Your sweet, fluffy feline will lose their hair as part of the natural process of shedding. But when we talk about cat hair loss, we’re talking about hair falling out more than it is growing back, or it simply doesn’t grow at all.
This kind of hair loss can be alarming for cat parents to see patches of their cat’s lustrous coat missing. You’re likely concerned about your feline friend if you’re reading this. So, let’s explore what cat hair loss is, what causes it, and what you can do about it.
What Does Cat Hair Loss Look Like?
Hair loss in cats, also known as feline alopecia, is a common problem. At first, you may notice a small patch of hair thinning, but soon you’ll see more patches developing where the hair is noticeably thinner or even absent.
While cat hair loss can be alarming, it’s important not to panic and instead seek professional guidance. A reliable pet emergency fund is essential in these instances; better still if it includes an online vet function that you can turn to for advice.
According to PetMD, there are two main categories of hair loss in cats:
- Congenital alopecia: usually related to the cat’s breed and genetics, congenital alopecia is typically seen in kittens and younger cats. Some cat breeds, like sphynx cats, are prime examples of this.
- Acquired alopecia is when your cat’s normal coat begins to fall out as a result of illness or disease. Because this results in a sudden change in hair coverage, it’s most noticeable and tends to cause the most alarm in cat parents.
Causes of Cat Hair Loss
Hair loss in cats has a variety of causes, ranging from relatively common to somewhat more severe. What might start as a slight itch can quickly develop into alarming bald patches and even sores.
- Medical conditions and skin ailments are responsible for many cases of hair loss in cats. Allergies and allergic skin reactions, hormone imbalances like hyperthyroidism, and even inflammation related to bladder, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract diseases.
- Emotional and behavioral problems like anxiety can cause nervous scratching at the skin or gnawing, resulting in cat hair loss. Overgrooming can become a compulsive behavior in fearful felines.
- Parasites like mites and ringworm can cause itchy skin, which can cause hair loss in cats from excessive scratching.
Other Symptoms of Cat Hair Loss to Look Out For
When you notice patches of hair loss in cats, there are typically some other symptoms to look out for, which may indicate the cause of the cat’s hair loss.
- The most obvious accompanying symptom of hair loss in cats is itchiness. Your cat will scratch, lick, gnaw, and bite at the itch causing the hair to fall out.
- Hairballs will be on the increase if your cat is losing fur. The fur that is coming away at a rapid rate is ingested and will need to be expelled more frequently than usual.
- Look for scabs, crusts, sores, and bumps on the skin, which could indicate the cause of the irritation.
- Other symptoms to look for include changes in appetite and thirst and any changes in activity level.
How is Hair Loss in Cats Treated?
Of course, the treatment of hair loss in cats will depend on the cause of the problem. Pesticides and topical treatments can help rid your cat of biting bugs and treat the resulting itchiness.
Where wounds have formed and infection may have set in, you may need to administer topical antibiotics to take care of any bacteria and allow healing of the surface wound.
If a food allergy is to blame for skin itching and hair loss, you may need to play the long game with an elimination diet to identify precisely the ingredient causing the problem. This is going to require patience on your part, but it will pay off if you stick with it.
Medications like antihistamines and cortisone can help alleviate any itching; however, this won’t necessarily treat the root cause. These medications will only treat the itch, which will more than likely return as soon as the medication is stopped. It’s possible antihistamines and cortisone will be prescribed in conjunction with other therapies.
Where hair loss in your cat results from psychological causes, there are a few ways to tackle the issue. Treating an anxious or stressed cat is best approached holistically using a combination of medical interventions, as well as behavioral and environmental changes.
Final Thoughts
When your cat’s fluffy coat starts to fall out, and you’re staring at hairless patches, it can be distressing to you. But all hope is not lost. Cat hair loss is very common and, in most cases, not serious.
Once your vet has identified the cause of your cat losing fur, treatment should have the hair filling in again relatively soon and your fur child furrier than ever.
