but has hair loss on heron her belly and now to her hind legs what should i do no food change or any of the above what can i do

-- Contributed by: matt

Hi Kym,

Since the skin has scabs, I would definitely take him to the vet. It could be parasites, severe allergies or even mange. It is best to go ahead and get him looked at. The vet can run skin tests to find out what is going on with Magic and offer him some treatment. Hope he feels better soon. Poor guy.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

hi, my boyfriends cat magic aged 11 has been suffering from a major hair lose all over the bottom part of his back, down his back legs and all around his backside. most parts of the area in which he has lost his fur has got scabs. he doesn't seem to be bothered by anyone touching him but is slightly off his food. any ideas? kym

-- Contributed by: kym

Hi Amber,

The rash would concern me more than the fur loss. It is possible she either has fleas, an allergy or has picked up a parasite. Unfortunately, the only way to be sure which is to take her to the vet. If she has worms, the vet will be able to give you medication to treat the specific worms she has. Be sure to take a fecal sample with you when you go to the vet.

As long as she is eating and sleeping normally, and you get her attention soon, this shouldn't be life threatening, so try not to worry too much.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

hi my cat named smokey has lost fur on her belly a patch it looks like a rash she is always liking it but it looks her fur is growing back could it be because she has worms but we have been giving her medication if you back to me it would be great thanks so much Amber

-- Contributed by: amber

Hi Penny,

There are a number of things that can cause a cat to do this. It could be a psychological disorder, but is likely brought on by stress if so. Are there any stressful situations for the cat? Another family pet the torments her, for instance.

Other things you might want to look for:

Fleas. Even one flea can drive a cat to distraction. Treat her and then use flea preventative.
New carpet or laundry detergent. Many cats have allergies.
Dry skin. Especially in the winter months, many cats develop dry skin. Using a humidifier can help and will be good for your skin as well.
Food allergies. Try switching to the highest quality cat food you can afford. We currently use an organic food for sensitive skin and it has helped my elderly cat tremendously with her fur loss issues.
Brush daily or several times a week, depending upon fur length.

I hope some of these ideas work for your cat. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a 6 year old grey tabby cat that is licking herself bald under her stomach, the insides of her legs and patches on her side. I had her to the vets for the same problem this past summer, but they took blood tests, scraped her skin and found nothing. They said to let them know if it got worse; it grew in eventually. Recently, she began the same behavior and is going bald. The vet previously said that she may have an obsessive/compulsive problem. Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: Penny

Hello, I have a 9 yr. old cat, that all of her hair on her stomach and lower chest is completely gone, I don't see it around anywhere, so I think she ate it, the first day I noticed it, the skin looked very pink and she didn't want me to touch it, so I'm sure it hurt, this area is not patchy it is completely bald. She is not scratching and this morning I looked and the pinkness is gone. She has been acting as normal, I will check today for flees. Also, I have forgot to give her "Advantage" so maybe she does have flees, or maybe it is just the food change? She doen't act sick at all, she is affectionate as usual. and I did change the type of food but not the brand to: Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Senior Cat Food, I usaully buy the lite diet. I have a heating blanket that she sleeps on, that she has used for years. Any help would be greatly appreciate.

Hi Sandy, this does sound like a case of self-mutilation, but I'm not sure what triggered it. Do you see any flea bites or dirt? If your cat isn't scratching, then I tend to think parasites aren't the problem.

Since this behavior is so out of character, I suggest you talk to your vet and let him/her take a look at your cat. This may be the best way to figure out what's happening and hopefully prevent your cat from future episodes of hair pulling.

Thanks for your question, and I hope everything turns out well.

-- Contributed by: Sandy

Hi. I have a 5 year old cat. She is so sweet. For the past 2 months I have noticed the fur at the base of her tail and a back of her neck has been falling out. It is almost all bald. The skin in some parts seem healthy but she also has a few scabs. She is always licking herself there. I tried to spray an antifugal and hot spot spray but it just made her hair fall out more. I give her hard food and wet food(Sheba) as a treat. She is otherwise very healthy (kinda chubby) and active. What could this be? I have seen any fleas either. Help !

