Hair loss in cats can appear as bald patches or spots of thinning hair. The bald areas of skin may have hyper-pigmentation, crusting, flaking, redness, swelling, or oozing with discharge. The cat may also have a strong foul odor. There are many causes of hair loss in cats. But if it’s caused by a problem in major organs like the adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, ovaries, or testes, affected cats may show also changes in behavior, lethargy, irritability, restlessness, gain or loss of weight, increase in consumption of water and subsequent increase in urination.
In general, the pattern of baldness or thinning of the hair provides a clue of the cause. A flea infestation cause cats to chew off their hair and have bald patchy areas around the based of the tail, belly, and inside their hind legs. Cats suffering from Cushing’s disease loss hair along their back and sides, as well as the length of their tail except the tip. Pets with hypothyroidism may have thick skin, hair that is dull and thinning over their back and sides, and appear to gain weight.
If you notice your cat shedding more hairs than usual, you should bring your pet to your best vets Rochester, NY for a thorough checkup.
