Hair loss on the hind legs of cats

Cat owners know that from time to time they have to collect cat hair around the house, as the period of natural hair loss begins. But why do some cats have too much fluffy cover, and even bald patches form near the tail or on the tummy and paws?

Severe hair loss is not normal ; you should definitely pay attention to it and seek advice from a specialist. But don’t be alarmed right away; perhaps the animal is lacking vitamins or this is how a skin disease manifests itself.

The veterinarian will diagnose why the cat’s hair is falling out and bald spots are forming, prescribe treatment, and explain preventive measures. If the cat sheds hair, but new hairs immediately grow, then it’s just shedding season .

Where do bald spots come from?

Alopecia is pathological hair loss in a specific area of ​​the body.
Some cats have normal alopecia. For example, in the area from the eyes to the ears, hair grows there less often and owners often turn to the veterinarian on the topic: “my cat’s forehead is bald.” Pathological alopecia is one of the symptoms of dermatitis - inflammation of the skin.

• Allergy
• Skin and intestinal parasites
• Stress
• Hormonal disorders
• Infectious and fungal diseases
• Lack of some vitamins

So dermatitis can be considered a serious reason to visit the veterinarian, but for now let’s look at the existing diseases in more detail.

Allergic dermatitis

In fact, cats have terrible allergies. An allergy may be to:

• Chicken
• Pork
• Cereal feed components
• Cleaning agent
• Filler
• Drugs

And much more.

The allergy is manifested by severe shedding, ulcerations on the skin, scratching and restlessness of the cat. A runny nose and lacrimation appear for the second time.

Cats with allergies are prescribed medicated food for life. The most popular are the food from the Royal Canin and Hills line.

Skin and intestinal parasites

Skin fleas include fleas. They bite the animal and cause discomfort, and the cat begins to itch intensely. The hair follicles are injured from such pressure, and the hair falls out, and scratches appear on the exposed skin.

Fleas do not live on the cat itself, but only on the litter. But dark spots of bites are visible on the pet’s body. Favorite places for fleas are the chin, base of the tail and lower abdomen.

In the presence of internal parasites, cats do not tend to tear off their skin, but their fur falls out intensively. Simply because there are not enough nutrients for hair.

Treatment involves treating the cat for parasites.

Stress

A cat experiences severe stress if:

• A small child appears in the house
• Other animals appear in the house
• Moving
• Long road
• Going to the vet

The fur flies off the animal's body quickly and rapidly, and if nervous tension continues for a long time, then bald areas appear on its body.

Treatment: eliminate the stress factor. If for some reason this is not possible, then the cat is prescribed sedatives or anti-stress food.

Hormonal disorders

Causes of hormonal imbalance:

• Change of seasons
• Estrus
• Taking hormonal medications, for example, during estrus or to stimulate it
• Disorders of the pancreas, thyroid glands and adrenal cortex
• Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Treatment consists of restoring hormonal levels, but before this the animal goes through a long journey of various diagnostic manipulations.

Fungal diseases

The most famous fungus is lichen. It is widespread, and you can only get sick when your immune system is severely weakened. It appears as bald spots on the face, with redness and peeling of the skin.

Diagnosed by pointing a Wood's lamp at the affected area.

It is treated by taking antifungal agents on the skin itself and internally.

Why do cats lose hair on their back legs?

Hair loss occurs in response to many factors, including poor diet, autoimmune diseases, fungal infections, allergies and parasites.

Hair loss in cats can be partial or complete, and the pattern can vary or be symmetrical. The skin around the balding area may appear normal or may appear red, bumpy, or crusty. Hair loss is a symptom and treatment requires identifying the root cause. If your cat is experiencing hair loss and is scratching the area excessively, the first thing to investigate is the itching. Below are the four most common causes of hair loss on the hind legs in cats.

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Fleas and other parasites

Fleas are one of the most common causes of hair loss on the back legs of cats. Fleas are no fun for any cat and can cause a lot of discomfort. Many cats develop allergies to flea bites. Hypersensitivity (allergy) to flea bites or flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is very common in cats. In these cats, just one flea bite can cause severe and prolonged itching, which often leads to hair loss and can lead to open sores or scabs on the skin, leading to a secondary bacterial infection.

Many cats will chew or lick fur from their legs excessively when they have fleas or FAD. Hair loss on the neck, legs and base of the tail can also be seen along with small, hard crusts called miliary lesions, a term coined because the crusts look like millet seeds.

Because flea saliva causes a reaction, the most important treatment for flea allergies is preventing fleas from forming. Both indoor and outdoor cats can become infected with fleas, so monthly veterinarian-approved flea prevention is recommended to help prevent fleas.

