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If you think your cat is in pain at the base of their tail, they may be injured, or if they’re older, they may be suffering from arthritis. Take them to the vet as soon as possible, as many options for pain relief could stop the over-grooming. They also have dirty mouths, and unfortunately, they have sharp teeth to fight with. Cat bite abscesses are very commonly found at the base of the tail due to how cats fight.
How Veterinarians Diagnose Cat Hair Loss
However, cats can experience too much hair loss and develop bald spots or areas with thin fur. This abnormal hair loss (also called Alopecia) can be caused by many different health issues, including allergies, fleas, mites, Ringworm, pain, and stress. Cats can suffer from allergies to the same common allergens as humans.
Cat Hair and Allergies
Hair loss in cats is almost never normal and can be due to serious health issues such as allergies, fleas, stress, pain, or ringworm. If you notice any bald spots or areas with shorter or thin hair on your cat, schedule an appointment with your vet so you can figure out what’s going on and treat it. It can also be a symptom of pain or other diseases, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your vet if you notice patches of fur missing or bald spots in your cat. Hair loss in cats is a common problem that can have a variety of causes. Medical conditions, parasites, behavioral issues, and even pain can lead to hair loss.
Overgrooming
In addition to these common causes of hair loss in cats, other factors such as diet and environment can also play a role. The vet can perform blood tests and other procedures to rule out any medical conditions that may be responsible for the hair loss. Parasites such as fleas and mites can cause cats to scratch themselves excessively, resulting in hair loss. If your cat's food isn't providing them with everything their skin and coat need to stay healthy, your cat may begin to suffer from hair loss or poor-quality hair. The spore enters your cat's skin, especially through any bites, scratches, and the infection begins to develop in the outermost layer of skin and their hair follicles.
Remember, your cat's fur protects its skin, so fur loss can become a serious problem if left untreated. Pain could be another underlying cause of alopecia, particularly if you notice hair loss over your cat's joints. Cats with arthritis often lick their uncomfortable joints in an effort to find relief. Feline arthritis is more common than most pet owner realize; studies suggest over 90 percent of senior cats over the age of 12 years have evidence of arthritic joints.
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If your cat appears to be healthy otherwise, it’s possible that over-grooming to reduce stress — also known as displacement grooming — might be what’s behind the bald patches. Displacement grooming can lower a cat’s stress level, helping to calm the cat and deflect aggression from other individuals. It is common to see a cat who’s in a stressful situation suddenly begin to groom. The appropriate treatment for your cat’s hair loss will depend on its underlying cause. Like all hair, cat hair originates in the epidermis (under the skin), and the type of hair determines the structure.
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It is a zoonosis, which means that people can contract it from animals through direct contact or environmental contamination. Some animals have very mild or no signs, while others can have a thickened patch of skin with hair loss that can be round in shape. Areas usually affected are skin on the head, chest, front legs, and along the back. Higher or lower levels of other hormones can also cause hair loss or keep hair from regrowing.
What are Hair Loss?
It’s quite common in the summer season, as this is when these parasites proliferate. To confirm that the problem is caused by this fungus, a skin sample should be taken and analyzed under a microscope. If the number of units of the microorganism is high, the diagnosis is confirmed. Usually, the treatment consists of the application of ointments, baths with special shampoos, or some antifungals administered orally.
Lastly, consult with your veterinarian about any preventative steps you can take to avoid further hair loss in cats, such as vitamins or special shampoos. Stress is another possible cause of cat hair loss due to excessive grooming or shedding. Grooming is a crucial way cats keep themselves clean and their skin healthy.
For example, a kitten may be born with thinning fur that gets thinner as they get older, but this usually causes a larger area of hair loss rather than being concentrated on the tail area. Hair loss can sometimes be missed until a significant amount has been lost, resulting in a rather unsightly bald patch. This article will examine 10 reasons your cat might be losing hair on their tail and what you can do to prevent further hair loss. Finally, hair loss can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Remember to consult the vet before jumping to any outrageous conclusions. You can help your cat by purchasing perches and climbing posts to enrich its environment and offer privacy. Playing with your pet using interactive toys (and stimulating its instinct to hunt) is also a good way to distract them and help it burn energy.
Over time, this displacement behavior can become independent of the initial stressor and eventually become compulsive in nature. The hair loss occurs only in places that can be reached by the cat’s tongue; secondary skin changes, such as redness or bumps, are rarely evident. Having fleas and mites, even if they’re not allergic to them, can still cause itching and damage to hair and hair follicles, which leads to patchy hair loss. There are several types of mites cats can get, including Mange and Scabies mites.
The exact cause of the condition is not currently known, but it's believed to be linked to hormone levels. For this reason, it can be challenging to identify an underlying endocrine issue, so your vet may have to perform various diagnostics. Brushing the cat’s hair will promote their capillary health, as well as helping to detect these potential skin problems more easily. Accustoming the cat to brushing from when they’re a kitten is essential in order to make this task easier. Besides this, it’s a great opportunity to establish bonds of affection between guardian and cat. Feline atopy is another cause of hair loss in cats, usually in those under 3 years old, and is caused by contact with dust, pollen, mold, and other allergens.
Hormonal imbalances, such as hyperthyroidism or increased levels of steroids in the body, may lead to hair loss in cats. Parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mange mites, can cause itchiness, inflammation, and lesions that may lead to hair loss. Your cat may begin overgrooming while dealing with skin discomfort, and they may scratch or bite hard enough to irritate the skin and pull the hair out. Ringworms, mites, or flea allergies can cause fungal or parasitic infections in cats.
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