What Happens If Your Cat Starts to Lose Its Fur?

A thick and colorful fur coat is a distinguishing feature on many cat breeds. It is not just a mark of beauty, but also stands out as a sign of good health and vitality. If a cat starts to lose large amounts of hair, it can be concerning for cat owners. Extreme hair loss in a cat is a sign of a serious illness and getting medical attention for it right away is important.

  1. Importance of Fur

    • A healthy fur coat for cat is essential to good health. Fur on a cat helps it to regulate its body temperature. If a cat lives in an outside environment, fur will help it keep cool on hot days and warm on cold days. Cats will commonly shed hair when the seasons change so their bodies can grow either a thinner or thicker coat of hair to adapt to the conditions of their environment. A cat that loses excess amounts of hair will struggle to adapt to changes in temperature and weather and can be prone to developing serious health problems beyond the ones causing the hair loss.

    Allergies

    • Hair loss in some cats can be traced to a form of allergies. A common form of feline allergies resulting in hair loss is flea allergy dermatitis. This condition occurs when a cat has an allergic reaction to flea saliva from a flea bite. It is marked by intense itching, spots of redness and hair loss in the the flea-bitten areas. A cat with this condition will usually cause the hair loss itself by excessively licking the irritated spot. The most useful remedy is for a veterinarian to give the cat steroids or antihistamine shots to stop the allergic reaction and then to use flea collars on the cat and flea spray in the cat's environment. Many other types of allergies can also be treated through steroids and antihistamines and eliminating the allergen from the cat's environment. If it is a food allergy, a change in diet is required.

    Infections

    • Infections can be an underlying cause of hair loss for cats. Ringworm, a common fungal infection in felines, can be identified through symptoms that include hair loss and scaly or crusty patches tinged with redness. Ringworm is a contagious infection that can be transmitted to humans. It requires treatment by a veterinarian immediately. Ingestion of toxic plants or other foreign materials can result in infections such as granulomas which cause hair loss, ulcers, secondary infections and formation of hard lumps throughout the skin. The best way to deal with these infections is through surgery to remove the toxic material and antibiotics to help eliminate the infection from the body.

    Stress

    • In some cases hair loss can be tied to an emotional or psychological condition in a cat. A feline condition called psychogenic alopecia is characterized by compulsive self-grooming. It can cause symmetrical hair loss on the abdomen, near the groin and along the back. Ulcers may also form as a result. Causes of this condition can be traced to anxiety, boredom or fear. Stress is also a common factor. Female cats who are new mothers can lose hair from the stress of caring for their kittens. Other cats can lose hair from stress over having a new person or animal added to the household. The best way to deal with stress-induced hair loss is to reduce the stressful element in the feline's life. Once it acclimates, it can reduce the need for over-grooming and hair loss.