Hair Loss in Cats

Have you noticed your cat losing more hair than normal? 

Hair loss in cats may have a few different causes. Some of these are listed below.

A cat losing hair is commonly called Alopecia, the same diagnoses you would give a human suffering hair loss. According to veterinary professionals, seeing hair loss in cats is a common problem and there are many solutions and diagnoses which can be made to solve the issue.  Some cats such as the Sphynx cat are born without hair and never grow any, whereas Siamese cats are prone to a type of normal hair loss called Pinnal Alopecia – hair loss on the outside of the ears.  This type of hair loss usually resolves on its own.  Another common type of hair loss is Preauricular Alopecia, which is the thinning of the fur between the ears and the eyes; this too is considered normal in cats.

The rest of the cats that are  born with normal fur and begin losing it is normally a symptom from a  disease or a condition which can be rightfully diagnosed by your cats respective veterinarian.

Will it grow back?

The good news is that hair loss in cats will usually grow back, when treated accordingly. Below I have outlined a series of common cat problems that may lead to hair loss in your feline:

Fleas:

Fleas are commonly known to cause irritation, however some cats can be hypersensitive to antigens in the flea saliva which can cause cats to become miserable itchy and begin to over groom as a way to relieve the itch. This usually results in the cats pulling the hair out during the grooming process.

Mange, lice and scabies can also make a cats skin become irritated and itchy, thus resulting in the same over grooming and hair loss.

Medication Side Effects:

Some medications such as steroids used to reduce inflammation and swelling, commonly known as prednisolone and prednisone can also cause your cats hair to shed more than normal. These medications can also cause curling of the ear, and are best administered sparingly as the side effects can be debilitating. The good news is that stopping the medication will reverse this condition.

Ringworm:

Ringworm is one of the most common causes for hair loss in cats. And is known as a highly contagious infection which commonly occurs among kittens or cats living in groups, and can be contracted from a contaminated animal or environment. The infections begins to develop on the outermost layer of skin and hair follicles and general grooming can usually alleviate the infection before it gets worse, however if the infection is in a hard to reach area such as the face they are at greater risk of suffering hair loss in that area. The good news is that ringworm can be treated and eliminated although it does involve several stages of treatment to be completely eradicated. It is best to consult your vet if you believe your cat is suffering from ringworm related hair loss, as it is also highly contagious for humans in the home as well.

In general hair loss in cats can be easily rectified through a combination of medical treatment and environmental adjustments. Visit your vet who will be able to identify the cause of your cats hair loss and the best possible solution.