Other parasites, including ticks and ringworm, can also cause excessive scratching, licking or chewing, but fleas most often cause hair loss on the hind legs.

Pain

Cats that are in pain may overgroom the painful areas. Lower urinary tract disease and feline arthritis are two common causes of pain and discomfort in cats. In response to this pain, they may overgroom, to the point of losing hair on the lower abdomen, the inside of the hind legs, and around the genitals.

Pain can be difficult to assess in cats, so it is important to know the signs of pain in cats and contact your veterinarian.

Always consult your veterinarian for an appropriate pain management plan. Their plan may include pain medications, laser therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional supplements.

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Allergies

Food allergies, environmental allergies, and flea allergies, as mentioned above, can also be some of the reasons why your cat is experiencing hair loss on the hind legs. The first step in treating allergies is to find the source of the allergen and eliminate it. When it comes to food allergies, most cats are actually allergic to protein rather than other nutrient sources.

A hydrolyzed diet is a food in which protein is broken down into its individual amino acid components. This prevents your cat's immune system from identifying the food as containing an allergen and prevents her from developing symptoms of a flare-up of her allergies. Other allergens, such as mold in the environment, can cause itching, scratching and over-grooming.

Stress and anxiety

Cats are creatures of impeccable cleanliness and fastidious groomers. Cats typically spend 30 to 50 percent of their day grooming themselves. However, if your cat grooms itself to the point of hair loss or skin sores, it may be suffering from an underlying medical condition as stated above, or a psychological problem.

Grooming is a normal response for cats to feel better in stressful situations or when they are anxious. It can become obsessive if grooming behavior is performed out of context and so frequently that it disrupts normal functioning. Areas that cats typically stop grooming due to stress include the abdomen, inner thighs, and lower back.

Cats can become overly groomed when their caregivers are not present, so this may be difficult to notice. Most caregivers will notice areas where hair is thin or missing. Some cats will only lick one area, while other cats may over-groom in more than one area.

Grooming disorder, also known as psychogenic alopecia, is usually caused by a change in the cat's daily routine or environment, such as moving to a new home or introducing a new family member or pet. Other stressors may include tension between cats, excessive competition for resources, and boredom.

It is important to have a veterinarian rule out medical problems. Cats with psychogenic alopecia often experience hair loss without skin inflammation, although over-grooming can lead to secondary infections and irritation, and under a microscope, your cat's hair will appear completely torn or broken off near the surface of the skin.

Treatment involves determining the root cause with your veterinarian, identifying any stressors and eliminating them if possible, providing mental and physical enrichment, maintaining a consistent routine, and creating a less stressful environment. You can create a less stressful environment by adding hiding places and vertical places for your cat, playing with your cat more, and using products that mimic the chemical that cats secrete through glands on their face when they feel calm and want to communicate it.

The cat has lost hair on his belly

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The cat's belly hair fell out, leaving only a short fluff. A “bald patch” has formed in the form of a triangle. The skin under the fluff is clean, pink, dense to the touch, there are two papillae on the sides. We noticed this about a month and a half ago, apparently he went bald at the end of summer.

The cat is 13 years old, no breed, neutered, not vaccinated, has not been ill with anything, active and cheerful, pees every day, poops once a week. We feed him all his life raw fish and meat, cucumbers, sometimes peas, etc., in the summer, grass from the street. Kitiket once a week. Doesn't go outside, only taken out a couple of times all summer.

“Yes, there is such an opinion among our brother. Not everything is so simple; very often even a good doctor underestimates diet therapy. In this matter I adhere to the opinion of BSAVA - the British Association of Small Animal Veterinary Medicine. This is, so to speak, a globally recognized brand of approach in global veterinary science.

Let me give you this example: So you give a cat a raw egg, a very healthy product, both proteins and fats and amino acids, but the egg contains avidin, which is killed by biotin, by the way, this can be the cause of baldness. Or you give your cat vitamin B1 and sea fish, such as cod, or just fish oil, which is healthy, but sea fish and fish oil contain the enzyme thiaminase, which simply breaks down vitamin B1. These substances are called antivitamins and are sometimes found in healthy foods. And the type of feeding that you use is called unbalanced feeding. In addition to antivitamins, many minerals compete with each other in the body, for example calcium with phosphorus, etc. The result of their mutual competition is a violation of bone mineralization in kittens, the so-called juvenile osteopenia of kittens.

Well, in the end, you must agree that those who advocate for straight women do not take into account that porridge and the whole list of that horror

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Diagnosis of alopecia in different parts of the body

Only a doctor can determine why a cat is going bald. The basis of diagnosis includes medical history, visual examination, and microscopic examination of hair roots.

The pet's blood is examined and a scraping is taken from the skin. If a tumor is suspected, an x-ray or ultrasound is performed.

