Reasons for Cat Hair Loss

Parasites

• Because of their dense fur, cats are a perfect host for parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites. Cats can also present with allergies to these parasites; specifically to the saliva of fleas. A cat with an allergy to fleas will have red crusty bumps and hair loss. This condition causes severe itching and a cat can develop a bacterial infection as a result of scratching. (See Reference 1.)

Allergies

• Like humans, a cat can be allergic to various things in her environment like dust, pollen and mold. These allergies can result in hair loss. Excessive scratching will worsen hair loss. Veterinarians can perform tests and treat specific allergies with steroids and antihistamines.

  Cats can also experience food allergies. Food allergy symptoms often present themselves the same as environmental allergies including hair loss. Only a veterinarian can properly diagnose the specific cause. The best way to overcome a food allergy is to put your cat on a diet that includes only one type of food and gradually add other types back in. See you veterinarian for instructions. (See Reference 1.)

Ringworm

• Ringworm is not a parasite the way the name sounds. It is, in fact, a fungal infection that causes hair loss in cats and can be spread to humans. Ringworm is a small red ring with a white center. It is normally treated with a topical ointment and quite easy to cure. Hair will grow back in once the Ringworm is gone. (See Reference 1.)

Endocrine Alopecia

• Feline endocrine alopecia is ultimately a hormonal problem and thought to be the result of a hormone deficiency in cats. This type of hair loss is rare, but most often seen in spayed and neutered cats that are middle-aged. The hair loss occurs on the lower abdomen, inside back legs and around the genitals. The hair may grow back completely only to fall out again. There is no treatment for this condition. This form of hair loss doesn't result in the severe itching as presented in other forms of cat alopecia. (See Reference 2.)

Psychogenic Alopecia

• Also known as excessive grooming, psychogenic alopecia is when a cat grooms itself more often than the normal 5 to 25 percent with no real goal. This excessive grooming often results in hair loss and is thought to be caused by stress or boredom. Psychogenic alopecia is a psychological disorder which is the result of stresses such as moving to a new home or a sudden change in schedule. There is no test to determine this diagnosis. It is diagnosed by ruling out other causes for cat alopecia. The simple treatment is to spend more time with your cat. Setting aside as little as 10 minutes twice per day of playtime can reduce this behavior. (See Reference 3.)