Hair loss in cats, why and what you need to know

 


Hair loss in cats, in general, is a natural process, much like daily hair loss in humans. If you are a cat or cat owner, then most likely, hairballs have long been a part of your interior, while the cat's hairline has not diminished. This is affected, firstly, by the cellular renewal of all body tissues, including hair, and secondly, by the seasonal molting of animals after a period of winter "warm-up".

When to worry. Worrying symptoms

However, the hair loss that is common in cats for many people can develop into a more serious problem – baldness, which is also called alopecia. How do you know when it's time to take action? To begin with, you should pay attention to the following symptoms:

  • the cat is constantly itching and shows obvious anxiety;
  • wool falls out in clumps or in much larger quantities than usual;
  • there are bald spots that are not overgrown with wool, the stomach most often suffers;
  • hairless areas appear symmetrical on different sides;
  • the cat's skin color changes everywhere or in certain areas;
  • the animal constantly licks the prolapse focus;
  • ear or 1 ear becomes inflamed and bald;
  • bald tail, belly or back.

ATTENTION! Do not try to self-diagnose, as the same symptoms can be indicators of simple and serious diseases. For example, redness with itching can be a superficial allergic and parasitic lesion of the external integuments or internal organs.

Causes and treatment of hair loss in cats

Usually, the cause of hair loss in cats is a disease that cannot be cured on its own, without the help of a veterinarian. Some of the main factors that affect hair loss in cats include:

  1. The most common are stress, vitamin deficiency and heredity. Poor nutrition, fatigue, nervous disorders (for example, switching to a different owner if the cat is lost, or a bald cat is often threatened) affect the state of the body, leading to excessive hair loss.
  2. Chronic (possibly hereditary) diseases of the internal organs: stomach, liver, intestines (stomach goes bald).
  3. Allergic reaction. Also very common. The animal's immune system may not function properly:
    • with insect bites inject their saliva (fleas, ticks, bed bugs);
    • when using detergents for the home or for pet hygiene;
    • with  the  wrong  choice of litter for cat litter  (paws, groin, stomach suffer);
    • in the absence of fresh air or large smoke in the room;
    • when choosing low-quality food or feeding a cat some products “off the table” (most often these are foods with dyes, flavor enhancers and flavorings).

URGENT! The first thing owners should look out for is the animal's contact with household chemicals, shampoos, or various types of sprays.

  1. Tumors that are malignant or benign. In addition, they can occur both on the skin, changing its structure, and on internal organs, also causing baldness in certain areas (stomach, back, groin).
  2. Infectious and parasitic diseases. These include feline mange, abscesses (purulent lesions of the skin or other soft tissue), pyoderma (bacterial purulent lesions), lichens, and ear mites.
  3. Hormonal imbalance (endocrine system problem) and cat tail baldness. This is noted here:
    • excess or, conversely, insufficient production of hormones by the thyroid gland;
    • changes in hormone levels in diabetes mellitus;
    • adrenal gland failure.
  4. Mechanical damage to the skin: burns, injuries when jumping or climbing trees, contact with sharp objects.

How to determine the cause

Perhaps an ordinary veterinarian will not be able to accurately determine why a cat is going bald, and he should be taken to a dermatologist. Most often, the diagnosis is not difficult, but there are cases when diagnosis and baldness require study and observation. A visual examination may not be enough, and additional measures will be required, during which the doctor will prescribe the following manipulations:

  • perform blood tests and cytology;
  • hormonal research;
  • perform an ultrasound of internal organs (if you suspect a tumor or an increase in internal organs);
  • trichoscopy (hairline examination);
  • scraping microscope;
  • luminous diagnostics;
  • bacteriological plants.

URGENT! Some diseases that cause baldness cannot be cured permanently, and sometimes therapy requires persistence and a long time of care, so the owner must be ready to meet all the requirements, patiently help his pet and even accept the fact that the cat will go bald. bare stomach.

Treatment and prevention of hair loss

As with any disease, the main thing is to identify the cause and, if possible, eliminate it. If hair loss is due to the use of products, feed or contact with insects, it is easy to fix it by removing allergens and removing parasites with the help of special shampoos (with a composition of 1% selenium sulfide). More serious illnesses can be cured with medications prescribed by a veterinarian, antibiotics, ear drops, special feed additives, drugs to strengthen the immune system, and a special diet.

In some cases (  ringworm  ), the animal's hair is shaved as quickly as possible and an antifungal agent is used – itraconazole or ketoconazole or the antibiotic griseofulfin.

To treat and torment a cat, it is still not necessary, it is better to know about such cat diseases and prevent their occurrence. The owner is quite capable of:

  • feed the cat properly;
  • eliminate or minimize stress;
  • avoid contact with infected animals;
  • during vaccination;
  • monitor the fur, ears, eyes and general condition of the pet;
  • timely rid the cat of parasites.

Helping a suffering animal is the duty of every owner. Indeed, in addition to hair loss, baldness can cause itching and inflammation of the skin. Let your cat purr again peacefully in her favorite spot, and you won't have to throw away the fallen wool lumps again.

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