Causes For Hair Loss In Cats

There are a number of potential causes of major hair loss in cats. Some hair loss conditions in the cats are minor and easy to deal with, while others can be a bit more serious. People can take a look at some of the main reasons why their cat's fur could be falling out. In the majority of the cases the hair loss of the cat is because of allergic reaction to a certain type of food, or a lack of proper nutrition. Other symptoms may include lack of grooming, weight loss, overeating and excessive thirst. This is also known as Hyperthyroidism which can be treated effectively with medication.

So the first thing that people will want to do is to change their cat's diet and watch their cat closely for a few days to see if they notice any more hair loss. If people do notice that their cat is still suffering from hair loss this could mean that it is a serious condition. It could possibly be some sort of serious disease but majority of these diseases can easily be treated. If the diseased cat spends a lot of time outside, then he will easily be exposed to fleas. One of the more common causes why cats start losing their hair is because they are allergic to flea bites. Also, it does not take many of these affecting parasites to cause a problem, as some of the cats develop an intense reaction to just one bite. This condition of hair loss can be treated using effective flea control, antihistamines, and steroids.

Another parasite that can cause severe hair loss in cats is the mite. Mange is a condition that can be brought on with a number of species of mites. An infestation of these harmful parasites will cause intense itching that prompts the cat to lick and chew himself excessively. This condition eventually causes the hair to fall out. Mite's infection can be dealt with by using medicated shampoos. Cats with longer and thick hair will also need to get it trimmed closely.

Ringworm in cats is caused by a fungus that can also affect dogs and humans. If it affects the cat, it will cause hair to fall out especially around the paws, ears, and face. The infected cat will also develop flaky, dry skin in the affected areas. Ringworm can completely be eliminated using either topical or oral medications. There are a range of biological conditions that can cause hair loss in cats. These conditions usually affect the thyroid or adrenal gland. Cushing's and Addison's disease are two conditions that affect the adrenal gland. The Addison's disease is characterized by increased adrenal activity, while the Cushing's results from decreased in activity from the adrenal gland. The missing cat hair due to Cushing's disease will usually be bi lateral, which means that the fur will be missing in the same place on both sides of the body of the cat. People may also find some hair loss on the lower abdomen; however Cushing's can occur anywhere on the body.

Two other disorders that can cause feline hair loss in cats are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Like the names of these conditions suggest, they are brought on by problems with the thyroid gland. These hormone imbalances are typical reasons why cats start to lose their hair.

• Emma Bullock
• 03/01/2009, 10:59 AM
• 0 Comments