Have you noticed that your cat is showing bald spots without any explanation? You may have noticed that your cat is licking certain spots more or is itching or irritated. Maybe your kitten even went potty in an unconventional way. All of these could indicate stress or health problems.
There are quite a few reasons why your cat might have bald spots, and it's best to contact your veterinarian if you notice this. However, it's best to play detective first because the more information you provide your veterinarian, the more likely he is to accurately diagnose and treat your hair loss problem.
So, what causes bald spots on cats?
Fleas
Even the best cat owners can get fleas. Fleas are sneaky and can enter your home through your clothing or other pets. They can hide in carpets and under furniture for months. And fleas can be difficult to get rid of too!
If you notice your cat chewing and itching, it may be due to fleas. Not only are fleas annoying for your cat, but some cats can develop a condition called flea bite dermatitis. This is a type of allergy to the saliva produced by fleas, which causes severe irritation when fleas bite a cat.
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Fleas tend to cluster at the base of cats' tails, which is a sensitive area, so this causes even more irritation. You may notice your cat chewing on the base of its tail, leaving behind bald patches. Fleas can also hang on the face, so the cat may scratch its face frequently, leaving bald patches on the neck and chin.
Fleas can be difficult to spot on cats and they are good at hiding, but there are a few things to watch out for. Fleas and flea bite dermatitis can leave behind red, bumpy skin. Additionally, fleas defecate what is essentially dried blood. If you notice rust-colored spots in your kitty's bowl, they are most likely fleas. If you notice small brown or red flakes on your cat, you can place them on a white piece of paper and drip them on top. If it's flea food, the flakes will melt again and turn into liquid blood.
Causes of hair loss in cats
Dermatophytosis, trichophytosis, lichen
By far the most common disease leading to alopecia is dermatophytosis or lichen. Most often localized on the face and head. In cats, the disease is most often caused by fungi of the genus Microsporum canis. The main symptom is that the hairs fall out on their own and are pulled out very easily, because this is an infection of the hair follicle. Important! With dermatophytosis, itching is not a common symptom! Usually lichen does not itch.
The intensity of manifestation of this disease varies - the lesions can be localized (single) and focal (several) and a generalized form (many areas) with lost hair.
Predisposition to shingles in Persian cats
Persian cats have a breed predisposition to dermatophytosis. They often have chronic recurrent or generalized lichen. In them, this disease is often severe and is somewhat different in form from other breeds. They may also have areas of skin with peeling, but without obvious alopecia. Another form of the disease they have is severe inflammation and the formation of nodules in the skin.
Diagnosis of dermaphytosis
For the diagnosis of dermatophytosis
Previously, fluorescent diagnostics using a Wood's lamp were widely used. However, it has long been proven that this method gives a large amount of error and can only serve for an initial examination. Only some types of mushrooms (about 50%) give the classic apple-green glow. Not everything that glows in a Wood's lamp is ringworm, and vice versa - not everything that glows is ringworm. To confirm the diagnosis, skin scrapings and hair are taken from areas that glowed under a Wood's lamp or from non-luminous but questionable areas and examined under a microscope. If the hair is affected, you can see hair with a destroyed structure, sometimes with fungal spores.
In complex and doubtful cases, the doctor takes the culture into a test tube with a special medium. Unfortunately, the culture takes at least 10 days to prepare, so the doctor will most likely prescribe a trial treatment in this case, because the disease is also dangerous for humans.
Treatment of lichen in cats
If the diagnosis of dermatophytosis
the doctor will prescribe not only local treatments for the affected areas, but also an oral antifungal drug (most often, in cats, this is Itroconazole / Irunin, over a long course. This drug accumulates in the hair itself, preventing the disease from developing. Using only local remedies can lead to a chronic form illness, constant relapses and infection of the apartment with spores.
Remember! Vaccines against lichen (Microderm, Polivak, Vakderm, etc.) are not used in modern veterinary medicine, their effectiveness has not been proven.
IT IS FORBIDDEN!
