Why Cats Go Bald in Old Age

Cats advancing in age often experience physical changes in coat and skin. Some cats' coats turn gray, while other cats develop thinning or balding patches on their coat. Age naturally causes skin dryness, which can change fur texture or cause fur to fall out. Seek your veterinarian's advice in order to find out why your cat is experiencing balding. Nutritional and environmental factors can cause balding, along with stress or disease.

  1. Allergies

    • Allergies are the most common reason for hair loss in felines. Food allergies, allergic reactions to fleas and allergies to other substances -- including, grass, shampoos, dust mites and pollen -- also contribute to balding in aged cats. Incessant scratching could cause fur to fall out in sections, resulting in balding patches instead of balding patterns evenly distributed throughout the cat's coat.

    Nutritional Deficiencies

    • Nutritional deficiencies can be caused by a low-quality diet or intestinal parasites. Circular balding sections could indicate ringworm. Look for gray or red lesions or patches within the balding sections that could indicate the presence of ringworm. If you suspect ringworm, quarantine the feline from other pets immediately, as ringworm is contagious. Feed your cat a high-quality diet as directed by your veterinarian. Your cat's veterinarian may advise a vitamin supplement.

    Stress

    • Anxiety and stress are factors causing hair loss and balding in cats. Stress can be caused by environmental factors or illness-related circumstances. Illnesses including Cushing's disease and Addison's disease can lead to hair loss for aging cats. These diseases can cause an elevated thirst or hunger. Balding due to illness or stress often occurs in one area of the coat, such as one side of the body.

    Hypothyroidism

    • Feline hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) is rare; however, when the disease does appear, it often affects cats that re middle-age or older, following hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland). Even though hypothyroidism is not life-threatening, it can cause your cat's coat to become thin, matted or dull, or to develop balding spots. With hypothyroidism, hair-producing cells slow down, causing hair growth to decrease and thinning and baldness to increase. Hypothyroidism is difficult to diagnose as it occurs slowly over time. Other symptoms can include weight gain, lethargy, excessive thirst, aggression and depression.