Alopecia in cats is a relatively common disorder that can have various causes, both physical and psychological. Therefore, if you keep thinking with concern ” my cat is losing its hair: why and what to do “, it is very important to analyze all the possible causes. Before the alarms go off, it is important to remember when cats shed, a normal process that usually happens in spring and sometimes in autumn, depending on the breed and characteristics of each animal.
If you have already ruled out shedding as the cause of your cat’s hair loss and the process takes time or is excessive, the best solution is to go to a veterinarian to make a reliable diagnosis and recommend the best solution. Beforehand, you can take a look at this OneHOWTO article, where we tell you why cats lose their hair and what to do in each case.
You may also be interested in: Why does my cat lose its whiskers?
Index
- stress and anxiety
- Poor or unbalanced diet
- Intake of toxic substances or medications
- Presence of parasites
- Skin allergy or dermatitis
- skin infection
- hormonal problems
- undiagnosed diseases
- What do I do if my cat loses its hair?
stress and anxiety
Stress is one of the most frequent causes of hair loss in cats and, at the same time, more difficult to detect. Perhaps, there is some situation that is proving stressful for your cat and you have not noticed it. A move, the preparations for an event, the arrival of a new pet or a lack of physical exercise can trigger nervousness in the animal.
As a consequence of stress, behavioral changes may appear in the animal, as well as certain physical symptoms, such as hair loss or excessive scratching. Probably, you will be able to observe that he is in charge of accelerating the alopecia process, licking himself over and over again for no apparent reason.
If you think your cat might be experiencing stress, take a look at this other article: How to reduce my cat’s stress .
Poor or unbalanced diet
As with humans, diet also has a direct influence on the cat’s health and, as a consequence, also on the state of its fur. Felines should eat a diet rich in high-quality protein that provides them with all the essential nutrients they need. If their diet is deficient in some nutrients, they may suffer from nutritional deficiencies that affect their health and their hair .
If your cat has dull, rough or profusely falling hair, the cause may be a poor or unbalanced diet that is causing nutritional deficiencies in the animal.
Intake of toxic substances or medications
You should never give your cat medication or food supplements without first consulting your vet. You also have to remember that there are certain foods that can make him feel bad or be toxic for him (such as chocolate or sweets), as well as some plants that can be toxic. Among the adverse reactions that can be caused by the intake of some drug or toxic food, hair loss in cats is a possibility.
If you want to know what foods are toxic to cats, in this other article we will tell you what a cat cannot eat .
Presence of parasites
“My cat scratches a lot and loses hair.” If this is what happens to your feline and you have ruled out stress, it is likely that your friend has some type of parasite, usually fleas or ticks. Faced with the itching caused by the bites of external parasites , the cat licks and scratches itself, sometimes with real desperation. As a result, the hair ends up falling out, and strands can be bitten off.
Skin allergy or dermatitis
Like us, cats can also have allergies to common substances present in the environment, such as dust mites or the pollen of certain plants. Among the most common allergies in cats, atopic dermatitis stands out, which can cause skin peeling and intense itching . Thus, the cat scratches a lot, damaging its scalp and causing hair loss.
If you want to know more about this disease, we will tell you how to detect it in this other article: How to know if my cat has dermatitis .
skin infection
If the cat is losing its hair and has bald spots, it is possible that it is suffering from an infection that affects its skin, weakening the hair follicles. Of these infections, the most common is feline dermatophytosis , better known as ringworm. It is a fungal disease, caused by a highly contagious type of fungus. As a result of the infection, the most affected skin areas lose their hair, giving rise to bald spots.
hormonal problems
Sometimes the cause of hair loss in cats is in some alteration or dysfunction of their endocrine system. The hormonal changes that occur, for example, after the castration of a feline , can give rise to an abnormal loss of fur. If you have recently neutered your cat, ask your vet if this could be the cause and how to control the hair loss.
undiagnosed diseases
The presence of untreated tumors or certain kidney diseases are two pathologies that can have as their first manifestations the loss of vitality in the coat or, directly, hair loss. In this sense, hair loss in older cats should be especially monitored in case it hides health problems, much more typical of older cats.
What do I do if my cat loses its hair?
Now that you know why your cat is losing its hair, you may be wondering what to do. If the cat suffers from striking and prolonged hair loss without being in the molting season, it is best to go to the veterinarian to find out the causes with certainty and receive advice on the best treatment.
If you can’t go to the vet right away, you can use these tips to try to solve the problem:
- Check that his diet is suitable for himand that protein is not lacking. Increasing the amount of meat and fish on your menu is the best way to provide them.
- Brush your cat’s fur at least once a week to help it naturally renew itself, preventing excessive scratching and licking.
- Avoid stressful situations, especially loud noises and constant changes (travel, changing the place of its feeder or its bed).
- Think about whether he gets enough exercise or if you spend enough time with him, since a cat that is poorly exercised or that spends too much time alone at home can also suffer from anxiety and stress.
- Check your cat’s coat to confirm that it is free of parasites. Do not forget to take preventive measures in the form of antiparasitic collars or pipettes for cats. In this other article we tell you how to prevent parasites in cats .
- Keep the feline’s environment clean to prevent allergies or infectious skin diseases.
If your cat loses its hair and this fall is linked to other symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea, lack of appetite…), the veterinary consultation does not allow waiting.