Hi Mini, there are quite few causes for feline hair loss. From the locations you're describing, it sounds like Mini is either biting herself or scratching the back of her neck. Since you haven't seen fleas, perhaps mites could be the issue. If you take your cat to the vet, he/she can take a skin scraping to look for mites, and also give your pet a thorough exam to figure out just what may be causing this problem.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope you're able to find some relief for cat soon. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Mini

Hi Tammy,

It sounds like the cats either have fleas or an allergy. There is also a small parasite, that cannot be seen by the human eye, that can cause this type of scratching.

I would probably go ahead and take them to the vet, since both cats are suffering. Hope they feel better soon.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Tonya,

Is your cat a Persian or one of the breeds that tends to have an undercoat? If so, it is normal for them to lose some of their fur at certain times of the year. However, if he is going completely bald, it could be for a number of reasons. Have there been any changes recently in his diet or environment? If you'd like to post a few more details, I can offer some more insight.

Thanks!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have a boy cat and a girl cat. They both are loosing patch of hair. The boy cat is diging os hard at his back side and billy he as scabbing going on. Is there someing I can do or do they need to go to the vet.

-- Contributed by: tammy

I have a male cat and he has been losing hair from where his tail connects to his back side all the way up the middle of his back he has no sores and no red skin. I need to know if it is normal and what to do

-- Contributed by: tonya

Hi Joe,

The humidifier will help with any dry skin issues. You have to give it a little time. Also, you mention that she has a flea allergy. Is it possible that she has picked up fleas somewhere? Cats will bit out their hair in an attempt to get at the fleas. You may need to take her to the vet and have her treated. However, if the fleas have gotten into your home, you will need to bomb your home too. Be sure anything living, including yourself, is out of the home for the recommended amount of time on the bottle.

Finally, stress can cause a cat to lose fur. It is possible that she is stressed from the move. 16 is elderly and changes seem to impact older cats even more than younger cats. However, the fact that she is biting out her fur leads me to believe this is fleas, an allergy or a parasite of some sort.

You may also want to switch her to an even higher quality food. They have many organic options available at pet supply stores now.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I got a pure white cat that has a problem she is pulling out her hair everyday on the back side chunks that is. I just moved here about a month ago before i moved she was doing then but this is worse than ever i change food to purina indoor formula and she also as a problem with flea allergy i have done everything flea bath drops . is it possible where i live at the her skin could be dry due to small places i live at i did get a humidifier just to get the dryness out . ole ya she is about 16 years ole

-- Contributed by: joe

Hi Dawn,

Since all three are experiencing hair loss in the same area, one has to wonder if there is an allergic reaction to something in your house. Have you replaced carpeting or bought a new rug or bedspread?

There can be many different causes for hair loss, but fleas probably would not cause loss in the same spot on all three cats in this way.

As long as they are eating, drinking and using the litter box normally, I would just mention this at your next regular veterinary appointment. However, make sure you keep an eye on them in case the condition worsens.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

I have three elderly cats that are all losing hair on their bellies. There is a fine layer of peach fuzz where the hair loss is. Their ages are between 11 and 14 years old. I haven't noticed a change in behavior and none of them are scratching or seem bothered by the loss of fur. What could be the cause of this? ~~Dawn

-- Contributed by: Dawn

Hi Terika,

Fur loss can be caused by a wide variety of symptoms. Since he looks otherwise healthy, it may not be from an illness. Some other causes you may want to look at include:

Stress (new pet, moving to a new home or other major change)
Fleas and parasites
Allergy to food
Allergy to environment (new carpet for example)
Over grooming and irritating area

Since he is eating well and seems to feel well, I would probably just keep an eye on the situation for now. If the hair loss continues, you'll want to take him to the vet to rule out any infections.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Jennifer,

Since there is a red patch, I would suspect that either he has picked a flea up somewhere or has an allergy to either a new food, carpet or other environmental factor.