The diagnosis is partially helped by the localization of bald spots on a cat:

1. Symmetrical baldness of the abdomen, thighs, sides, and front legs is a characteristic symptom of a skin disease.
2. Due to stress, cats tear out hairs in the anus, on the back, paws, stomach, and inner thighs. This happens especially often in the following breeds: Siamese, Abyssinian, Himalayan.
3. Hormonal disorders are usually indicated by alopecia on the bridge of the nose, base of the tail, hips, and chest. The skin ceases to be elastic.
4. In the case of a lack of thyroid hormones, pet hair is easily pulled out in the pelvic area, on the stomach, chest and neck.
5. Cancerous formations provoke bald spots on the stomach, chest, and paws. Oncology can cause complete hair loss.
6. Vitamin deficiency is characterized by the appearance of small, round bald patches, which can unite. The skin in places where there is no fur is bright pink.
7. Fungal infections are characterized by the appearance of bald spots with scaly, cracked skin.

Scratching a pet's skin is dangerous due to infection and the development of an inflammatory process.

To make it easier for you to determine the cause of your pet's baldness, we have prepared a table. It contains all the main pathologies accompanied by hair loss in a cat:

Common diseases leading to baldness

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If the functioning of internal organs is disrupted, the disease can manifest itself through baldness. However, hair loss is not the worst symptom.

• Hyperthyroidism. Malfunctions of the thyroid gland together with increased levels of hormones lead to the fact that the cat’s hair will fall out even from light stroking. Associated symptoms are thirst, frequent urination, and enlarged peritoneum.
• Worms. If there is a large number of parasites in a pet, the metabolic process is disrupted and the immune system is suppressed. One of the first signs of infestation is dull hair that falls out due to lack of nutrients. In severe cases, patches of baldness appear.

What is flaking and how does it manifest itself in bald people?

Peeling is the formation of scales (squama), keratinized pieces of the epidermis. The separation of keratinized particles of the epidermis occurs constantly and is a normal physiological process, that is, the skin is renewed. With various skin diseases, this process intensifies. Scales can be separated either in very small (pityriasis-like) pieces or in plates. Depending on the underlying disease, the skin may be swollen, hyperpigmented, or, on the contrary, thin out and become almost transparent and reddish.

As we can see, flaking in Sphynx cats can be caused by a variety of factors, so it is necessary to make a diagnosis after a comprehensive examination of the cat. At home, if there are no other lesions on the skin besides peeling, you can try changing your skincare products and being more attentive to your cat’s hygiene. If there is no positive dynamics, try to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The doctors at our veterinary clinic will carefully examine your pet, perform a series of diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the flaking, and prescribe the optimal treatment.

One area of ​​the body is going bald

Baldness in the area of ​​the hind legs most often occurs with liver lesions.

If only one area is balding and there are no visible reasons for this, you should urgently consult a doctor for a full comprehensive examination.

Possible factors causing alopecia:

• allergic reaction to medications, food, dangerous contacts;
• damaged hair follicles;
• injuries;
• stress;
• failure of endocrine processes;
• liver diseases;
• avitaminosis.

Avitaminosis

For normal functioning, the cat's body requires a complex of vitamins.

For normal functioning, the cat’s body, like the human body, requires the entire complex of vitamins and minerals, and the lack of them provokes various pathological processes. A lack of vitamins of a certain group is manifested by specific symptoms characteristic of this particular pathology.

Alopecia

A lack of B vitamins in the body can cause periodic vomiting in a cat.

1. Along with the main symptom, there is a disorder of the digestive system in the form of periodic vomiting.
2. Signs of dysfunction of the nervous and muscular systems appear.
3. The animal is weak, lethargic, has an unsteady gait, and a sharp loss of weight.
4. Global deficiency of vitamin B1 is expressed by paralysis and convulsions.
5. Eliminated by eating more raw meat, bone meal, and yeast.
6. Among other things, replenishment is required through the use of special vitamin preparations.
7. Deficiency of vitamins B2 and B5 is manifested by cracks in the mucous membranes, slower growth of babies, decreased heart rate and body temperature.
8. Eliminated by consuming dairy products and foods of plant origin.
9. A lack of vitamin B12 manifests itself in more serious complications such as constipation, urination problems, enlarged liver and spleen, and intestinal colic.

Help only under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Cirrhosis of the liver

Liver cirrhosis in a cat.

As a result, a malfunction occurs, and subsequently a complete failure of all functions of the organ. There are several reasons for the appearance of this pathology.

Primary factors

Primary factors are most often caused by gradual intoxication of the body and, as a result, a large accumulation of toxins in the liver. Another reason that led to cirrhosis is hypovitaminosis of group B. With this pathology, symptoms appear after some time, as a result of the action of some aggressive factor. Provoking factors are also the failure of metabolic processes and hereditary predisposition.

