Wood’s lamp: This test detects some occurrences of ringworm infection.įungal culture: A veterinarian may perform a ringworm culture in-house or send a sample to an outside laboratory. Your veterinarian will likely perform one or more diagnostic tests: Anal gland issues can cause irritation around the anus below the tail, and a cat with psychogenic alopecia will not have hair loss on its neck or face. For example, the base of the tail and lower back is often affected in cats with flea issues. The location of the cat’s alopecia is often a clue for what the underlying cause may be. The next step is a physical exam performed by your veterinarian.
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Details like the age of your cat and whether it’s on prescription flea prevention, seems itchy, experiences seasonal skin issues, or has had any recent stressors helps your vet determine the proper plan of treatment. The first step in diagnosis is a detailed history. It is important to take appropriate steps to identify the underlying cause of your cat’s alopecia. Psychogenic alopecia, a behavioral issue in which the cat overgrooms due to compulsion and anxiety. Recent metabolic stress, such as pregnancy, nursing, or fever.Ĭancers, including cutaneous lymphoma, thymoma, pancreatic carcinoma, and bile duct carcinoma.Īn immune-mediated disease, like alopecia areata (extremely rare). Infection caused by bacteria (most commonly Staphylococcus), yeast (usually Malassezia), ringworm, or parasites (e.g., Demodex, Cheyletiella, Notoedres, or Otodectes mites).Īllergies to fleas, food, or environmental allergens.ĭiscomfort caused by another disease, such as inflammation in the bladder, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, or anal sacs.Įndocrine disease like hyperthyroidism (common) or Cushing’s disease (rare in cats). There are many potential causes of acquired alopecia in cats, and the problem may be the result of one or more of the following:
Cornish Rex breeds are predisposed to this.
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This is more commonly seen in Siamese, Devon Rex, Birman, and Burmese cats.įollicular dysplasia takes place when cats are born with a full coat of hair that thins over time. Hereditary hypotrichosis is when a cat is born with a thin coat of hair, then loses it over time. While hairlessness is a feature of some breeds (e.g., Sphinx, Elf, Delf cats), there is a genetic mutation that makes this type of alopecia possible in any cat breed. There are multiple causes of congenital alopecia.Īlopecia universalis is a condition in which the cat is born without hair. If there is an underlying systemic disease affecting your cat, you may see these signs:Įnlarged abdomen or a pot-belly appearanceĬats with allergies may also experience additional symptoms: Often, cats hide those behaviors, only to gnaw and scratch when they are hidden from view. It is important to note that just because you don’t see signs of itchiness, that doesn’t mean your cat is not itchy. Have other skin abnormalities such as redness, bumps, scabs, sores, or crusts. Cat alopecia may be inflammatory or non-inflammatory, meaning that the skin may appear red and irritated, or it may appear normal.Ĭats with inflammatory alopecia may show a number of symptoms:īe obviously itchy and seem to lick, bite, gnaw, and scratch at their skin more than normal.
The locations vary based on the underlying cause of hair loss. These cats may or may not be itchy, depending on the underlying cause.Ĭats with alopecia can have patches of hair loss in one area of the body or in multiple areas. It can occur at any age and there are many possible causes, ranging from an infection with parasites like mites, to an allergy, or a metabolic disease like hyperthyroidism. This is usually related to your cat’s breed or genetics.Īcquired alopecia occurs in cats that are born with normal hair coats and lose hair because of an underlying systemic illness or skin disease. Other times, it can be a symptom of serious underlying disease.Ĭat alopecia can be broken down into two types:Ĭongenital alopecia occurs most often in newborn kittens or young cats, and it does not cause them to be itchy. Occasionally, alopecia is nothing to worry about, such as the small areas of hair loss many cats develop in the area between their ears and eyes. Some types of cat hair loss involve the hair falling out spontaneously, while others are caused by cats overgrooming, biting, or scratching themselves.
In many cases, there is more than one contributing cause, making the problem frustrating for pet parents to figure out and eliminate. This is a common problem for cats and can have a variety of possible causes. Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss in cats.
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