Although cats sometimes lose fur due to stress, the skin will not usually be red and irritated when this is the cause.

The first step is probably to go ahead and treat him for fleas and see if the problem clears up on its own. If not, you may have to take him to the vet.

Also, keep a close eye on him and make sure he is eating, drinking and using the litter box regularly. Illness can sometimes cause fur loss.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

my cat is about 1 year and he is missing fur on both of his hips but looks pretty healthy. He eats good and goes to the bathroom and is very afectionate. can you please help me with my problem

-- Contributed by: terika

I have a 4 year old male neutered cat a friend is having me watch until I find it a home as it scratched their new baby.

I've had the cat for 10 days now and noticed that in the past week it has developed a patch of red skin with hair loss on its chest. What could this be and how is the best way to treat it?

Thank you!

-- Contributed by: Jennifer

Hi Richard,

Stress can cause cats to lose hair, but because she has red marks, I think this is parasitic in nature. I would like to see you take her to the vet and get it looked at. I could be fleas or a type of worm. The vet will be able to easily diagnose the problem with a few easy tests. He or she will then give you medication to help the cat recover quickly.

As for letting her go outside, I really don't recommend that you let your cats outside. In the past, I have let my cats go outdoors, but I know a lot more about the contagious diseases and dangers now, so my kitties stay inside with me. If I want to take them outdoors, I do so inside a cat run, but only if I am outside to monitor their safety.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Jennifer,

Your cat might be losing his fur for any number of reasons. It could be the stress of moving to a new home that has caused this hair loss. Here are some questions I would ask to try to determine the cause of the hair loss:

Has the cat been treated for fleas?
Have you noticed the cat overgrooming the area?
Does the cat seem skittish and stressed?
Is he eating and drinking normally?
Is he using the litter box normally?
Do you have new carpet or any other allergens that might impact this cat?
Did you switch his food brand?

I suspect that the problem will clear up on its own once he gets used to being in a new place. I would give it a few more weeks and see if the hair loss stops. If the hair loss does not stop, I would go ahead and take him to the veterinarian.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Lynn,

There are any number of things that could be causing your cat's hair loss. Here are some of the most common:

Parasites
Allergies to new carpets, cleaners or food
Stress
Overgrooming
Skin conditions

I would start by taking a look at your environment. Have there been any major changes around the time that your cat started to lose his hair? A new pet in the house can add a lot of stress. Have you changed his diet? Have you added new carpeting or painted?

As long as he is using the litter box, eating and drinking normally, I would probably just mention this to the veterinarian when you take the cat in for his regular booster shots.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Layla,

There could be a number of things causing your cat's itchy ears. Fleas are usually the biggest culprit, especially when you see him scratching. In this case, since he is digging at his ears, it could be ear mites. However, cats sometimes lose hair or dig at their hair because of stress and if he is fighting with the other cats, this may be a big source of stress for your kitty.

Ear mites are little parasites that feed inside the ear. If left untreated, ear mites can cause serious infection and even deafness because of the inflammation. The ears might have a strange odor as well. The only way to diagnose mites is to take our cat to the vet. If the vet examines the cat's ears and discovers mites, he or she will flush out the ears (do not try to do this yourself) and then treat with some medicated drops. You will likely go home with drops as well.

Hope this helps and that your cat feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello,

My cat is predominately an indoor cat, going out a couple times a week. I have just treated my house for fleas recently. The fleas seem to be gone, but there is a band of hair missing down to the skin from the middle of her back to her tail. There are small red dots on her skin where the fur was. Also around her tail is showing signs of losing fur. I have had relatives take care of her for the past nine months also while I was up north. I have just returned. Is this stress related also? Should I change her diet? Should I keep her from going outside?

-- Contributed by: RICHARD

I have a 4 year old male neutered cat a friend is having me watch until I find it a home as it scratched their new baby.

I've had the cat for 10 days now and noticed that in the past week it has developed a patch of red skin with hair loss on its chest. What could this be and how is the best way to treat it?

Thank you!