Lack of food containing B vitamins can lead to cirrhosis of the liver.

Secondary factors

Infectious or invasive diseases and pathologies of the cardiovascular system act as secondary aggressors.

Infectious diseases can cause cirrhosis.

Signs

1. For a long time, the only sign of cirrhosis may be the pet’s baldness in the abdomen and hind legs.
2. Further, as the disease progresses, the abdomen becomes enlarged, which may indicate ascites.
3. The cat looks tired, shows apathy and aggressive reactions to any attempts at contact.
4. Decreased appetite, weight loss, and severe thirst.
5. Frequent urination.
6. In the final stages, convulsions, loss of coordination, and decreased vision are noted.

An enlarged abdomen may indicate ascites.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment is aimed at maintaining the heart and stopping the progression of the disease. If you refuse to eat, force-feeding is used using a drip infusion of glucose solution. Vitamin therapy and diuretics are prescribed.

If you refuse to eat, feeding with a drip solution is used.

Endocrine focal symmetric alopecia

Like most pathologies, it cannot arise independently and there are quite a lot of provoking factors: hypothyroidism, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex, diabetes. As a rule, symmetrical baldness is not accompanied by itching, although in the presence of allergic reactions such a phenomenon is quite possible, but in very rare cases.

As a rule, baldness is not accompanied by itching.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the identified pathology and is applied strictly under the supervision of a veterinarian. The owner’s only comprehensive help is timely contact with a specialist.

Treatment should be strictly under the supervision of a veterinarian.

How to treat baldness

How to treat alopecia largely depends on the diagnosis. Many mustachioed owners, when they see a bald area, scream in horror - “deprivation!” and begin to look for something to anoint. The approach is completely wrong.

For feline alopecia, complex treatment is most often prescribed. Local therapy is indicated if there is a bacterial or fungal infection.

The algorithm is as follows:

• Treatment of the underlying disease that causes hair loss in cats.
• If skin parasites are identified, drops, tablets, and shampoos are prescribed to get rid of them. The prognosis is good if antiparasitic treatments are carried out regularly.
• For infections, a course of antibiotics.
• In case of an allergic reaction, the allergen is eliminated. If your cat has a food allergy, review the diet and eliminate it. The prognosis is good if the food is chosen correctly. If the allergen is not identified, the prognosis for recovery is cautious.
• If it's stress, the cause should be ruled out. With proper behavior correction, the prognosis is satisfactory. The therapy is long-term and requires patience from the owner.
• If tumors occur, surgical intervention is required. Timely surgery gives the right to make a positive prognosis. In advanced cases, the animal is not operated on.

Regardless of the reason, it is additionally necessary to strengthen the animal’s immunity. Sometimes the question arises about selecting a diet in accordance with age, state of health, and physiology.

Alopecia, or feline hair loss: what is it?

All cats shed twice a year, and this is the norm. How to distinguish: is it molting (the process when the fur is renewed) or pathology (baldness of the animal)? To do this, you need to know how the disease manifests itself, what its prerequisites are and in what cases the owner needs to sound the alarm.

Alopecia is the name given to abnormal hair loss in cats, as a result of which bald spots are formed on the animal's body - areas with absolutely no hair. The fur may fall out in clumps, forming bald areas on the animal's head, ears, and paws. Having noticed such areas, the owner should immediately take the pet to an appointment with a veterinarian. Baldness can be a signal of serious problems in the animal’s body.

But this should not be confused with hair loss, which normally occurs in all healthy felines. Cats lose their fur during:

• molting (a seasonal change of “coat” occurs twice a year; cats usually shed more than males);
• stress (the animal may shed some hair due to excitement);
• age-related changes (old animals lose hair and whiskers);
• frequent bathing (this is why it is recommended to bathe the animal only if necessary; twice a year is quite enough).

At the same time, the wool does not come out in clumps, without forming bald spots. But the disease has slightly different symptoms.

Causes of alopecia

Baldness of a cat's paws is observed mainly when:

1. avitaminosis;
2. allergic reactions;
3. the presence of ectoparasites;
4. endocrine disorders;
5. liver and kidney diseases.

Excessive hair loss in a pet, which occurs as a result of a lack of vitamins (the symptom is especially pronounced with vitamin B deficiency). In this case, alopecia is accompanied by periodic vomiting, slower growth and weight gain, and disruption of the muscular and nervous systems.

Allergies in cats most often occur to components of food or litter. With a specific immune response, in addition to baldness of the paws, skin hyperemia, the appearance of peeling and rashes are noted.

