Bald Spots & Sneezing in a Cat

A cat suffering from bald spots and sneezing could be having an allergic reaction to something in the house or the yard or could be simultaneously experiencing an upper repiratory infection and some other issue such as ringworm or mange, especially if it is a shelter or rescue cat.

  1. Allergies

    • If a cat is sneezing and developing bald spots because of allergies, then the bald spots will actually be a side effect of grooming too much. If the cat feels itchy and uncomfortable because of the allergies, it might groom and scratch itself so much that its hair actually starts to fall out. Allergic reactions are usually caused by something specific the cat has been exposed to, but this could be anything from an insect bite to a cat food additive, so it is very difficult to establish a definite cause.

    Upper Respiratory Infections

    • Upper respiratory infections - usually referred to as "colds" - are frequently found in cats adopted from shelters who may also be carrying other infections that might cause bald spots. A cat with a cold will sneeze and refuse to eat its food. The reason the cat is refusing to eat is that its nose is stuffed up, and cats rely on their sense of smell to tell them whether something is or isn't food in the first place. It's important to make sure the cat does eat some food, so one option is to feed it a can of tuna. The fishy smell can be strong enough for the cat to smell the food through its stuffed-up nose. Even though a cold is not usually seen as being significant, the vet should still be called because cats with colds develop secondary infections.

    Ringworm

    • Many rescue cats and shelter cats also have ringworm, which is actually not caused by a parasitical worm but a fungal infection. Ringworm can cause bald spots with scab-covered welts. If a cat is sneezing and has bald spots with red or gray welts near the head or the tail, it may have both an upper respiratory infection and a case of ringworm, particularly if allergies can be ruled out.

    Mange

    • Mange and other skin conditions can also cause bald spots in a cat, although they would not normally cause sneezing at the same time. Mange is caused by small parasites that dig under the skin of the cat. Although mange can cause a cat to lose some hair, the symptoms are often much more severe than a few bald spots, including a bad smell and blood. Regardless of which symptoms it has, a sneezing cat with bald spots should be taken to the vet as soon as possible. Only the vet can really provide an accurate diagnosis.