Cats usually have thick, beautiful fur coats, but they can develop bald spots. In some cases, the skin associated with the bald spots may also be red, rough, and sometimes painful.
It is important to remember that cats shed fur all year long, but, through a process known as molting, tend to lose more fur in the summer and autumn than they do in winter or spring. If the fur loss is all over their body with no bald spots, it is a temporary condition and the fur will grow back. Bald spots are different from molting, though, and develop for a number of reasons.
So what causes your cat to have bald spots?
Reasons Your Cat May Have Bald Spots
Fleas
Infestation of fleas, mites or other parasites is, by far, the most common cause of a cat bald spot. These bald spots most commonly appear on the cat’s lower back and tail. The hair loss occurs when your cat has an allergic reaction to the fleas’ saliva; the allergic reaction causes your cat to lick the area excessively.
Other allergies
Other substances in a cat’s environment – even its food – can trigger allergic reactions that cause itching and redness. Your cat may react by scratching or licking the affected area to create bald spots.
Ringworm
Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm at all – it is a highly contagious fungal infection that feeds on the keratin in a cat’s fur, nails and skin. People refer to it as ringworm because it causes circular ring-like lesions on a cat’s skin. While they can develop anywhere on a cat’s body, the bald spots and lesions associated with ringworm most commonly develop on the ears, head, along the ridge of the back and down the front legs. These lesions are often accompanied by hair loss.
Stress
Have you ever been so anxious that you felt like pulling your hair out? Your cat can also experience that level of stress.
Stressed-out cats can over-groom, or clean themselves to the point of pulling their fur out. Stress can also cause cats to simply yank their fur out.
Pain
A cat will try to lick pain away, and will continue to like a sore area even if licking does not relieve their pain.
Hormone imbalance
Hormones coordinate different functions in your cat’s body, such as growing fur. Hormone imbalances - especially imbalances in reproductive hormones - can cause problems, such as fur loss and bald patches in cats. Your cat may develop bald spots during pregnant or lactating, for example, due to hormone changes at this time. Fortunately, bald spots associated with pregnancy or lactation is usually temporary and the fur will eventually grow back over time.
Health issues, poor nutrition, and underlying disease
Bald spots may develop as the result of other reasons, such as poor diet, diseases or other health issues. If you have ruled out fleas, stress, and other reasons for your cat’s bald spots, a veterinarian may be able to help you determine the underlying cause.
For more information on why your cat may have bald spots, consult with your veterinarian. An accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment can help make your cat bald spot disappear. Request an appointment online with Animal Care Clinic.