In This Article:

• Three types of Alopecia found in cats
• Reasons and types of secondary hair loss
• Food allergies causing hair loss in cats

There are many reasons why animals lose their hair. In cats these reasons are either inherited genetic diseases, or they are acquired. In some cases there are secondary reasons to other factors, such as ringworm infections.

Three types of Alopecia found in cats

• Alopecia - Pinnae Of Cats

This type of alopecia affects the tops of the ears and is often seen in Siamese cats. It does not cause pain and is rarely treated as the condition does improve after a few months.

• Alopecia - Cat Temporal region

Shorthaired cats are prone to lose of hair in the temporal region of the head, which is between the eyes and over the ears. It is not treated as it is regarded as normal.

• Alopecia - Feline Acquired Symmetrical

A rare condition of acquired symmetrical hair loss.

It affects neutered male and female domestic cats, between the ages of two and twelve though cats are more often affected when they are 6. It is common in cats that have not been pure bred. It does occur but very rarely in purebred cats. It normally starts with a shedding of the genital hair, and then spreads to all the hindquarters, and the underside of the abdomen. Hair is never lost on the back, but the chest area can be affected. The skin of the cat remains normal there are no signs of an irritation and the hair can easily pulled out with your fingers. There are rarely complications, but the situation is sometimes compounded by problems with the thyroid gland.

Treatment may not be necessary. Thyroid hormone may be used liothyronine at 20mg/cat every 12 hours by mouth initially gradually increased up to 50mg. Alternative treatments that work in some cases include sex hormones (often in combination) including testosterone, progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, oestradiol, diethylstilboestarol.

The above drugs have common side effects, which may be a great deal worse than the hair falling out.

Sometimes cats lose their hair as a result of injections, especially rabies injections. In very rare cases it may also be a side effect of pancreatic cancer. The hair loss here is always on the underside of the body and the legs.

Reasons and types of secondary hair loss

More common hair losses occur when it is a secondary cause as a result of other infections. Ringworm is common in cats, and despite its name it is a fungal infection. It may disappear without treatment, but the cat is still a carrier and can transmit the disease to other cats, animals and humans. It is shown as round patches of hair loss.

• Fleas and Parasites

Parasites and other things cause hair loss in cats; crusty scabs, produced by scratching, accompany them.

Fleas are characterized by itching, scratching, and licking along the back, around the tail and hindquarters. There may be black or white flecks in the skin that are the faeces and the eggs.

• Head Mange Mites (Scabies)

Intense itching around the head, face, neck, and the edges of the ears, where the hair has rubbed off. There are thick gray or yellow crusts.

• Cheyletiella Mange or Walking Dandruff

Scaly dandruff appears on the back and the sides of the cat, and it is mildly itchy

• Chiggers

Itching and severe skin irritation between the toes, and around the ears and mouth. Look for barely visible red, yellow or orange chiggers, which are larvae.

• Ear Mites (Ododectes)

Head shaking and scratching at ears. Excessive brown waxy or purulent material is present

in the ear canals.

• Ticks

Large insects attached to skin. May swell up to pea size. Often found around the ears, along back and between toes.

Food allergies causing hair loss in cats

• Food Allergy

Severe itching over the head, neck and back, Swelling of eyelids. Often complicated by hair loss and oozing sores from constant scratching and biting.

There are many and varied reasons for hair loss in cats and sometimes cats can have more than one cause. A veterinarian will take a fungal culture, skin scrapings and possibly a biopsy before making a diagnosis. Physical causes may be hormonal, allergic reactions parasites, or very rarely cancer.