Feline Hair Loss

Stress or anxiety may cause a cat to overgroom, but other medical conditions should be ruled out first.

By J. Veronika Kiklevich, DVM

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I see no scaling or lesions it simply looks as though she is molting. The hair is coming off her legs now and another little tiny bare spot is starting on the other side of her little chest.   

A. It sounds as though your kitty may be experiencing feline psychogenic alopecia (overgrooming behavior). Alopecia is simply the medical term for hair loss, and of course, psychogenic implies that it has a psychological basis. I've spoken with and referred many of these cases to behaviorists, and there are several important points you need to know.

First, in order to make a diagnosis of FPA, it is important to rule out all other causes of dermatological problems in your kitty. Even if the skin itself looks very normal, there can be a host of underlying organic or physiologic problems that are causing this behavior. This problem will often include, but is not limited to: allergy, parasites, dermatophytosis (fungal infections in the hair or skin), cystitis, gastroenteritis and anal sacculitis. It will be necessary for your veterinarian to do blood work, a urinalysis, a fecal exam, check the anal glands and test hair for dermatophytes (DTM), as a minimum database. In addition, skin  biopsies often help with this diagnosis. I have performed these procedures myself on many cats, much like your feline companion. Once all of these possibilities have been ruled out, then the possibility of FPA is considered.

Because this is generally thought to be a compulsive disorder, which arises out of anxiety, frustration or conflict, it will be important for you to try and identify your cat's at-home behavior and what might cause stress. After running a battery of tests, as a final diagnostic tool, I'd try an Elizabethan collar for six to eight weeks, and watch for hair regrowth. If the hair regrows normally by simply keeping the cat from licking the area, then I am comfortable with the diagnosis of FPA.

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Feline Hair Loss

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janet    bethlehem, PA 8/4/2010 4:39:25 AM good article thanks Sally    corinth, KY 6/1/2009 1:56:59 PM I have a cat that was dealing with really bad shedding. I found out that she was just lacking in nutrition and needed a supplement to help balance out her diet. I found that the best one is put out by Dinovite. There feline formula worked great! No more shedding, No more hair balls, no more mess! If any one wants to check it out just click on the link below: LINK Hope this helps you! Lucy    Elranger, KY 6/1/2009 11:32:43 AM Have you tried a product called Dinovite Feline it is nutritional supplement many nutrients are cooked out of food and this product helps to replace them. Adrienne Dixon    Pennsville, NJ 10/23/2008 2:07:35 PM my cat was dianosed with alopecia two years ago. My vet put her on ovavam pills. They worked great. It was told to me she would have to be on this medication for life. Now I was just informed this medication has been discontinued. The vet states there is nothing else out there and my cat is suffering. Help. Is there another treatment.