Ectoparasites (fleas, ticks) cause severe itching of the skin, as a result of which the cat constantly itches and licks itself and baldness is observed in these areas.

Endocrine pathologies occur mainly in castrated and sterilized cats, since after removal of the glands that produce sex hormones, shifts are noted and the balance of hormones is disturbed.

Liver diseases develop as a result of constant intoxication of the body, diseases of the cardiovascular system, hereditary predisposition, group B hypovitaminosis, as well as some invasive or infectious diseases. Most often, the answer to the question of why a cat’s belly and hind legs go bald is liver disease – mainly cirrhosis.

What it is?

The term “alopecia” in this case refers to hair loss, and it can be either local or massive, systemic. Simply put, this is baldness. In cats, this “disease” is quite common, and the causes of this disorder cannot be identified in all cases... However, such a pathology as psychogenic alopecia in cats has already been fully studied and confirmed. It occurs in the most “finely organized” animals.

Most often, chronic or very severe stress (even short-term) leads to this outcome. Cats are very sensitive animals to changes in their environment, so many things can cause it. Hair loss often begins suddenly, and within a couple of days your pet becomes a “Sphynx”, regardless of its original breed.

Food allergy in cats: symptoms and treatment (photo)

Most often, a variety of food products act as allergens. Among them:

• sweets;
• bright vegetables and fruits;
• meat;
• dairy products (cottage cheese, sour cream, cream, etc.);
• eggs;
• corn.

At the same time, they can provoke irritation not only in their “pure” form, but also when they are part of dry food. For example, cheap economy-class products constantly contain cereals and vegetable cakes, as well as corn and harmful additives that can lead to an allergic reaction.

All cat owners should closely monitor the condition of their pets and stop thoughtlessly overfeeding animals with natural products and poor-quality “drying” at the first signs of deterioration in their pet’s well-being. Warning signals cannot be ignored. If you can't find the source of the problem on your own, go to the vet.

Symptoms of food allergies:

• wet eczema on the neck, abdomen, inner thighs;
• severe itching;
• discharge from the eyes and nose;
• in some cases, severe hair loss in the affected areas is possible;
• swelling of the larynx and difficulty breathing (if this symptom appears, urgent veterinary assistance is required).

The following treatment is possible, carried out exclusively under the supervision of a doctor:

Purpose of a special diet - the cat is transferred to a special food, all natural products are excluded from the diet.

Use of antibiotics as prescribed by a specialist.

Daily treatment of affected areas with special preparations that have a disinfectant and antimicrobial effect.

A bath with a special shampoo together with treating the animal against ectoparasites.

After completing the course of treatment, it is necessary to bring the animal back to see the attending physician. As a rule, after severe allergic reactions to natural food, the cat is switched to dry food, selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.

Only a doctor can tell you how to treat a cat’s allergies. Therefore, if your pet rubs against all corners and cannot find relief from the itching, and its skin is covered with wounds and begins to get wet, immediately go to an experienced veterinarian. Remember: the health of your beloved purr is in your hands.

Hair loss in cats due to skin diseases

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Such diseases usually result in patchy loss of hair and skin. The affected areas itch, and scratches can fester. This is what causes baldness.

• Fleas. Because of them, the cat begins to itch and can bite off the fur in shreds. The animal gets stressed, loses weight, and is constantly angry.
• Ticks. In this case, the cat has bald spots on its face, ears, and front legs. The animal scratches itself due to severe itching.
• Lichen. On the animal's body it appears in the form of rounded lesions with stubs of hairs. The red skin is covered with scales, the cat is constantly itching. This kind of lichen is dangerous for humans.
• Allergy. The pet’s immune system may react inadequately to antibiotics, household chemicals, plants, food, metals, etc. The cat often itches and red patches appear on the skin. Allergies are sometimes accompanied by tears, runny nose, and ear inflammation.
• Seborrhea. With a congenital or acquired disease, dandruff appears on the cat's fur. Itching is constantly provoked by scratching. Areas of baldness appear on the animal, which are covered with small scales.
• Adenitis. This disease, associated with inflammation of the sebaceous glands, is inherited. Most often it occurs in kittens and older animals. It causes bald spots to appear on the neck, ears and paws. If the disease is started, it will spread along the back to the tail. Its lesions are sticky, yellowish or gray.
• Alopecia areata. With this autoimmune pathology, bald patches periodically appear and gradually grow. Lesions occur on the thighs, abdomen, and groin. There is no itching.

What causes a cat to go bald, what happens to it

Cats go bald for various reasons.

