For many ailments in a cat, the sooner the illness is treated, the better the chances the cat will recover. One way to know if a cat needs to see a veterinarian is if it suddenly starts losing large clumps of hair, even to the point of having bald patches. Cats lose hair for various reasons, including physical and behavioral problems.
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Infections
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According to "The Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook," one of the most common reasons for a cat to lose hair is because he has picked up a bacterial or fungal infection. The fungal infection ringworm is very common, especially in kittens or very old cats with immunity problems. Folliculitis is a rare bacterial infection of the hair follicles in a cat.
Behavior
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Middle-aged or older cats can be prone to psychogenic alopecia. This means that the reason they are balding is because they have picked up the habit of over-grooming or even pulling their own fur out. Bald patches are usually on the back and on the lower legs, where it's easier for the cat to reach. The cause is usually stress.
Hormones
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When the body is under-producing or over-producing hormones, often the result is that the cat's coat will begin to thin or have bald spots. Problems of the thyroid, such as hypothyroidism, cause hair repair and regrowth to come to a near standstill. If the cat's adrenal glands are malfunctioning, then they can be putting out too much of the hormone cortisol, which also darkens the cat's skin in addition to producing noticeable loss of hair.
Allergies
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Allergies to pollen, food ingredients, flea saliva, house dust, mold, certain medications or laundry detergents can trigger the cat to scratch more often, causing her to lose noticeable patches of hair. Take the cat to see your veterinarian in order to get a proper diagnosis, and then eliminate the allergen. If the cat's scratching has actually broken her skin, she may need antibiotics as well to prevent infection.
Medications
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Some medications (topical, oral or injectable) can cause a cat to lose a noticeable amount of fur. According to "Causes of Hair Loss (Alopecia) in Cats," by Holly Nash, DVM (see Resources), these medications include chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, sulfonamides and cephalosporins. Also, other symptoms often accompany hair loss, such as sudden open wounds, crustiness on the skin or reddened skin.
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