Dealing With Your Cat Hair Loss

Dealing With Your Cat Hair Loss

Is your cat itching, scrathing and shedding? All lead to cat hair loss. Find out what causes cat hair loss and possible solutions.

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Why Cat Hair Loss Occurs More And More

* Increasingly Wide Spread Problem. Hair loss in cats has become a widespread problem. The hair loss comes in different forms. It may manifest itself in the loss of large patches or start thinning on the abdomen or inside of rear legs. Often feline hair loss is a symptom of some underlying disease or medical problem such as a skin disorder.

* Heriditary Factors. Congenital (hypotrichosis) alopecia is a hereditary type of hair loss in cats. There is no underlying disease but rather the cat and hair loss is a genetic transfer.

There are certain cat breeds that have a higher than normal incidence of hair loss, including the breeds Birman, Burmese, Devon Rex and Siamese. It is generally recommended that a cat with hereditary hair loss not be bred.

* Where Do Symptoms Show Up? The feline hair loss tends to be localized in certain areas such as the abdomen, ears, temporal areas, and along the back. Sometimes the hair loss may be over the entire cat's body.

A skin biopsy can determine whether there is an absence (or low number) of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. If the biopsy confirms a hereditary type of hair loss there is really no treatment for the condition. Nor is the condition life threatening in terms of the cat and hair loss. There are cat breeds (sphinx cat) that are born hairless. Care should be taken, however, to protect these breeds from extreme cold weather and sun.

* Hormone Imbalance Factors. Feline endocrine alopecia is a skin disorder that results from a hormone imbalance in the cat. The hair loss may be significant causing symmetrical bald spots on the abdomen, thighs and underside of the tail. Normally, cat hair is shed and is readily replaced with new hair.

A cat suffering from feline endocrine alopecia is unable to grow new hair. A cat's endocrine system (the system which controls a cat's chemical balances) regulates hormones that are associated with hair growth. It is thought that an imbalance in a cat's thyroid hormone, estrogen and testosterone play a part in endocrine alopecia in the cat and hair loss. When a cat's hormone levels fall below normal, hair loss is a symptom of that condition.

Treatment of feline endocrine alopecia involves hormone supplements to bring levels back to normal. Hair growth should return as a result.

* Environmental Toxins Factors. A build-up of toxins from various environmental sources, and even food, can cause feline hair loss. The toxins come from chlorine in water, fluorides, cleaning materials, carpets, and pesticides.

The contaminants get circulated in the cat's blood over time and become lodged in the cat's organs and skin. In order to correct the problem, it is necessary to address the cat's organs that cleanse the blood of such contaminants, like the liver, kidneys and lungs. There are products that can help detoxify a cat. Veterinary advice is important to determine and verify that the cat's hair loss is toxin related.

* Caution Over Excess Grooming. Excessive grooming by a cat can also cause hair loss. Feline hair loss can also be the result of an underlying skin problem.

* Fleas, Ticks & Allergies. Excessive scratching, skin biting and licking, causing hair loss, may be due to a skin problem. Hair loss on the abdomen and inner thighs are areas that might be areas of irritation from fleas, parasites or allergies. Careful observation can help distinguish between a behavioral problem and a medical problem.

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