Despite its unusual name, ringworm is not a parasite. It can affect most mammals and is highly contagious. If your cat develops a ringworm infection it will usually cause their hair to fall out around the infected area.
This will leave either a completely bald area of skin or a distinctly thinner covering of hair. Your cat can catch ringworm from fungal spores that can survive on objects for up to two weeks.
This means that if your cat brushes against an object that an infected animal has come into contact with they will catch the infection.
Ringworm is diagnosed by taking a sample from the affected area and testing it in a laboratory. If you suspect your cat has ringworm be careful to come into contact with the infected area as humans can catch it too. Thyroid problems are a fairly common ailment affecting cats and one of the symptoms that they may cause includes bald patches and hair loss. Hyperthyroidism is the name given for an overactive thyroid and hypothyroidism is the name for an underactive thyroid.
Other symptoms may include sudden and extreme weight loss or weight gain, increased thirst, or a change in behaviour such as hyperactivity or underactivity. These can be diagnosed by simple blood tests and routine treatment can be administered to control the thyroid.
On rare occasions an operation may be required. There are also a number of other potential causes of hair loss and bald spots affecting your cat, including: —. For most cases of hair loss affecting cats the hair will grow back if effective treatment is administered to treat the cause. Some cats that experience hair loss as a result of illness may be more susceptible to other episodes of baldness in the future depending on the cause, whilst some cats may notice no future occurrences.
Phone: - Email: hello knutsford. Twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube. Why does my cat have bald patches? We take a look at some potential causes and treatment.
Contents What do bald patches on cats look like? Our experts are here to help you. Our experts are here to help. Get in touch with us directly any time, any way. Message us. Discover our range of cat food. Buy Now. What causes hair loss in cats? Cat Hormones In your cat, bald patches and hair loss can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance. General poor health, nutrition or underlying disease An unhealthy diet, poor health or an undetected disease can all be causes for your cat to lose their hair.
What can your vet do to help? How is alopecia treated? It can cause them to itch miserably, and many cats lick their fur as a way of attempting to relieve the itch. Excessive licking can then cause bald spots. Moreover, anxiety and stress may cause hair loss. Pain When a cat is in pain, it will lick the afflicted area excessively to get rid of their discomfort. Excessive licking can pull out hair and cause hair loss.
Infections Some cats who develop infections in a specific place tend to lose hair in that area. Infections like ringworm and fungal infections can cause a cat to lose hair.
If you are concerned, always contact your vet. Published: March Did you find this page useful? Tell us more Has this page helped you to care for your pet? Yes No. Have you learnt something new from reading this page? Has this article helped you to understand when a vet is needed? Did you experience any of the following issues?
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