What disease causes hair loss in cats?

What causes hair loss in cats? Feline fur loss may have fungal and parasitic causes, such as ringworm, mites or flea allergies. Food allergies are another possibility, as are metabolic conditions such as hyperthyroidism, the term for over-production of thyroid hormones.

Why is my cat suddenly losing hair?

Stress and anxiety: When cats are stressed and obsessively lick and scratch, they can lose hair. Vets call this “psychogenic alopecia.” Cats that have it tend to pick at their belly, sides, and legs. It’s most common in female purebreds with nervous personalities.

What is cat alopecia?

Alopecia is the partial or complete lack of hair in areas where it is normally present. Hair loss is a sign, and its underlying cause must be determined in order to be treated. If a cat has hair loss and is scratching the area excessively, the itching problem should be investigated first.

Why is my elderly cat pulling her fur out?

The most common illnesses that cause this problem are hyperthyroidism, alopecia, cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. If your elderly cat is pulling fur out, it is most likely because of arthritis pain, hyperthyroidism, and/or nutritional deficiencies. To help your cat, you must narrow down the exact reason.

Why is my cat getting bald patches?

By far the most common cause of a bald patch on your cat’s fur is fleas or other external parasites. Hair loss usually occurs when your cat has an allergic reaction to the fleas saliva causing them to overgroom. In these instances the bald patch can vary from small to quite large.

Why does my cat have bald spots above her eyes?

Hair loss above a cat’s eyes (facial alopecia) commonly occurs as cats grow in size and their fur thins out. However, feline hair loss can also be genetic. Fungal infections, mites, fleas, and stress are other causes.

How do I know if my cat has alopecia?

It’s important to let your vet know about any other symptoms you have noticed, such as:

A rash, scabs or patches of dark skin.
Dry, scaly skin.
Itchiness.
Overgrooming.
Losing whiskers.
Lethargy (sleeping more than usual)
Drinking more than usual.
Eating more of less than usual.

How do you fix alopecia in cats?

Treatment of Hair Loss in Cats A topical cream is often used when treating alopecia. In some cases, the topical cream may treat the cause of the hair loss, but it is also common to use one to remedy symptoms like skin irritation.

Why is my cat pulling chunks of fur out?

In other words, your cat is pulling or chewing out his fur due to psychological factors, such as nervousness, anxiety, fear, or stress. This condition is much more common than most people realize. Cats are very sensitive to their environment, and they do well when they’re on a steady, consistent routine.

How do I stop my cat from pulling his fur out?

Remove it or limit your cat’s exposure to it if possible. Offer him some new toys to help distract him from his anxiety, and spend some time playing with him to tire him out. Feliway, an artificial calming pheromone for cats, can help encourage relaxation, and your vet can prescribe medication in extreme cases.

Why is my cat losing hair above her eyes?

What kind of hair loss does a cat have?

Some cats have hereditary alopecia. For example, Sphynx cats are born without hair and never grow any. Another type of normal hair loss is pinnal alopecia – hair loss on the outside of the ear pinnae — which is common in Siamese cats but usually resolves on its own.

What causes a cat to pull out its own hair?

Psychogenic alopecia is a compulsive disorder that drives a cat to groom itself obsessively. Excessive licking and chewing leads to hair loss, and some cats will even pull out their own hair. A vet will only arrive at this diagnosis if all other underlying conditions can be ruled out.

What causes cat to itch and lose hair?

Cheyletiella or Demodicosis mange: this is caused by the Cheyletiella mite. Symptoms include itching, scaly skin, and cat hair loss. It is treated with medication. Diagnosis is done with skin scrapings.

Why is my cat losing clumps of fur?

However, if your cat is always losing hair in clumps, this is a reason to be concerned. Cats are ritual groomers, so it’s unnatural for them to ignore clumps in their fur. They should have a strong desire to clean themselves up. If your cat seems to avoid grooming, this could be a sign of stress or illness. Why is My Cat Losing Clumps of Fur?

What causes a cat to lose all of its hair?

Pain: Cats with arthritis may lick themselves at the site of the pain. Pure breeds, like Himalayans and Bengals, are more likely to have genes that cause hair loss. Others, like the Sphynx, are bred to be hairless. It’s unlikely, but hair loss can be a symptom of an immune system problem, diabetes, an overactive thyroid, or cancer.

Why does my Persian cat pull her hair out?

According to The University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Persian cats often host a dermatophyte infection, or fungi. How badly a cat will be affected (if at all) depends on the feline’s health, environment, and genes. The most common response to an allergen is itchy skin. Known as pruritus, this further exacerbates hair loss.

Why does my cat have hair on his belly?

This is seen in 10 to 15% of cats and often in conjunction with other underlying causes. Cat hair loss on the belly could be due to one of the non-physical causes listed above such as boredom.