Why is my cat losing hair?

When a cat suffers from hair loss, it can appear as bald spots, patchiness, or as a general thinning of their coat. Medically referred to as “feline alopecia,” this condition tends to be accompanied by other unwanted symptoms, including scabs, lesions, bumps, and an increase in licking (and, subsequently, hairballs).

In some cases, hair loss in cats is considered normal — like when it’s time for your cat to shed their winter coat.

On the other hand, sudden hair loss may also be a sign of an underlying illness or parasite. That’s why it’s key to call up your vet as soon as you spot changes in your pet’s coat.

Hair loss in cats has been linked to several different conditions, from breed and allergies to more serious conditions like infection or cancer. Cats can lose hair on just one or multiple parts of their bodies, but patches tend to be most common around their belly, sides, and legs when they scratch or lick themselves non-stop.

The good news is that most cases of feline alopecia are easily reversible — the trick is simply to treat the underlying cause. Keep an eye out for symptoms of these conditions to help pinpoint the cause behind your cat’s hair loss:

1. Allergies

This is one of the most common causes of hair loss in cats. Signs of allergies in cats are excessive licking, itching, and scratching in response to a food, pharmaceutical, or environmental allergen. Consequently, cats with allergies often develop scabs, red marks, and open wounds at the site of hair loss.

2. Genetics

Some purebred cats are more likely to have alopecia. These cats include Himalayans and Bengals, among others. Other breeds, like the Sphynx, are naturally hairless. Hereditary alopecia is a congenital condition that doesn’t present with accompanying inflammation. This type of hair loss is apparent very early in a cat’s life  — sometimes at birth or shortly after.

3. Overgrooming due to anxiety or stress

While hair loss can be the result of a physical ailment like an infection, it can also be caused by anxiety. Over time, many of these cats begin to display pattern baldness as a result of scratching or licking an area of their body, which causes it to shed.

Other compulsive disorders, like psychogenic alopecia, Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source can cause a cat to obsessively groom itself to relax when they’re feeling stressed.

4. Fleas, mites, or parasites

A flea, parasite, or mite could be the cause behind your kitty’s discomfort and intense itchiness. Outdoor cats are especially prone to flea infestations, which can result in symptoms including non-stop irritation and miliary dermatitis (small bumpy red scabs). In severe cases, lethargy and pale gums can be brought on by a potentially life-threatening condition called flea anemia. Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source Some cats are also allergic to fleas, which causes intense pruritus.

Live fleas or flea dirt may present as small black specks you can see in your cat’s fur, but mites are a bit trickier to detect. Mites burrow into a cat’s skin and can only be seen under a microscope. Similarly, Notoedric mange Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source (Notoedres cati) is caused by a rare parasite that causes hair loss on a cat’s face or eyelids.

5. Hyperthyroidism

The hormones produced by the thyroid play a key role in regulating the body’s metabolism. When the thyroid makes too much (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism) of these hormones, cats can experience several physical side effects, including weight loss, vomiting, hyperactivity, and changes to the skin and fur coat. Cats rarely experience hypothyroidism, but many cats, especially those over the age of 15 years are affected by hyperthyroidism.

6. Skin infections

Bacterial infections, like pyoderma, Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source usually arise when a cat scratches or excessively licks their skin, or secondary to underlying allergies. Infections cause hair loss in localized areas and can also produce discharge. Other infections, like ringworm, are fungal infections that impact  both the hair and skin.

7. Pain

Cats experiencing pain in their joints, especially those with arthritis, may lick their bodies to relieve their pain. Cats with gastrointestinal, bladder, or urinary issues may overgroom on their abdomen, leading to hair loss in specific places.

For example, cats with urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been known to excessively lick their genital and abdominal areas. Because you can’t see what’s causing the pain in some cases, this type of hair loss is often mistaken for a behavioral issue rather than a medical one.

8. Feline acne

Your cat could have a harmless skin condition, like feline acne. Skin conditions like these can cause dryness, redness, swelling, bumps, scabs, pustules,  irritation, and excessive grooming that leads to shedding.

Because feline acne is most common in a cat’s chin, you may notice your cat rub their face against the carpet for itch relief. You may also notice blackheads on your cat’s skin in addition to hair loss.

There are a few other — and possibly more serious — health conditions that can cause hair loss in unlikely circumstances, including:

• Diabetes. In rare cases, feline diabetes can trigger skin changes in older cats, including redness, crusting, oozing, and hair loss along the face, genitals, and lower legs. Some diabetic cats may also form thickened skin or ulcers on their paw pads.
• Cancer. In most cases, feline cancer does not lead to hair loss. However, cutaneous lymphoma or other cancer affecting the skin can cause alopecia. Additionally, some cats can experience paraneoplastic alopecia. Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source

Here are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure that your cat’s skin and fur remain healthy and intact.

