Dealing with Cats and Alopecia

Let's discuss about dealing with cats and alopecia. Some shedding is normal for almost all cats. However, if your cat has excessive hair loss it may be alopecia. This article will discuss alopecia in cats as well as its symptoms, and causes.

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. It is a common condition that affects people and cats. Alopecia is different for every person and animal. It can occur in different patterns for example the hair loss is sometimes symmetrical. The hair loss can also be complete or partial such as, sometimes it is excessive thinning while sometimes it's more like balding.

Most medical conditions have many varying symptoms. However, alopecia doesn't have many symptoms. Cats with this condition don't usually act ill or strange. Most cat owners just notice the abnormal hair loss in their pet. Some cats have scabs, bumps, and redness around the areas where they have lost hair.

Alopecia can be a tricky condition. There is almost no way for you to determine the cause of alopecia. You will have to take your cat to a veterinarian. A veterinarian will have to exam your cat as well as run multiple tests. With the ability to run tests, a proper diagnosis should be made.

So, what types of things can cause alopecia in cats? Many different things can actually cause this condition which is why a veterinarian may have to run quite a few tests to determine the cause of the hair loss.

Some causes of alopecia in cats include nervous disorders, allergies, hormonal imbalances, parasitic infections, and cancer.

Alopecia related to cancer usually occurs in older cats. Common causes of hair loss in cats are usually something like ringworm and in some cases cats simply over groom resulting in excessive hair loss. There are only limited treatments for alopecia, but once your veterinarian knows the cause, they can give you the most effective treatment for your cat.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.