Some drugs, used the old fashioned way, can do more harm than good! Yam ointment, for example, is simply poisonous to cats! The waste oil, which is still widely used in rural areas, is also poisonous. And treating the affected areas with iodine leads to chemical burns and the hair in such places may not grow back at all.
There are now many modern and safe remedies for the treatment of dermatophytosis, do not self-medicate!
Parasites. Demodecosis.
Demodexes
- These are skin parasites - mites that damage the hair follicle. Previously, it was believed that only dogs suffered from demodicosis, but two types of these mites have also been isolated in cats.
Feline demodicosis
Feline demodicosis is rare. Cats have 2 pathogens - Demodex cati or Demodex gatoi.
Differences between contagious and non-contagious demodicosis:
Demodex gatoi is contagious. Infection and manifestation can occur at any age. The lesions from this mite are itchy and we will see self-induced alopecia.
Demodex cati is not contagious. Normally, they are found in small quantities on the skin of a healthy animal, being opportunistic parasites.
It appears in adult cats; alopecia is spontaneous, that is, areas with fallen hair, without itching. The cause of the manifestation is usually serious immunity disorders - immunosuppression and other serious diseases, for example, diabetes.
The most common cat diseases
Parasites almost always cause itching, and the cat begins to lick and scratch vigorously. Skin lesions and self-induced alopecia appear. The most popular diseases include:
Notoedrosis
Notoedrosis is a lesion with unbearable itching, alopecia, severe scratching and scabs, most often localized on the head and neck.
Cheyletiellosis
Cheyletiellosis - or "wandering dandruff" - looks like flaking skin, there may be hypotrichosis and areas without hair.
Otodectosis
Otodectosis is an ear mite that causes severe itching in the head and alopecia of the ears and muzzle.
lice eaters
Lice eaters are parasites that also cause hair damage and, as a result, hair loss.
Ringworm
Contrary to popular belief, ringworm is not a worm at all. Ringworm is a fungal infection often found in stray and outdoor cats. Ringworm has a characteristic round, scaly rash that appears as a bald spot. It may be red or irritated and may or may not seem to bother your cat.
Most ringworm infections are relatively easy to treat, but before trying any over-the-counter medications, it's best to consult with your veterinarian to make sure your kitten actually has ringworm. By the way, ringworm is contagious to people, and people often get ringworm from their pets.
Excessive grooming
When cats are stressed, they may become over-groomed and lose their fur. This stress can be caused by physical illness or changes in the environment, including new pets, moving to a new home, and even changes in food.
Cats are very sensitive to change, so try to make changes slowly. Remember to always provide your kitten with plenty of quiet places to hide, especially if you suspect stress may be related to children or other pets.
Overly groomed cats can shed hair from anywhere, but you will notice that they groom a specific area over and over again until a bald patch remains. Over-grooming is common on feet, and you may notice that your cat is losing a significant amount of hair on her front or back legs. Over-grooming can cause pain in cats, especially joint or bone pain.
If your kitty has arthritis, you may notice hair loss with the development of hot spots, which are shallow wounds created by your cat licking the same spot over and over again. Over time, hot spots can develop into mucous granulomas, which are a thickened area of skin around the hot spot as the body tries to heal the skin. Hot spots and mucous granulomas are not serious but may indicate underlying problems.
If you suspect your cat is over-grooming, assess the environment, make any changes you can make, and consult with your veterinarian to make sure there is no underlying medical problem or need for anxiety medications.
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Prevention
Problems when a cat has bald ears, belly, peeling heels, back or tail at the base arise quite often, but they are quickly treated. But in order not to injure the animal, violations should be prevented. To prevent the appearance of alopecia, veterinarians recommend monitoring the hygiene and nutrition of the animal. The cat must be kept in clean conditions so that it does not get infected. In order to identify violations in time, it is advised to regularly consult a doctor and independently check the condition of your pet’s skin. This will allow you to find out at the first stages of the development of the pathology why the fur is coming out and remove the disease. If hair falls out on the ears or the back becomes bald, you cannot treat it yourself, so as not to worsen the condition of your pet.