-- Contributed by: Jennifer

Hi,

My cat is about 8 yrs old and all of a sudden has a line of hair on his back that is gone with accompanied rough skin patches. It appears to have spread since I first noticed it.( Been maybe 3 weeks) He doesn't mind if you touch it or pet him there. He does not seem unhealthy or sick in any way. The only reason I hesitated to take him to the vet is that he turns crazy when he has to go there. He is a a very docile cat and not at ALL aggressive. But when he gets to the vet, he has made sounds that I didn't even know a cat could make! Sounds more like a Tiger. Do you think it may be flees or mites. I can not find anything on him or in the house? Is there anything to try before taking him to the vet? He gets so stressed after the vet, I am afraid he will go bald.

Thanks very much! Lynn

-- Contributed by: Lynn

hi,my 1 year old cat has been itching his ears lately, and recently he has been losing fur just beneath them - i thought this may be because of fleas. however he has also been in fights with our other cats we got recently. i was wondering if you could let me know if theres a chance that the fur loss could be caused by the fights because the other cats dont seem to hav scratching problems. thanks

-- Contributed by: Layla

Hi Lucy,

Since he has done this before, I don't think he has any allergies to anything in the new house. Have you checked him carefully for fleas or treated him? One flea can do a real number on a sensitive cat. Sometimes cats overgroom when they are stressed. It might be as simple as that. There isn't much you can do but give him extra attention and wait it out. He will likely adjust to the new house with a little time. Some cats grow more stressed over a move or changes than other cats. Since you said he is particular, I would guess this is likely the problem.

You may want to watch him carefully and make sure he is eating, drinking and using the litter normally. Let me know if he doesn't settle down in a week or two and we can brainstorm some additional ideas to help him. I really think time will take care of it, in this case, however.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello,

I just moved into a new home with my husband and our three cats. The two younger cats are 3 years old, and brothers. The older cat is about 11 and is constantly fight with the other two. Since we have more space now, things have calmed down with the fighting, but even before we moved from our tiny apartment, one of the younger cats has been licking his stomach incessently. He has been given cortisone injections and I'be been monitering his food. He stopped licking once we got to the new house, but now he's at it again, and nearly his entire stomach is without fur. He is clearly the most dominant cat in the house, and has always been pretty particular. Do you think his licking is allergy related or simply nerves?

Thanks so much! Lucy

-- Contributed by: lucy

Hi Maddi,

Hair loss can be caused by many things, including stress. It is possible that the second kitten is a bit stressed over the change in homes or location. Diet changes can also cause an adverse reaction in some cats. If you do not notice extremely dry and flakey skin or sores, I wouldn't worry too much at this point.

However, she'll be due for vaccinations and/or boosters here soon. I would definitely point the hair loss out to the veterinarian when you go to that appointment and get a more thorough analysis, just to be on the safe side.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Anjana,

Stress is a big reason why some cats lose fur. You don't mention the area where his fur is missing. Is it possible he picked up fleas while at your ex-husband's home? This can cause a cat to bite at the hair and cause hair loss, for example. Hair loss can also be caused by a few illness or be hormonal.

I would definitely mention it to the vet during your next regular visit and in the meantime just watch to be sure it isn't increasing or growing worse. Also, watch the bare skin for any scabs or wounds.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, I just notice on my cat area with missing fur. He is 7 years male cat. I am kind of worried how all of a sudden he lost that fur. He used to live with my ex. Now he moved to new city and new house. Do you think it might be stress related. Help me.

-- Contributed by: Anjana

we just got two new kittens. (8 weeks old) and mine is starting to lose her fur on her eyebrows and a patch on her head. the other kitten is completely fine.

what could be causing this.

~~Maddi.

-- Contributed by: Cat's Eyebrows.

Hi Jenny,

Have you noticed that he is grooming more often than normal? Loss of fur can be caused by any number of things, including:

Fleas and parasites
Stress
Illness

Since he seems normal other than the loss of fur, I wouldn't worry too much about a blood disorder. More than likely, you would see other symptoms as well.

