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Hair loss in cats can have several different causes,including fleas, ringworm, allergies, or stress. Determining the cause is essential for proper treatment.
You may have noticed that your cat is starting to look a little moth-eaten. You take a good look, and suddenly you notice how thin her fur is, and the scabs or sores on her skin. It seems like she's licking herself all the time. It's normal for cats to spend about half their time grooming themselves, but how much is too much? Why Do Cats Lick?According to Dr. William Miller, a feline dermatologist and professor at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, a cat will lick herself for two reasons: if she's in pain, or if she's itchy. How can you tell which reason it is? A cat who's in pain will focus on the painful spot and continue to lick this one small area. However, if she has a condition causing her to itch, she'll lick a much larger area. The area she's licking gives you a clue as to what's causing the itching. A cat who constantly licks the base of her tail probably has fleas, while one who licks her back, belly, or other areas may have an allergy to food, pollen, or some other substance. What's Making My Cat Itch?When a cat is scratching, people usually think of fleas first. Fleas survive by sucking blood from an animal. For most pets, fleas are a nuisance, but they don't bother them much more than mosquite bites bother us. But some unfortunate cats develop an allergy to flea saliva. When a flea bites, it injects a little bit of saliva to make the blood flow. One flea bite can cause terrible itching in an allergic cat. Your cat licks and scratches, trying to get the itch to stop, but all she does is cause more irritation to the bite, which makes it itch even more. It can become a vicious cycle very quickly, with your cat in misery from the constant scratching and itching. Ringworm is a fungal infection that can grow on your cat's hair, her skin, or her claws. You may notice circular bald spots on her head, body, or ears, but some cats look perfectly normal. Ringworm is very contagious, and passes easily between animals and people. If you suspect your cat has ringworm, take her to the vet for treatment. Allergies can also cause itchy skin for your cat. Besides flea allergies, your cat may develop an allergy to pollen, or even to something in her food. Either of these will cause her to itch all over. If all physical problems have been ruled out, your cat may be suffering from stress. Sudden changes, like a move to a new home, a new baby, somebody moving in or out of the household, a new pet, or the loss of another pet, are very stressful to your cat. Like people, some cats take it in stride, but others don't handle stressful situations as well. In this case, excessive licking becomes a way for your cat to comfort herself. It can become a habit if whatever is causing her to be upset isn't resolved. Be sure to spend at least 10-15 minutes a day playing with your cat and spending time with her. Hair loss in cats is usually caused by excessive grooming due to itching. Stop the itching, and her hair will grow back. Reference:
The copyright of the article Hair Loss In Cats in Cat Care is owned by Darlene Norris. Permission to republish Hair Loss In Cats in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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