These include:

pregnancy or stress. During pregnancy, lactation, or due to severe stress, a cat may begin to lose fur. But there is no need for treatment; after a while it will grow again;

• baldness above the eyes. At the age of 14 to 20 months, cats, especially dark shorthaired cats, begin to lose hair above their eyes. This process is natural and, if there is no redness, treatment is also not required;
• side effect of the medicine. Sometimes baldness occurs after taking medications;
• consequences of the injection. Sometimes baldness occurs in the area where the injection was given after a couple of months. In addition, there may be skin thickening and hyperpigmentation. Everything also goes away on its own;
• fleas. There are varieties of fleas that cause baldness.

• ringworm. Signs (in addition to hair loss): peeling of the skin, the appearance of crusts, and sometimes itching;
• allergy/contact dermatitis. It happens that a cat develops an allergy from antibiotics or some food component, as well as from interaction with certain materials, metals, and chemicals. In addition to hair loss, redness, bumps, and itching occur;
• solar dermatosis. This reaction to sunlight usually occurs in white cats. It goes away on its own (although the animal will need to avoid sunlight), but sometimes medications are also necessary. Symptoms: hair falls out, redness occurs, crusts and sores appear on the nose and ears;

cheyletiellosis. The causative agent is a tick. The cat itches a lot, but if the disease has not worsened significantly, hair loss is usually minimal;

Important! Ticks easily climb onto other animals and even people.

folliculitis. Infectious disease of hair follicles, occurring on the face, neck, head, accompanied by itching, hair loss;

hyperthyroidism. It happens due to increased secretion of thyroid hormones. With this disease, the fur is easily pulled out and falls out profusely, the cat itches and licks a lot, which causes irritation on the skin;

neurogenic dermatitis. Due to stress, anxiety, or boredom, a cat may lick itself a lot. As a rule, fur loss is symmetrical. To heal, you need to understand the cause of the stressful condition;

alopecia areata. An autoimmune disease that goes away on its own. Fur falls out on the head, neck, body (without itching).

• seborrhea. It can be congenital or acquired (after feline leukemia virus, infectious peritonitis, feline immunodeficiency virus, ringworm, parasites). It manifests itself in different ways: scales appear on the skin, the fur becomes very dry/oily, an unpleasant odor occurs, hair loss occurs;
• hyperadrenocorticism. Caused by elevated levels of corticosteroids (occurs not only for natural reasons, but also as a result of prolonged hormonal treatment). Signs: baldness, thinning of the skin, hyperpigmentation, comedones, bruises;

demodicosis (glandular acne). A tick-borne infection that affects the face and neck. If demodicosis is generalized, this indicates immunodeficiency. Symptoms: baldness, the appearance of scales, redness, itching;

polymorphic erythema. It appears due to increased sensitivity to a medication or infection, and may be one of the manifestations of oncology or other diseases. There is loss of fur, blisters (near the mouth, ears, groin, armpits), and sometimes ulcers. Sometimes the temperature rises and apathy appears.

Important! There are many causes of baldness and medications are not always necessary. But still, do not self-treat; be sure to take your pet to a veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis.

What to do with a “mentally unstable” cat?

Carefully evaluate your pet's living conditions, paying attention to the slightest changes that could cause baldness. Even a new diet or litter tray are “good” causes of alopecia in cats. If your work schedule has changed, as a result of which your cat spends days and nights in splendid isolation, sitting in the apartment, then you should not be surprised at the massive hair loss.

There is no need to immediately start feeding your pet sedatives. It may be possible to find an alternative solution. So, if the changes in the cat’s environment are not so critical and “monumental” (a new litter box, for example), you just need to be patient: soon everything will return to normal, and your pet’s fur will grow back.

But what if you simply have to rarely be at home? Then, no matter how strange it may seem, it’s worth getting a second cat. Yes, this is a very unique “treatment” at home: at first there will be fights and quarrels, which are also a strong stress factor, but at least the cat will not be alone all the time. If your pet is okay with dogs, we recommend getting a puppy. A cat (especially a young one) will have a playmate. Pets in such conditions quickly become best friends.

Psychogenic alopecia

Hair loss in cats can be psychogenic in nature. That is, the cause in this case is obsessive behavior. For no apparent reason, a completely healthy, well-fed and well-groomed cat goes bald in a short time. With careful observation, the owner may notice some features: the cat is overly preoccupied with grooming procedures.

When a cat constantly licks, bites and pulls out fur, it not only violates the integrity of the coat, but also injures the skin. In bald areas, areas of redness, sores and sores may form. To get rid of the pain, the animal licks the injured areas even more, which only worsens the situation.

This behavior is called biased. If a cat is in a stressful situation for a long time, for example, he cannot catch a bird outside the window, or is limited in physical activity, he shifts the action to himself, as if he is self-soothing. The most common expression of biased behavior is “self-grooming.”

