Facial Alopecia in Cats

Cats are intricately designed creatures, possessing faces in many different colors and patterns. The fur on a cat's face is particularly soft, and many cat owners ease daily stress by stroking their cat's cheeks and scratching its chin. Unless your cat is a sphynx-bred feline, the fur on the face should be plentiful. If your cat begins to lose its facial fur, a condition known as alopecia, there is an underlying cause that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

  1. Causes

    • Underlying causes of facial alopecia include the autoimmune disorder alopecia areata, erythema multiforme (which might be caused by cancer or other disease), the rare conditions of apocrine sweat gland cysts and sebaceous adenitis, mange, allergies and, believe it or not, sunburn. Cats ranging from 14 to 20 months old begin to lose the fur between the tops of the eyes to their ears--this type of facial alopecia is normal.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosis of the underlying cause of the alopecia is critical in determining the appropriate treatment for the fur loss. PetEducation.com indicates that examinations may include skin scrapings for microscopic analysis, skin biopsies, blood work to determine underlying allergies or disease, a complete review of the feline's medical history and, if alopecia areata is suspected, microscopic examination of the cat's fur.

    Treatment

    • Treatment of facial alopecia varies. If alopecia areata is the culprit, no treatment is necessary because the feline will recover on its own. Erythema multiforme has numerous underlying causes and treatment is dependent upon them. An apocrine sweat gland cyst is surgically removed, and sebaceous adenitis treatment includes special shampoos, fatty acids and steroids. Mange is treated with pesticides to kill the mites. Allergy treatment is dependent upon the allergen and should your cat be suffering from a sunburn, limit its sun exposure.

    Considerations

    • It is important to take your cat to the vet if it begins to lose the fur on its face because the underlying cause of alopecia is a sign of whether the feline is suffering from a far more serious condition than just losing its furry face. Because facial alopecia suggests in some cases that the feline has a compromised immune system or cancer, early detection of the underlying cause is critical in the success of any prescribed treatment.

    Warning

    • PetEducation.com warns that proper diagnosis may not be quick and easy, so both you and your cat must be patient and understand that a battery of tests may be forthcoming. This is because allergies, for example, cannot be treated effectively until the exact allergen is determined. The same thing for mange; identifying the actual mite is critical in successfully treating the condition. In the long run, this works out best for your cat because once appropriate treatment is facilitated, your cat's facial fur should begin to grow back and you will both be happier.