Hair loss in cats is a common problem that can have a variety of causes. Medical conditions, parasites, behavioral issues, and even pain can lead to hair loss. When left untreated, hair loss in cats can spread and underlying skin problems may worsen. Here's what to do if you notice hair loss in your cat.
What Is Hair Loss in Cats?
Hair loss in cats, also called feline alopecia, may look like bald patches or thinning hair on a cat's body. This is not an actual disease, but a symptom of an underlying health or behavioral issue.
Some cats (like the easily recognizable Sphynx) are bred to be hairless and are not considered to have alopecia. However, hair loss on otherwise fully-coated cats indicates another problem. Many factors can contribute to feline alopecia, so the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder can involve multiple steps.
What Causes Hair Loss in Cats?
Hair loss in cats often occurs due to overgrooming, and there are many reasons for this behavior. However, some conditions cause hair loss even if the cat is not overgrooming. Some of the more common causes of alopecia in cats include:
Skin Conditions
If you notice redness, bumps, scabs, or hair loss, these could be signs that your cat has a skin disease or infection. Ringworm is a fungal infection that typically causes hair loss in cats. Allergies may lead to hair loss, itching, and skin irritation. These are often caused by food, airborne particles, or bites from fleas or mosquitos. Alopecia can also be a side effect of some medications.
Parasites
Parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mange mites, can cause itchiness, inflammation, and lesions that may lead to hair loss. Your cat may begin overgrooming while dealing with skin discomfort, and they may scratch or bite hard enough to irritate the skin and pull the hair out.
Medical Conditions
Hormonal imbalances, such as hyperthyroidism or increased levels of steroids in the body, may lead to hair loss in cats.
Pain
If cats feel muscle or joint pain under their skin, they may lick the area to try and ease the pain. Hair loss or skin irritation may occur when this behavior is done in excess.
Stress
Cats are sensitive to changes in their environment and can easily become stressed, and chronic stress may lead to overgrooming. Stress triggers in cats include moving house, new pets or people in the home, loss of a family member (human or animal), and loud noises in the cat's environment.
Emotional and Behavioral issues
Nervous disorders that manifest in behavioral issues like overgrooming can cause feline alopecia, but these are tricky to diagnose. Once other medical issues are ruled out, this could be determined as the cause of your cat's hair loss. Keep your cat mentally stimulated and try to redirect overgrooming behaviors as soon as you see them. In some cases, behavioral modification medications may be prescribed by your veterinarian.
Symptoms of Hair Loss in Cats
Cats may have full or partial hair loss in asymmetrical or symmetrical patterns, and it can include different parts of the body, including the neck, base of the tail, hind legs, and more. Scratching or overgrooming may lead to skin irritation. You may notice these signs:
- Bald patches on the skin
- Excessive itching, licking, or scratching problem areas
- Redness, irritation, or sores
While the above symptoms are commonly seen with hair loss, other symptoms may be signs of more serious diseases. Some cats may also vomit, become lethargic, or have changes in their appetite. Veterinary care should be sought as soon as possible, both in cases of unusual hair loss and when additional symptoms are present.
What to Do If Your Cat is Losing Hair
Since feline alopecia is a symptom of other health issues, cats experiencing hair loss should see a veterinarian who can perform tests to determine the cause. Your cat may have physical conditions that lead to hair loss, or behavioral problems that can be managed with lifestyle changes.
To diagnose the cause behind your cat's hair loss, the veterinarian will do a physical exam to see if fleas or other infestations are present. They may take samples from the skin's surface to look for infections under a microscope. In addition, the vet may do a skin biopsy or culture.
If the results of these exams are normal, bloodwork may be needed to determine whether a hormonal or thyroid imbalance is causing the hair loss. If the cause is still unsure, imaging tools like X-rays and ultrasounds can help your veterinarian rule out cancer or abnormalities in the adrenal glands.
How to Treat Hair Loss in Cats
Treatment for hair loss in cats depends on the underlying cause. Because alopecia is a symptom and not a disease, treating the source problems often resolves the hair loss.
Physical
Your veterinarian may prescribe oral medications or topical therapies to treat physical problems, such as skin erosions, thyroid imbalance, or other hormonal imbalances. If the cat has fleas or ticks, owners must clean their homes, including the cat's bedding, toys, and other kitty gear. Your veterinarian can help you determine a long-term solution to flea control and prevention to help your cat stay pest-free in the future.
Behavioral
If the hair loss is due to a behavioral issue, behavior modification may be necessary to lessen the problem. A feline behaviorist could be helpful in "reteaching" your cat the appropriate grooming behaviors. Environmental adjustments may be recommended. Anxiety medications, synthetic feline facial pheromone spray, or other calming aids may prove helpful as well.
Prognosis for Cats With Hair Loss
Depending on the cause, your cat's hair loss can often be a temporary problem when proper treatment is administered. Many conditions, including skin diseases like ringworm, can be healed and result in the regrowth of your cat's fur. In other cases, your cat's fur may never grow fully again.
In addition to administering the appropriate medication, observe your cat's condition to ensure the hair loss doesn't get worse. If no cure is available, properly caring for your cat with alopecia will focus on preventing itchiness, pain, and secondary infections.
How to Prevent Hair Loss
Preventing feline hair loss can require a variety of care steps from the owner. If your cat has already experienced alopecia, talk to your veterinarian about the best methods to keep its fur healthy after treatment. Additionally, keeping pests at bay can help prevent itchiness that leads to overgrooming. The following are options for owners to keep in mind:
Medical Care
Ask your veterinarian about safe topical treatments that can relieve pain and itching. Your cat has a better chance of healing if you break the cycle of scratching and biting the inflamed skin. Regular tick and flea control medication is another important step to keep your cat healthy and rule those pests out as a possible reason for hair loss. Most importantly, be sure to bring your cat to the vet for annual checkups.
Household Exams and Prevention
If your cat continues biting and pulling at its hair, examine their skin and hair at least once a week. Use a fine-toothed comb and part the hair to examine individual sections. Pay extra attention to areas that your cat scratches more than others. It's also helpful to ensure that bedding, toys, or scratching posts are not contributing to the issue by being too rough on the cat's fur.