The cat is going bald: causes, possible diseases, methods of treatment, reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Usually, in animals, it is the condition of the coat that first of all indicates he alth problems. If your cat has a thick, shiny coat, they are likely to be properly cared for, well fed, and in good he alth. But if the hair begins to fall out, bald patches and inflammation form on the skin, it means that something is wrong in the animal's body. Consider why cats go bald. In what cases is this normal? How to treat baldness and what is the prevention?

When hair loss is normal

Not always hair loss indicates a cat's he alth problems. Sometimes this is quite normal. Seasonal shedding is one of the main causes of hair loss in cats. Before summer, the pet's coat shrinks in volume to avoid overheating in warm weather.

Pregnant and lactating animals lose a lot of wool. The cat's belly and the space around the nipples are bald, so that it is easier for kittens to suck milk. In thatperiod, it is very important to give your pet a complete food, including all the necessary vitamins.

It is quite common for older cats to go bald. This is a natural process. If the animal does not show any other symptoms of a possible illness, do not worry.

If the animal wears a collar, the hair may fall out in its place. It also happens that the hair does not grow back in place of large scars and scars.

Allergy

A cat may also go bald due to an allergic reaction. She begins to itch a place in the area of \u200b\u200bthe withers or on the muzzle, which is why the animal combs it strongly, tearing out the hair and scratching it. Without treatment, the cat will constantly scratch the skin until it bleeds, which is dangerous for blood poisoning or infection.

Quite often, some component of food can serve as an allergen. You need to buy hypoallergenic pet food to eliminate this option. If the problem persists, you need to look for other possible sources of allergies. It can be plant pollen, household chemicals, flea bites, even dust. Sometimes, if the source of the allergy is not found, injections of hormonal drugs, which are done every few months, can help. It is also important to cover the area suffering from claws with a bandage or cloth until the cat flares up or is helped by treatment.

Stress

Sometimes stress can cause a cat to go bald. If the animal is in a dangerous situation, its house or owner has changed, the wool begins to literally crumble. If the animal has a balanced psyche and stronghe alth, then it quickly adapts to new conditions, and then the problem will disappear. However, if the pet cannot recover for a long time, then sometimes only sedatives can help.

It is better not to touch a stressed cat. She must have a hiding place where she can feel safe. You can build a relationship with a new pet with food and toys. You can put your personal item where the cat sleeps so that it quickly gets used to the smell of the new owner.

Lichen

Lichen is a fungal disease that is also dangerous for humans. First of all, it affects weakened and sick animals, it is very common in street cats. With lichen, the head, neck and limbs go bald. Scabs form on bald areas of the skin. If the animal is not treated, lichen can affect the entire body. At the same time, the cat does not itch, and therefore it is possible to notice lichen in time only by periodically examining the skin of the animal.

Only a veterinarian can accurately determine lichen by doing a scraping or enlightening the affected area with a special lamp. Even after treatment, affected areas of the skin may remain bald.

Fleas and ticks

When infected with skin parasites, initially the animal begins to itch a lot, feel anxious. Over time, some areas of the skin may begin to go bald. Fleas can cause not only cat hair loss, but also anemia. It is not so difficult to get them out: you can wash the cat with a special shampoo,drip the medicine on the withers or treat with a special agent. This problem should not be ignored, because a flea infestation can lead to very unpleasant consequences.

The cat's ears can go bald when the form of the ear mite is running. Ear mites cause intense itching. Dark dirt is formed inside the auricles - these are the waste products of mites. To eliminate a tick, you need to regularly clean the ears of the animal with cotton swabs and hydrogen peroxide.

A cat becomes bald at the tail, in the area of the ears and eyes, on the bridge of the nose and paw pads in case of infection with a subcutaneous tick. This mite is also contagious to humans. Drug treatment is needed to get rid of it.

Ticks are uncomfortable for the cat, causing severe itching, but they can also lead to dangerous infections in the animal. Some species are also dangerous to humans. To prescribe effective treatment, the animal must be shown to the doctor.

Adenitis

Most often, adenitis is observed in males. This is a hereditary disease that manifests itself in adolescence or old age. As a result, small crusts form on the ears and head. Wool in these places can be easily pulled out of the skin, and the animal will not even feel it. The affected areas are rounded, sometimes an unpleasant odor emanates from them. If the disease is not cured in time, it spreads to the back and to the base of the tail.

Adenitis appears due to improper functioning of the sebaceous glands. Only a doctor can diagnose it and prescribe treatment, afterskin scraping study.

Folliculitis

This is an infectious disease that affects the hair follicles, which is accompanied by baldness in a cat. This disease causes severe itching in the animal. The muzzle and neck of the cat becomes bald, pustules appear, the hair sticks together and rolls. The cat's activity drops and body temperature rises. Without proper treatment, the disease moves to the stomach, back and to the base of the tail.

To diagnose folliculitis, you need to do a skin scraping and biopsy. For treatment, the hair from the affected areas is sheared, the pustules are opened, the skin is treated with ointment. The animal is given antibiotics.

Treatment and prevention

If you find that the cat is going bald, what should I do first? First you need to accurately determine the cause. Many diseases directly affect the condition of the coat, so you can help only with the right diagnosis.

If a cat starts to lose hair, it should be immediately taken to the veterinarian. The doctor will examine the animal and take all the necessary tests. And then he will prescribe a treatment that must be strictly adhered to.

Judging by the reviews of breeders, animals that eat properly are less susceptible to the disease. Natural or prepared dry food should be properly balanced and contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. From ready-made feeds, preference should be given to premium and super premium types.

Don't forget the importance of childhood vaccinations for cats, andthen repeated every year. Even an animal that is deprived of access to the street must be vaccinated, since it can become infected through street clothes or the owner’s shoes. Periodically, the cat needs to be treated for fleas, give her anthelmintic drugs. The animal needs to be well monitored, once a month to examine the coat for bald patches or wounds.

Thus, it is sometimes difficult to determine why a cat is going bald. It is important to contact a specialist in time and pass all the necessary tests. It must be remembered that some diseases can be not only deadly for the animal itself, but also contagious for its owner.