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For example, if your cat is losing hair and exhibiting other signs of illness – such as vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or lethargy – they may be sick. This fungal infection is highly contagious and frequently occurs among kittens or cats living in groups. The main agent is a fungal spore, microsporum canis, which can be contracted from a contaminated animal or environment, and which remain infectious for several months.
Common skin conditions in cats
Managing shedding and clumps of fur in cats doesn’t have to be difficult—following these guidelines will help ensure that your pet remains safe and beautiful at all times. Regular brushing and combing of your cat’s fur is essential for reducing shedding and clumps of fur in cats. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat the underlying cause of hair loss in cats.
When Should You Consult a Vet About Your Cat’s Hair Loss?
With the help of this information, you can determine whether or not your cat’s hair loss is related to a health problem or is part of their normal shedding routine. If your vet’s examination shows that your cat is overgrooming because of pain in their joints or bladder, they will treat the underlying problem with necessary medication. If you notice that your cat is losing hair, it’s important to determine if the hair loss is normal or abnormal.
Prognosis for Cats With Hair Loss
Cats love routine, and anything that disrupts routines can be stressful for them. Not all cats get along with other cats or other pets, and that can be a source of stress too. Many cats are predisposed to anxiety and stress, which can lead to excessive grooming and hair loss typically on the cats’ back, around the neck or eyes. If your cat has lesions that resemble ringworm, there are a few tests your vet can use to confirm the disease. Your cat will then start appropriate treatment, which is likely to last at least 6 weeks and may be a combination of oral and topical therapy. It’s important to minimize exposure and contact of the cat with other animals and people in the household and to discuss hygiene and environmental cleaning with your vet.
Ringworm
This is a common problem for cats and can have a variety of possible causes. In many cases, there is more than one contributing cause, making the problem frustrating for pet parents to figure out and eliminate. Depending on the severity, the cat might need medical treatment for its wounds to help the skin regenerate and allow the hair to grow back. Changes to the environment and daily behavioral management can help by keeping the cat mentally and physically stimulated. However, cats with extreme anxiety cases might need anti-anxiety medication.
Not sure whether to see a vet?
If your cat over-grooms itself in the same spot on their coat, you will eventually notice the patch becoming balder or the hair being of a poorer quality. Because your cat is also ingesting extra dead hair, they may start to suffer with hairballs as their digestive system can't process and get rid of it effectively. Unlike true alopecia which leads to hair loss, congenital hypotrichosis only causes hair thinning. Cats are born with this condition and may be born with thin hair and balding or lose their hair as they develop.
More severe symptoms can also include changes in appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in energy levels, increased thirst and urination, or an enlarged abdomen or pot-belly appearance. Sure, it sucks having everything you own covered in a gossamer web of discarded fluff, but everything has its price. Excessive hair loss, however — the kind that leaves your cat’s coat thin or patchy — is a different story. It almost always indicates a bigger medical issue and should be assessed by a vet as soon as possible.
Alongside hair loss, often there is obvious skin damage, swelling, discharge, and redness, and the area is painful, so your cat may not allow you to check it. Guard hairs are the longer, stiffer hairs that extend out past the "base coat" (awn hairs). These are the hairs that usually determine the basic color of the cat.
The Importance of Grooming Your Dog
Look out for other signs of arthritis, such as walking stiffly, reluctance to jump, and muscle atrophy. Your vet can help make your cat more comfortable with joint supplements and medications for pain. Hair loss and itching are common symptoms when a cat has an allergic reaction to something it has eaten or come into contact with in the environment. Tracking down the cause of the allergy is the most difficult part of diagnosing the problem. Once the allergen has been identified, treatment usually involves eliminating the substance from the cat's diet or environment. As the allergen works its way out of a cat's system, itchy rashes begin to fade away.
In biomimetic experiment, cat tongues lick the competition nearly every time - Bates News
In biomimetic experiment, cat tongues lick the competition nearly every time.
Posted: Thu, 07 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There are several immunosuppressants used for managing allergies in cats, depending on the cause, alongside food trials if food allergy is part of the issue. If your cat has started to lose hair and you’re wondering why, you’ve come to the right place. This list is not exhaustive, so please speak to your veterinarian if your cat is losing hair. Common causes of hair loss in cats include allergies, parasites, hormonal imbalances, infections, and stress. Use a preventative treatment that protects against all parasites, including fleas, mites, heartworms, and ticks.
Try to identify if there have been any events in your cat’s life that may be causing them stress. See if you can reduce this for them, like keeping a new pet away for a while, or better yet, try to avoid any stress from the beginning as much as possible. Keep the noise and any changes in their routine to a minimum, and ensure they have a safe and peaceful area to rest where they will not be disturbed. But also, be mindful that there are many medical reasons that may present. Getting your cat checked by a vet is the best thing to do before assuming their overgrooming is related to stress.
” Discontinuing use without consulting a professional could worsen whatever condition the medication is supposed to help. However, even if you suspect your cat’s hair loss may be natural, it’s worth taking steps to rule out other possible cat health problems. As a cat person, you’re no doubt used to finding cat hair everywhere. Black pants are a strict no-no, and the couches need a weekly vacuum.
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