The reasons that cause psychogenic baldness can be very different:

• Isolation and limitation of physical activity.
• The appearance of a new member in the family - it can be a new pet or a newborn baby. The focus of attention shifts to the “new guy,” and this fact causes negative emotions in the cat.
• Separation from owner or family members.
• Repair or relocation.
• Boredom.

These problems can be avoided if you pay enough attention to the cat: play with it often, caress it, provide conditions for normal physical activity, and take care of its psychological comfort.

Baldness treatment

Depending on the root cause of the baldness of the cat’s paws, an appropriate therapeutic regimen is selected.

• In case of vitamin deficiencies, it is necessary to adjust the diet and add special vitamin and mineral complexes to the diet of a cat who is severely balding.
• In case of allergies, it is enough to eliminate the foreign protein and the pet’s fur will become shiny and thick again.
• If the cause of baldness of the paws is ectoparasites, then it is necessary to get rid of them with the help of special veterinary drugs and the cat’s coat will be restored.
• When a cat goes bald due to endocrine disorders, treatment consists of prescribing hormonal medications to the pet.
• For liver pathologies, maintenance therapy is prescribed, which will eliminate intoxication of the body, help the liver cope with its functions, and also prevent the progression of the pathology and the development of secondary diseases.

When a cat becomes bald on its stomach near its paws, it is very important to correctly diagnose and choose treatment. Otherwise, the animal’s condition may worsen and, in addition to baldness, there will be loss of appetite, depression, impaired coordination, vision, and convulsions.

Why does a cat's belly go bald?

Representatives of the cat family are characterized by periodic renewal of their coat. But if large bald patches become noticeable on the animal’s body, the owners need to worry about the health of the tailed animal. Baldness is otherwise called alopecia. With this pathology, cats may experience large amounts of hair loss all over their body and on their paws.

If a cat's belly is severely balding, this may indicate a malfunction of some organ or system of the body. It is also worth noting that alopecia is usually not an independent disease, but only signals the appearance of some other pathology.

Symptoms

Even an inexperienced owner will be able to determine the moment when his cat begins to go bald. During this period, the amount of animal fur in the apartment increases, and bald patches appear on parts of the pet’s body.

You can try to identify the causes of baldness on your own. To do this, you need to carefully examine your pet's skin. With some diseases, the animal may develop a characteristic itching. Your cat may often scratch the bald spot. More serious illnesses appear as sores, scabs, or peeling skin. In some cases, small bumps may appear.

Even if there are no visible reasons for a cat to have hair growing on its belly, it is necessary to take the animal to a veterinarian for a comprehensive examination.

Diagnostics

It's not always easy to understand why a cat suddenly started going bald. Usually the exact cause of the pathology is established by excluding all possible causes for baldness.

It is worth carefully examining the animal, paying special attention to the abdomen, hind and front legs. It is necessary to assess the condition of hairs in the coat

Also estimate how large an area is affected by the patch of baldness. Is there a border to the bald area, or has the animal’s coat simply thinned out? It is necessary to exclude infectious and fungal infections of the skin.

If your cat has recently had surgery, alopecia may occur at the site of the suture. Sometimes hair falls out in areas of the body where the animal has been injected with medications.

Baldness due to pancreatitis

It is difficult to imagine that a cat could develop bald patches due to chronic pancreatitis. This disease, even with a sluggish course, is accompanied by diarrhea, indigestion, fatigue and lethargy of the animal. Also, with this disease, the cat becomes bald on the back and other parts of the body.

ATTENTION! The presence of pancreatitis in an animal, due to which its fur on its tail, back, and between its hind legs is thinning, can be determined not only by frequent diarrhea, but also by rumbling in the stomach.

Examination by a veterinarian and diagnosis

The effectiveness of treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis. As mentioned above, you should definitely contact a special clinic. Prescribing medications yourself is very dangerous. From such “treatment” the cat may lose all its fur.

At the veterinary hospital, your pet will be able to undergo the necessary examinations. One of the main tests is a trichogram. Thanks to it, they receive information about the condition of the coat, making the first conclusions about the causes of the disease.

To care for a cat, you need to know what a furminator is for, whether cats need clothes, everything about mating cats, how to choose a comfortable carrier, whether you need to sterilize a cat, how to trim a cat’s claws, how to make toys for a cat with your own hands, how to give birth to a cat how to make a scratching post.

Did you know? Smuggling cats from ancient Egypt was punishable by death.

How to treat the disease?

To quickly cure a cat, you need to know the source of the disease and why the cat’s hair came out. If a cat suffers from baldness due to allergies, then the owner must protect the pet from the irritant. Afterwards, the cat is prescribed histamines, immune system stimulants and hypoallergenic products. If the source is parasites, then bald spots on the tail, back, and legs are treated with ointment against ticks or fleas. In addition, the veterinarian prescribes medications that improve the functioning of the immune system. For endocrine diseases, drugs are used that restore the action of the glands. If alopecia in cats is caused by an abscess, then antiseptics and antibiotics are prescribed.