• Give your cat a safe environment. If their hair loss is due to allergies, it’s important to identify the offending allergen so you can eliminate it from your home. If your cat spends time outdoors, you can use a vet-approved preventative treatment to protect them from mites, heartworms, fleas, and ticks.
• Reduce stress. Help lower anxiety levels by providing access to resources including food and clean water. Many owners set up perches, scratching posts, and interactive toys around their homes to help their cats let out their pent-up energy. If you’re undergoing a move or change, do your best to keep your cat on their normal schedule to make the transition as smooth as possible.
• Use treatment. You should first and foremost treat their hair loss with whatever the vet prescribes or recommends. Your cat’s skin and fur coat is the protective barrier. If it’s left untreated, it can lead to other serious health issues in the future.
• Feed your cat a high-quality diet. Feeding your cat a high-quality complete and balanced diet, such as one rich in omega-3 fatty acids, can help keep their coat shiny and full. If your vet suspects your cat has a food allergy, they may put them on a food trial in hopes of identifying the exact cause.

For most vets, the first step in treating a cat’s hair loss is reviewing their medical history. Age, vaccination records, and history of any other recent stressors all go into a vet’s diagnosis and treatment plan.

Diagnosis

After looking over your cat’s medical history, most vets will perform a physical exam to look for the cause of their condition.  Some common diagnostic tests associated with feline alopecia include:

• Wood’s lamp. Vets examine cats in a dark room under this special ultraviolet lamp to detect some cases of ringworm infestation.
• Culture. In this test, a vet collects a sample of cells to examine for signs of bacterial or fungal growth. Cultures may be performed by the vet in-house or remotely at a laboratory facility. Results usually take about a week.
• Cytology. Vets use a swab to collect a sample of skin cells from the cat to examine under a microscope. This is useful for detecting bacteria and yeast, and differentiating whether a cat’s hair loss is being caused by inflammation, infection, or abnormal growth (neoplasia). Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source
• Blood work and urinalysis. Analyzing a cat’s blood and urine can help vets test for diseases that affect the entire body, also known as “systemic” diseases. Endocrine disorders, particularly hyperthyroidism, are a prominent example of systemic diseases among cats.
• Allergy testing. If the vet suspects a food allergy might be behind your cat’s hair loss, they may put your cat on an elimination diet consisting only of prescription foods for an 8 to 12-week period. In the case of environmental allergies, an allergy test may be conducted.
• Imaging. In cases where cancer is a suspected cause, vets may conduct common imaging procedures like ultrasound and X-rays.

Treatment

The best treatment plan for your cat’s alopecia will ultimately depend on the underlying cause of their hair loss. In cases where cats are excessively licking or biting their skin, vets may advise you to temporarily keep an Elizabethan collar Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Government authority Go to source (also known as an “e-collar,” or the “cone of shame”) on them to prevent infection and give the hair a chance to grow back without further irritation.

Common treatments for hair loss in cats include:

• Parasiticide treatment. Antiparasitic medications are commonly prescribed to every pet in the household, even when the vet can’t find parasites. This is mostly a safety precaution since cats are such thorough groomers. They can get the majority of parasites off their coat before they go in for testing.
• Topical therapy. Shampoos and ointments are the most popular treatment plan for skin conditions, including mild skin infections and fungal parasites like ringworm.
• Systemic antibiotics. If your cat’s hair loss is attributed to a bacterial or fungal infection, your vet may prescribe oral treatment in the form of antibiotics or antifungals.
• Medications. Steroids (prednisone), immunosuppressants (cyclosporine), and antihistamines (Benadryl, Zyrtec) may be prescribed for itch relief.
• Behavior-modifying medication. Prescription meds like Prozac® (fluoxetine) or Clomicalm® (clomipramine hydrochloride) may be prescribed to treat anxiety and associated side effects in cats, including excessive grooming.
• Environmental enrichment. Improving your cat’s access to basic resources like food, water, and their litter box can go a long way toward lifting their spirits and easing their stress. Heap on extra praise, play, and treats the next time your cat seems a little anxious.

Depending on the cause of your cat’s alopecia, it may take weeks or even months for hair to grow back fully. In the case of chronic issues like allergies or fleas, it’s up to the owner to implement long-term prevention strategies so their cat doesn’t lose hair all over again.

Be patient with the process, and work with your vet until you can pinpoint the cause and get your cat back on the path of wellness.