I do recommend that you also give him some dry food. It probably is not good for his teeth to eat only soft food, unless he has bad teeth that prevent him from eating dry food.

Unless you see a change in behavior, I would just mention the fur loss at your next regular veterinarian checkup. Also, watch him carefully to be sure he isn't biting at the area or overgrooming.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi Jacklyn,

I think you are smart to take him to the vet and find out what is going on. The fur isn't as worrisome to me as the lethargy, which indicates he is probably ill. This could be anything, including hormonal changes. The loss of fur indicates some type of stress. In this case, probably from illness. It is a good sign that he is eating and drinking as normal, though.

I'm assuming he's probably had all his vaccinations, so it is likely something easily corrected with medications. Please let us know what the vet says. I hope he feels better soon.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Our cat is about 10 years old. We are very worried because he has started to lose patches of fur. The patches are red and I have seen him chewing on the area a few times. Along with this he has become very lethargic. He has also had a warm dry nose. He seems to be eating and drinking as usual. I would like any insight that you may have so I can bring this up to our vet. He is very important to us and we are very afraid for him. Please help!

-- Contributed by: Jaclyn Kaiser

My 4 yr old cat is missing his fur on each side of the side of his stomach. They are patches of hair missing where it's short and stubby. There's no sign of a skin abruption or abrasion. The cat's appetite is higher than normal, but he's been like that all is life. He eats mainly wet food, whiskas, been feeding it to him for years. I have a 17 yr old male cat he plays with a licks often, but i dont think that's the cause, please help. I heard this might be a blood toxin disorder?

-- Contributed by: Jenny

Hi, Megan,

Please take him to the veterinarian immediately. I'm not certain what is wrong exactly but the slow, erratic pulse and the lack of appetite combined with vomiting is extremely dangerous. I realize it is the night before Christmas Eve, so you may have to find an emergency vet clinic near you.

I'm emailing you as well to be sure you get this message. Also, check back and let me know if he's okay.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

We have a cat roughly around 7 or 8 years of age. We came home one day to find that he is hiding iunder the couch. Letting us hold him (which he hardly never does), we noticed that the hair over his nose is gone going up between his eyes, and it is wet and sticky. For teh past few days he has been puking and has hardly been eating, we are worried about him severely. Not only is there hardly any hair on his nose any more, hes skinnier then he usually is, and he always eats well, and the area around his hind legs and tail is severaly swollen, on the right side. We have no clue what is wrong and were wondering if you could help us. His pulse is slow and erratic, and seems like there is no life in his eyes. We are all scared, please help!

-- Contributed by: Megan

Hi, Lynn,

Fleas can cause irritation that sometimes takes weeks for he cat to recover from. Also, the liver problem probably caused a lot of stress to her system. I would just keep an eye on it and also point it out to the vet when you go in for your regular visit. I think it will probably grow back on its own now that she is on the mend.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My 8 year old female cat has an area on the tip of her nose where she is losing fur. A strip all the way across. She recently had fleas, but I think those are gone now. And recently had a liver problem, but seems healthy now. What might be the cause? I take my two cats into the vet for their annual next week.

-- Contributed by: Lynn

Hi, Robin,

Often, one of the first signs of a health problem in a cat is their fur. Sometimes it will grow dry and flaky. Sometimes they will lose hair. It is a sign of stress and an ill body creates a lot of stress for the cat.

You don't mention if there was any scabbing to her skin where the fur was lost. That would be more of an indication of a bacterial infection.

Your veterinarian is the best person to diagnose this problem for you as he or she can run tests that will give a better indication of what is causing the growth and the hair loss. I hope it is the fungus as well and will keep your cat in my thoughts.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Our 15 year old persian mix cat, had lost fur around her eyes and ears a few months ago. The problem cleared up, but now the cat has a growth around her spine, which at this point seems to be cancer or diskospondylitis. We're hoping it is the latter, and wonder if the facial hair problem could have been a bacteriological or fungus related problem that preceded the diskospondylitis.