Reasons for the appearance of bald spots in cats

Usually, due to illness or other physiological disorders in the animal's body, a bald spot remains on the neck, near the hind legs. Only after an examination at a veterinary clinic can the causes of baldness in cats be determined.

• Cat baldness can appear due to allergies to medications, certain types of food or products, or to hair care products.
• The fur sometimes peels off due to insect bites , but not all cat owners know about this. Flea bites may not go away without leaving a trace, although they are considered something minor.
• If your furry pet's back or other part of the body is peeling, this may indicate that the animal has experienced severe stress - fright, for example, or moving to a new place of residence.
• Among the causes of baldness are endocrine diseases, abdominal trauma, and pyoderma .
• Among the specific causes is feline symmetrical alopecia .

It is necessary to ensure that the cat does not lick the fur on its belly and paws too diligently and often; this can also cause damage to the hair follicles, their weakening, and hair loss.

Baldness treatment

Depending on the root cause of the baldness of the cat’s paws, an appropriate therapeutic regimen is selected.

• In case of vitamin deficiencies, it is necessary to adjust the diet and add special vitamin and mineral complexes to the diet of a cat who is severely balding.
• In case of allergies, it is enough to eliminate the foreign protein and the pet’s fur will become shiny and thick again.
• If the cause of baldness of the paws is ectoparasites, then it is necessary to get rid of them with the help of special veterinary drugs and the cat’s coat will be restored.
• When a cat goes bald due to endocrine disorders, treatment consists of prescribing hormonal medications to the pet.
• For liver pathologies, maintenance therapy is prescribed, which will eliminate intoxication of the body, help the liver cope with its functions, and also prevent the progression of the pathology and the development of secondary diseases.

When a cat becomes bald on its stomach near its paws, it is very important to correctly diagnose and choose treatment. Otherwise, the animal’s condition may worsen and, in addition to baldness, there will be loss of appetite, depression, impaired coordination, vision, and convulsions.

Principles of treatment

When starting to treat allergies, it is necessary to identify the allergen.

Reactions to flea and other insect bites can be eliminated by local treatment of the skin and hair with insecticidal agents. Particularly popular are drops on the withers - Bars, Barrier-super, Frontline.

Food allergies are eliminated by eliminating hazardous foods from the diet and prescribing antihistamines. Dust – creating conditions for a comfortable living of the animal: regular wet cleaning of the premises, cleanliness of the habitat.

Atopic dermatitis, due to the genetic nature of the disease and its chronic long-term course, is treated throughout life using maintenance therapy and the prevention of secondary pathologies.

The most common disease of the pancreas is pancreatitis. Since baldness can occur only with severe pancreatitis, treatment consists of intensive care, namely:

• elimination of pain – antispasmodics, painkillers, anesthetics, analgesics;
• combating dehydration - saline, colloidal solutions, droppers, injections;
• reduction in the production of destructive secretions - atropine and analogues;
• relieving edema and slowing down pancreatic functions - hormones, ribonuclease;
• removal of intoxication;
• severe case - surgical intervention.

Following a diet containing foods that have enveloping properties is mandatory.

Pyoderma and bald spots.

Help for pyoderma consists of a complex of therapeutic measures: local treatment, oral medication, injections, herbal medicine. For local treatment, anti-inflammatory gels, tinctures, streptocidal ointment, Cefakure, Maxidin are prescribed.

Antibiotics – Tylozolin, Lincomycin hydrochloride, Clindomycin, Cephalexin, Erythromycin. Gamma globulins, Staphylococcal anatoxin, Evinton, Neoferon, Bactoneotim. Healing drugs – Gamavit, Katazol.

Herbal medicine – chamomile, celandine, calendula, sage, eucalyptus.

Hyperthyroidism

The goal of treatment for hyperthyroidism is to reduce the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

There are two main treatment methods available: drug support throughout the entire life cycle and surgical removal of the gland. Long-term use of medications that inhibit the production of thyroid hormones containing thiourea is indicated. Medicines that support the functioning of the heart and the entire vascular system. Medicines that support kidney function.

Treatment of hypothyroidism comes down, first of all, to replenishing the deficiency of the hormone that led to the disease. The main drug prescribed for pathology is Levothyroxine sodium. The dose is selected individually for each animal, depending on the existing deficiency and body weight. The course for complete recovery is designed for four weeks of use. At the same time, we can take drugs that slow down the binding of serum proteins - glucocorticoids, salicylates.