What causes hair loss in cats? Explaining how to identify and treat stress-related alopecia

A cat's fluffy fur is part of their charm. Just stroking it can be soothing for us, too.

Many owners are likely surprised to find a "bald spot" on their cat's body. You might feel anxious, wondering, "Is it a disease?" or "Is it due to stress?"

In this article, we will focus on cat baldness, explaining in detail the causes of hair loss, diseases that cause hair to fall out, and "stress-induced alopecia," which can be difficult to distinguish.

What causes cats to go bald?

Cats have a "shedding season" in the spring and autumn, during which they naturally lose more hair.

However, if you notice patchy baldness or a clearly excessive amount of hair loss outside of these shedding seasons, it may be a sign that something is wrong with their body.

The causes of baldness in cats can be broadly classified into the following three categories.

Since the causes of "baldness" vary, observing whether there is "itching" and "where it is occurring" serves as a major clue in determining the cause.

Symptoms of cat baldness and possible diseases

The suspected disease changes depending on where the baldness occurs and what other symptoms are present.

Observing where on the body the baldness is located and what symptoms are present is a major clue to identifying the cause of your cat's hair loss.

Baldness above the eyes or at the base of the ears

Baldness around the face suggests a "food allergy." Hair loss accompanied by rashes or itching can be seen above the eyes, on the forehead, or at the base of the ears, and may be accompanied by digestive symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting. Be careful if symptoms appear after feeding your cat a different type of food.

Especially if your cat is itching their ears, otitis externa (ear infection) or ear mites are suspected.

Circular bald spots on the face or limbs

"Dermatophytosis," also known as ringworm, is a disease caused by a fungal infection that leads to circular hair loss on the face and limbs.

It does not usually cause much itching, but it is characterized by hair coming out in large clumps. If left untreated, it can spread all over the body and may even be transmitted to humans, so early medical attention is necessary.

Baldness on the edges of the ears

"Scabies" caused by mite infestation is accompanied by intense itching, leading to hair loss and scabs on the edges of the ears.

Additionally, white-haired cats may develop "solar dermatitis", where the tips of the ears lose hair due to the effects of ultraviolet rays.

Baldness on the back or base of the tail

Flea bites can cause intense itching, leading to "flea allergy dermatitis." A typical pattern is the development of bald patches due to scratching or biting at the back, base of the tail, or neck.

Linear bald spots on the body

"Linear granuloma," a type of skin disease known as eosinophilic granuloma complex, is also a cause of baldness. It is characterized by bumpy, raised skin on the hind legs that leads to linear baldness. It also easily occurs on the abdomen, inner thighs, and neck.

Baldness on the abdomen, hind legs, or back

This is a pattern highly likely to be "stress-induced alopecia (psychogenic alopecia)." It is characterized by bald spots concentrated in areas that are easy for the cat to lick.

What is cat stress-induced alopecia (psychogenic alopecia)?

When cats feel intense anxiety or stress, they may continue to lick their bodies to calm themselves down. This behavior is called "over-grooming," and if repeated, the hair may fall out and the skin may become inflamed...

This condition is also called "psychogenic alopecia," "lick dermatitis," or "over-grooming."

Over-grooming is considered a form of "stereotypic behavior" that cats use to alleviate anxiety.

Causes of stress include the following:

What makes it troublesome is that while baldness due to infection or allergy is easy to notice by seeing the cat "itching," stress-induced alopecia often involves quiet, persistent licking, which means that in many cases, owners only notice the bald spot after it has already formed.

If you see bald patches concentrated on areas the cat can easily lick, such as the abdomen, inner thighs, hind legs, or back, consider the possibility of stress-induced alopecia.

Beware of baldness caused by collars

Although often overlooked, if a cat collar is too heavy or stiff, it can rub against the neck, causing "collar baldness."

If the hair roots are damaged, hair may stop growing back, so choosing a light, soft collar that fits your cat's neck is one way to prevent this.

Additionally, if a cat collar is left unhygienic, it can not only cause unpleasant odors but also lead to skin problems due to germs, so caution is required.

▲A cat with baldness around the neck

Treatment for cat baldness

Baldness or excessive hair loss in cats is a "sign of illness." If you notice it, consult a veterinarian early.

At that time, it will help with the diagnosis if you make a note of where on the body the baldness is, what it looks like, and how often the cat is licking or scratching.

At the animal hospital, a treatment plan will be decided after investigating the cause through consultations, skin tests, and blood tests.

In both cases, an "Elizabethan collar" may be used to prevent the cat from licking the affected area.

What is important in the treatment of stress-induced alopecia is not to rely solely on medication, but to remove the root cause of the stress. However, identifying the exact cause is not easy, so you need to work patiently with your veterinarian.

How to prevent cat baldness?

We have summarized key points to keep in mind for preventing baldness.

Since skin problems are often not noticeable at a glance, it is reassuring to establish a habit of checking the skin during daily skinship.

Summary

The causes of cat baldness are various, ranging from skin diseases such as fleas, mites, and allergies, to over-grooming due to stress, and friction from collars.

In particular, stress-induced alopecia is less likely to show the clear sign of "itching," and it is not uncommon for the baldness to have already spread by the time it is noticed.

It can be surprisingly difficult to notice skin problems beneath all that fluffy fur. Through daily brushing and skinship, please make sure to check the condition of their skin frequently.

If you notice any abnormalities with baldness or hair loss, visit a veterinary clinic early rather than waiting to see what happens.