-- Contributed by: Robin

Hi, Liberty,

You're very welcome. It's hard to know when things are serious enough to take our pets to the veterinarian, so it's always good to have your thoughts confirmed and get another opinion. I have a little dog that causes some stress in our home too. She's rotten, but I love her. I just try to separate my elderly cat and the dog and as soon as she goes after the cat, I correct her and praise her when she does not chase the cat. Right now they are co-existing, and that's probably the best I can ever hope for in this situation.

I hope your cat feels better soon and the hair comes back in. Make sure you have her on a high quality cat food. That should help. Omega 3 is good for their skin and fur.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Thank you so much, Lori Soard, for your response. That is what I thought I would do, but I appreciate having another opinion as to what is causing the hair loss. All of the cats have been so relaxed, warm, and overly loving since the dog is gone. I think that the stress of the dog being here was the majority of the problem. I will watch it, and if it hasn't cleared up in a few weeks, I'll take her to the vet and post on here what the vet says.

Thank you so much, again!!

-- Contributed by: Liberty

Hi, Stef,

Have you tried treating his for fleas and ticks? Even one flea can start this type of behavior in a cat and it is then a vicious cycle where he will keep biting and pulling out fur. It is possible he has some allergies but I think it's more likely a flea or stress from the move. He may be able to still semll the scent of the other pets and this may have him on edge.

I agree that unless he has some sores or shows other symptoms that this doesn't yet warrant a visit to the vet. Just keep a close eye on him and keep a log of his symptoms. This way, if the issue does not clear up soon, and you do have to take him to the vet, you will have the details on his condition to help the vet diagnose the problem.

Good luck and congrats on the new house.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hello,

I've been reading posts about cats loosing their hair on their belly's due to stress from moved furniture, different carpeting, etc. My question is.... I have a 7 year old fixed male cat (Luna) that has started to overgroom his belly so now he has a large bald spot (about half his belly) that will then become peach fuzz, and i will see him then chewing it off. My issue is that we have just moved into a new house 3 months ago, just about when he started to do this. I don't think it is the house, I have moved about 5 times with him, so he is used to that, the only thing i can think of is that this house had dogs in it from the previous owner and none of the other places have had that issue. We cleaned the carpets, repainted the whole house, etc before we moved in, so i'm not sure what else to do that would let him calm down and stop fussing so much. Do you have any other suggestions besides going to the vet. Needless to say, I don't have any money right now because we just spent every dime on a new house, so going to the vet is a last resort, plus the vet stresses him out to no end. I do not have a happy kitty for several days after that, so not sure if it would so any good taking him there. He doesn't have any leasions or anything, I can pet his belly and it doesn't bother him, so must just be a "mental" condition.

-- Contributed by: Stef

Hi, Liberty,

It doesn't sound like it is from an infestation, since you treat the pets for fleas and mites. Stress is a very common cause of hair loss in cats. Hormonal balances can sometimes cause issues as well, but I think that is less likely since she is a young cat.

Since you recently removed a dog that was causing some stress levels, I would give this a few weeks and just watch her closely. I don't feel this warrants a visit to the vet just yet, unless you have a regular yearly exam scheduled anyway. The problem will likely clear up on its own. However, if you notice a change in appetite, litter habits or any type of lethargy, go ahead and take her in. You may also want to read our guide on Feline Hair Loss.

Please check back and let us know if this issue clears up.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi,

My 1 1/2 year old girl cat (unfixed) has little flakes of hair that are falling out between her ears on the back of her neck. The hair is literally coming out by the roots from the skin. Everywhere else on her body is fine. She's a very clean and loving cat, and there's no signs of her being in pain or uncomfortable. We have 3 other male cats, and they aren't experiencing the same phoenomenon. She's the only one...

We did just take a ...er spaniel out of the picture in our home, and that has eliminated ALOT of stress on all the cats, not to mention us as pet parents. I'm wondering, could this be related to the stress level the dog was bringing into the home? Or does it sound concerning enough for a vet visit? I've checked the other cats, as well, and none of them appear to be infested with fleas, mites, etc. We're really good on keeping the flea medicine on all the cats.

