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These are not conditions that demand treatment since the cat’s coat should return to normal over time. If your cat’s hair loss is due to fleas, other parasites, or a fungal infection like ringworm, your vet will recommend flea and/or parasite control products or an antifungal treatment. Yes, there are several causes of hair loss in cats, including overgrooming, stress, and medical issues. We cover the more common conditions below, but this is hardly a complete list. Always speak to your vet if you have any worries about your pet’s health. If you notice redness, bumps, scabs, or skin loss, these could be signs that your cat has a skin disease or infection.
Cat Losing Hair Treatment
While some home remedies might help with hair loss, it's important to consult your veterinarian before trying anything. You want to make sure that the underlying problem is being treated and that you're not just focusing on the symptoms. The remaining 14% involved a combination of psychogenic alopecia and medical causes of itching and hair loss. Some cats may suffer from hair loss due to psychogenic alopecia, a behavioral issue that occurs when the animal compulsively and excessively grooms. Pain from the abdomen like pancreatitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, constipation, or bladder inflammation is treated with pain medications and treatment of those diseases. Joint pain is treated with anti-inflammatories and other pain medications.
Can alopecia in cats be cured?
Steroids are prescribed to reduce itching, whilst antimicrobial medication is prescribed to treat an infection. Otherwise, establishing and treating the underlying cause will be the main aim. If your cat is experiencing hair loss along with other concerning symptoms, such as lethargy or loss of appetite, seek veterinary care immediately.
How is cat hair loss diagnosed?
If they discover fleas, which are a common cause of itching and subsequent hair loss, they may recommend flea treatment (which you should keep up to date, anyway). It’s important for cats to have a balanced diet, as an unhealthy diet, poor health or an undetected disease can all be causes for your cat to lose their hair. As these are all quite broad reasons, it’s important to visit your vet to identify the underlying cause. A thorough physical examination will follow, with your vet checking for any signs of parasites, skin disorders, or physical abnormalities.
Treatment of alopecia in cats
Inflammation, skin color change, scaling, thickening or redness of the skin, excessive shedding, and itching are common. Some causes may lead to the development of secondary skin diseases, such as infection or fluid discharge. Alopecia caused by hormonal disorders is not usually itchy at first, unless there is a secondary skin infection.
Spontaneous Alopecia
Owners who make their own pet food must be especially careful to use a veterinarian-approved recipe supplemented with a vitamin blend. Sometimes the hair loss is psychological.That is not to say that it’s “all in his head” and that your cat isn’t really going bald. If your vet’s examination shows that your cat is overgrooming because of pain in their joints or bladder, they will treat the underlying problem with necessary medication.
It's also important to see your veterinarian for routine wellness exams and baseline blood work to monitor for any changes in thyroid levels or endocrine diseases. The exact cause of eosinophilic granuloma is not known, but veterinarians speculate that it could be related to an underlying allergy and may have a genetic component. This condition typically causes oral ulcers and irritating lesions that cause hair loss on the back of the thighs and stomach. Your vet can determine if your cat's hair loss is related to eosinophilic granuloma by examining a sample of a lesion under the microscope. Treatment typically consists of steroids or immunosuppressive medication and a course of antibiotics if the skin has developed a secondary bacterial infection. Mange mites burrow under the skin and can cause extreme itching, even though they can't be seen.
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Since they are at a higher risk of sunburns and for skin disorders like allergies, these kitties need topical moisturizers and sunblock to keep them safe and healthy. Although rare, there are some causes for hair loss in cats that are contagious and can affect humans as well. If you see changes in your cat’s coat or skin, make an appointment with your vet. Affected cats are often born hairless or initially have a normal coat but eventually, get localized hair loss which then progresses into generalized alopecia. This condition is usually hereditary but it’s possible for cats affected with the disease to not pass it on to their offspring.
Finally, cats that are stressed may use grooming as a sort of as a comforter to help relieve their anxiety. This misdirected behaviour is particularly common if the cat is feeling threatened, for instance living in a multicat household or being bullied by a neighbour’s cat. Boredom or frustration, perhaps with being kept indoors without adequate environmental enrichment can also contribute to overgrooming. If that wasn’t bad enough, all of the other factors listed above such as itchiness or pain can in themselves cause stress as well, further complicating the issue. It is very unusual (except in breeds genetically programmed to have no hair, such as the Rex breeds) for a cat to lose their hair for no reason.
For example, cancers that cause a paraneoplastic syndrome (like hepatobiliary or pancreatic cancers) can present as alopecia in cats. With so many potential underlying causes, fur loss in cats can be a difficult thing to resolve. The key is to keep an open dialogue going with your vet and to explore the solutions that feel right for you and your sweet feline. Shedding differs from alopecia as shedding does not cause bald spots. A good bath, blow-dry, and brushing should remove most of the shedding hair. If you are left with a coat that looks patchy or very thin, or if your cat continues to lose a lot of hair despite the bath and brushing, it’s time to consult your vet.
Your vet can confirm if there is a fungal or a bacterial infection by culturing the site. They will clean the area and prescribe your cat with appropriate antifungals, topical or systemic antibiotics, and painkillers, and will give you instructions on home care if any is required. Often cats will need to wear Elizabethan collars for a few days until the infection is under control and the area has healed.
Once your vet has run some tests, you’ll be able to get the right treatment. The most common parasitic infestation in cats is flea allergy dermatitis. Some cats are highly sensitive to flea saliva, leading to severe itching and consequent hair loss.
Cats like to rub their faces on inanimate objects, causing fur to thin in this area. Please, support PDSA and donate to help keep people and pets together. Please note, our vets and nurses are unable to respond to questions via this form. If you are concerned about your pet’s health, please contact your vet directly. Get fast advice, trusted care and the right pet supplies – every day, all year round.
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But grooming is also a way cats soothe themselves in stressful situations. If a cat is under pressure from a new move, a new animal being brought into the house, or loss of a caretaker, he or she may overgroom. Alopecia in cats may be caused by several different issues with various symptoms.
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