Feline Hair Loss

If your cat has the unfortunate misadventure of experiencing hair loss, you know his or her pain. Watching your cat go from a thick, soft coat to nothing but fuzz is no fun at all, for either of you. Caring for you feline not only means making sure that tummy is full with healthy, nutritious food, but beginning coat maintenance with a stable emotional supportive environment.

Yes, your cat has emotions. She feels. A lot of times, hair loss is an autonomic response to stress. Moving your feline from homes, introducing new family members into the household are all good ways to stress out your cat. And sometimes, it doesn't even take that much. Cats can read our own energy as well, so chances are that if you are imbalanced and stress, your cats are reading that too.

But there are medical conditions that can be the cause of your feline hair loss. The best course of action is to take your cat to the vet when you first notice the hair loss. Only a vet can help you determine the exact cause of your cat's hair loss.

The most common reason cats lose their hair is due to fleas. If your cat has fleas, they will lick and pull at their coat, to get at the fleas. Or if the hair loss is localized, chances are good that your cat has had an allergic reaction to a fleabite. I have seen it happen. I had a cat who was so horribly allergic to fleas, that she would scratch her coat raw, and she lost all of her hair in a matter of days. Vets can help you with this issue, but you can help your feline at home too. I was instructed to give my cat a diet high in omega-6 and omega-3 fats, to keep her skin oil and therefore less irritated. I gave my cat lamb and rice for the rest of the time that I had her, and never had a problem with itchy skin again.

Other reason cats lose their hair is a parasitic infection, such as mites, which has a similar immune response like fleabites. However, if left untreated by a professional mites will lead to mange and eventually death. There are a few other medical conditions that will lead to hair loss, but all are best left to a trained professional to diagnosis.

It is highly suggested to get your pet to the vet if you start to notice clumps of hair on the floor or patches on the spine of your feline. Of course, if your household is anything like mine, most hair loss stems from an overly active younger kitten who sees fit to use their older brother or sister as target practice. But to be on the safe side, visit your vet to get their suggestion on how to handle your cat's hair loss.