I'm concerned, though, because I have never seen this on all the cats I have had. Do you have any words of wisdom for us? Thank you so much!!

-- Contributed by: Liberty

Hi, Stella,

Since it is on top of her head, she isn't able to reach that area with her tongue, so it isn't likely to be from excessive grooming. Some cats will lose fur if they are under stress. Have there been any major changes in the household recently? A new pet, new person or someone leaving can upset a cat.

Also, since the area doesn't seem to be inflamed, I'd just keep an eye on it for now. If you notice it worsening, I would make a trip to the vet and see if he can run some tests for hyperthyroidism and other issues that can cause hair loss. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My 2 year old cat has lost a lot of the fur above her eyes. I do not see her scratching nor does the area seem at all inflammed. I have her on a grain free, mostly canned food diet. What could the problem be?

-- Contributed by: Stella

Hi, Michelle,

You are right that stress can be a big trigger for feline hair loss. More than likely, your cat will adjust with time. Keep an eye on the bald patches and if you notice more or they grow irritated, I would go ahead and take her to the vet to make sure it isn't another health issue.

Good luck with nursing school and the cat regrowing her fur!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Hi, I just recently noticed a bald spot on my cats thigh. About an inch square, it has small short hair still on it, like you shaved it. I then noticed a small one on the back of her leg as well, and today one on her belly, big one maybe 3in square. Her coat is still shiny, and she is not lethargic or even acts like anything is wrong. She acts like she always does except with a few bald spots. She eats and drinks fine. The only thing I can think of is it might be anxiety. Recently my boyfriend(whom used to be home all day due to job loss for almost a year) returned to work, hes gone a week and home a week. This is only the third time hes gone. I'm wondering if maybe his abscence for a week may be the source of her anxiety or stress and overlicking maybe? The skin has no redness or sores or itching or flaking or scabbing, its normal skin with some hair gone. Its like it was pulled out or licked out. She is a very clingy cat. She has to be near me all the time when I'm home. She has a companion cat and they get along well. Can you tell me ways to maybe help her adjust to this new situation? What sucks is I have 4 weeks left of nursing school, and I am gone in the daytime all week and have alot of homework thru reading and the computer at night. I noticed that as soon as he left the first week she became obsessed with sitting on or near the computer. And I never see her overlicking herself, but she may do it in the daytime while I am gone. Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Michelle

Hi, Pantaz. First of all, you did the right thing in taking your cat to the vet. Any time a cat (or any pet for that matter) is vomiting, the animal can become dehydrated or it may be signs of other underlying problems. It's always best to err on the side of caution and take the animal in for an exam.

Psychogenic dermatitis is a disorder where a cat licks its fur over and over in one specific area. If your cat has ever licked you, you probably thought about how rough his skin was--like sandpaper. Well, this rough tongue licking in one spot over and over can cause severe irritation to the cat's skin. This is not the normal type of licking a cat does when grooming but this is more intense and located in one spot--in this case his hind quarters.

There are various reasons why a cat might do this:

Anxiety
Skin irritation
Anal sac infection (did your vet rule this out?)

Most often it is caused by anxiety, which is brought on by a change in environment (new pet, new family member, moving to a new home, new neighbor with a dog that barks at the cat, etc.)

If the licking can be stopped, the skin usually heals quickly but if not it can cause extensive skin damage over time that may never completely heal.

Medication placed on the sores does not usually help since the cat licks the medicine off, but one of the collars that prevents the cat getting to the area to lick may be helpful. There are also some oral or injected medications that might help.

You may want to discuss these options again with your veterinarian or get a second opinion from a veterinarian who specializes in skin disorders. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

My cat (5 yo Maine Coon Mix) has been pulling his hair out in this hind quarters. He's black and the hair is starting to grow in white. He's not had any surgery in several years, but he sometimes becomes lethargic, not interested in eating (which is rare for him) and vomiting up mostly water. I did take him to the vet and she suspects phychogenic dermitits. Can you tell me what this means?

-- Contributed by: Pantaz
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