Chemicals
Some chemicals are caustic and can cause burns. If your cat gets into your garage or cleaning chemicals, you may notice hair loss accompanied by painful, rough patches of skin. If you think your cat has been exposed to hazardous chemicals, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Some cats are very sensitive to topical medications, such as flea medications. If your cat begins to lose hair in a manner consistent with how you apply her flea medication, whether in a line along her spine or points on the back of her head and at the base of her tail, she may be reacting to the topical medication. If this happens, talk to your veterinarian about your flea and tick control options. Your cat may be better off on an oral medication or a prescription collar. Always make sure you are purchasing legitimate veterinary flea and tick medications. Cheap supermarket brands are notorious for causing these reactions and much more serious reactions such as seizures. Some online pharmacies sell counterfeit veterinary products, so purchasing directly from a veterinarian is the best way to stay safe.
Allergies
Cats can be allergic to certain foods, as well as to foods they previously did well with. Systemic allergies in cats usually result in diffuse hair loss throughout the body.
Food allergies are usually linked to a specific protein, so if you think your cat has developed a food allergy that is causing bald patches, switching to a different protein food and trying it for 6-8 weeks may help. So, if your cat has been eating a chicken-based food, you may want to try a fish-based food. Read labels carefully because some products may find their way into unexpected places.
Some allergies are environmental, such as to grasses, trees, and even other animals such as dogs and people. Your veterinarian can perform allergy tests to determine what exactly your kitten is allergic to.
Alopecia symptoms
You can recognize alopecia in a pet by the following signs:
- The fur falls out excessively, in clumps. Bald spots in cats appear mainly behind the ear, in the neck, back, and on the tail.
- The skin in these places may have its usual pink color or turn red, sores or scabs may appear there.
- Check your pet's reaction to touching the bald spot: perhaps the spot hurts or itches.
- Check if the animal has symmetrical bald spots.
If you notice these symptoms, you should urgently seek professional help from a veterinarian. Otherwise the disease will progress.
Scabies
Mange can be contagious to other pets or benign and is not common in cats, especially cats that do not roam. If you recently adopted a stray cat, or if your cat went missing and has now returned home and you notice large patches of hair loss, talk to your veterinarian about mange testing.
Whenever you notice your cat losing hair, it is best not to touch it and wash your hands thoroughly whenever you handle the cat or its litter.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before prescribing treatment procedures, the veterinarian will conduct diagnostics to identify the cause of the disease. To do this, a medical history is collected - information from the owner about the pet’s lifestyle, previous diseases, and nutrition. After the interview, the doctor proceeds to an external examination of the animal. He checks the color of the bald spot, the degree of damage, and size. Then he takes the hairs and scrapings for examination under a microscope. Laboratory tests include blood tests. If oncology is suspected - ultrasound, radiography.
Treatment depends on the cause of baldness:
- In case of allergies, the irritant is eliminated, antihistamines are prescribed (Cetirizine, Fenistil, Diazolin, Bicarfen, Tavegil).
- Depending on the type of infection - antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antifungal agents. Medicines are selected for internal or external use (ointments, sprays, drops).
- If parasites are detected - anti-parasitic pet shampoos, drops on the withers, sprays.
- Disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system - hormonal drugs.
Bald areas are treated with antiseptic agents. To restore the body's defenses - immunostimulants, vitamin and mineral supplements. Alopecia in cats is a common disease, but with timely treatment it can be eliminated. The main thing is to seek help from a veterinarian. Self-treatment can lead to complications and deterioration of your pet’s health.
More serious reasons
Numerous medical conditions can lead to hair loss, including cancer, hyperthyroidism, and protein deficiency. Identifying the underlying cause of bald patches will determine the course of treatment you and your veterinarian choose.
Posted by Christian Adams An American expat living in Metro Manila, Philippines for over a decade, Christian is a lifelong cat lover and the proud father of two rescue cats, Trixie and Chloe. Both girls used to be among the crowds of homeless people who roam the cities and countryside. Three-year-old Trixie was rescued from a litter found under a neighbor's porch, and two-year-old Chloe was brought home by Christian's young son, Henry, who discovered the crying kitten in the parking lot.
