Causes of Cat Hair Loss: A Comprehensive Guide

Cat hair loss, also known as feline alopecia, can be a concern for pet owners. While shedding is a natural phenomenon, excessive shedding or bald patches may signal an underlying problem. This guide explores the common causes of cat hair loss and offers practical solutions.

What Causes a Cat to Lose Hair?

Hair loss in cats, also known as feline alopecia, can be concerning for pet owners. While shedding is natural, excessive hair loss or bald patches may indicate an underlying issue. This guide explores the common causes of hair loss in cats and provides practical solutions to address them.

I. Normal physiological phenomenon

• Seasonal hair change

Cats will change their hair in order to adapt to seasonal temperature changes. For example, in the spring, they will shed their thick winter hair and replace it with lighter hair; in the fall, on the contrary, they will grow thick hair in preparation for winter. This is a normal physiological cycle that is influenced by changes in sunlight and temperature, and the body's hormone levels are adjusted accordingly, leading to hair replacement.

• Hair change in the process of growth

Kittens will experience multiple hair changes during growth. From the fetus hair of the kitten to the hair of the adult cat, there will be hair loss during the process.

II. Health-related factors

• Unbalanced nutrition

If the cat's food lacks protein, vitamins (e.g. biotin), minerals (e.g. zinc) or essential fatty acids (e.g. omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids), the quality of the hair will be affected. Protein is the main component of the hair and when deficient, the hair becomes weak and brittle; vitamins and minerals play an important role in skin health and normal hair growth; and essential fatty acid deficiencies can lead to dry skin and a lack of luster and shedding of the hair.

• Skin Diseases

Fungal Skin Diseases: Feline ringworm, for example, is caused by a fungal infection. Round or oval patches of hair loss will appear in the infected area, while the skin may be red and flaky, and the cat will scratch frequently due to itching.

Bacterial Skin Disease: Bacterial infection of the skin will cause an inflammatory reaction, resulting in red, swollen and painful skin, and easy hair loss.

• Parasitic skin disease 

Fleas are common extracorporeal parasites. Fleas bite the cat's skin to suck blood, which will cause itching, and cat scratching will lead to hair loss.

Mite infections, such as mange mites or helminth mites, can irritate the skin and trigger skin lesions and hair loss.

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• Endocrine disorders

Hypothyroidism: Insufficient secretion of thyroid hormone will slow down the cat's metabolism, and symptoms such as weight gain and lethargy may occur, while the fur becomes thin, dry and prone to shedding.
Hyperadrenocorticism: high levels of cortisol in the body will affect the normal growth cycle of the hair and lead to hair loss.

III. External Factors

• Environmental stress

When the cat is in a new environment, such as moving, new pets at home or family members and other situations, it will bring stress to the cat. This stress will affect the cat's endocrine system, leading to increased hair loss.

• Improper care

Excessive bathing removes the natural oils from the cat's skin and fur, destroying the skin's barrier function, drying out the skin and making the fur fall out easily. Using bathing products that are not suitable for your cat's skin can cause similar problems. In addition, if the bath is not thoroughly

How to Distinguish Between Normal Loss of Hair and Abnormal Loss of Hair?

I. The amount of hair loss

1.Normal hair loss

• Seasonal Hair Change

During the spring and fall hair change period, the amount of hair loss of cats will increase significantly, but it is usually a gradual process of increasing and then decreasing. For example, cats may continue to have more hair shedding for a few weeks in the spring in order to change from a thick coat to a thin coat. Under normal circumstances, the amount of hair lost per day is more than during the non-mutating period, but there will not be a large area of baldness.

• Daily Metabolism

During the non-mutating period, the cat will also have a small amount of hair loss, usually only a few to a dozen hairs will be found when combing every day, which is a normal process of hair metabolism.

2.Abnormal hair loss

• Sudden large amount of hair loss

If the cat suddenly loses a large amount of hair without the obvious characteristics of the hair changing season, such as the hair in a certain area becoming thin or even bald in a short period of time, this is likely to be an abnormal situation. For example, the cat may lose a large amount of hair around a certain patch of skin within a week due to skin diseases or endocrine disorders.

• Persistent Excessive Hair Loss

Even during the moulting period, if the hair loss continues for a long time and the amount of hair loss has no tendency to decrease, exceeding the length of time that the normal moulting period should last, it may also be abnormal, for example, if the cat suffers from hypothyroidism, it may continue to lose a large amount of hair for a long period of time.

II. Hair Appearance

1.Normal hair appearance

During normal hair loss, the shed hair is usually intact, with uniform hair thickness and no abnormal patterns such as broken or obvious curls. For example, the hairs shed during normal moulting are of normal length and have a smooth hair shaft.
From the remaining hair on the cat's body, the hair is overall shiny and evenly distributed, with no obvious baldness or hair clutter.

2.Abnormal hair appearance

Broken hair: If you find that much of the hair that falls out is broken, short and jagged, it may be caused by malnutrition (lack of proteins or certain vitamins) or over-grooming, the use of unsuitable combs and so on.

Lusterless hair: The remaining hair on the cat's body that loses its luster and becomes dry and rough may indicate a health problem, such as a skin disease or endocrine disorder that affects the oil secretion of the skin and the nutrient supply of the hair.

Spotted baldness: a patch of hairless area on the cat's body, in addition to possible scarring alopecia after trauma, is likely to be abnormal hair loss caused by skin diseases (such as ringworm, mite infection, etc.) or autoimmune diseases.

III. Accompanying symptoms

• Accompanying symptoms of normal hair loss

During the normal moulting period or daily normal hair loss, the cat has no other obvious symptoms. The cat's mental state is normal, the appetite is good, and the skin is not red, swollen, itchy, flaky or other abnormalities.

• Accompanying Symptoms of Abnormal Hair Loss

Skin problems: If hair loss is accompanied by symptoms such as redness, itching, rashes, scabs or increased dandruff, it is likely to be abnormal hair loss caused by skin diseases. For example, ringworm will cause small red pimples on the edge of the hair loss area and more dander; flea bites will cause the cat to scratch the skin frequently and the skin may appear red.

Behavioral changes: cats may have behavioral changes when abnormal hair loss occurs. Such as excessive scratching and licking a certain area because of itching; or becoming lethargic, loss of appetite and depressed because of physical discomfort, which may be related to endocrine disorders or other systemic diseases.

How to Treat Hair Loss in Cats?

1. Adjusting the diet

Ensure your cat's diet is nutritionally balanced, choose good quality cat food or try raw bone meat feeding. Supplement with essential nutrients such as vitamin B, protein, fish oil and lecithin, all of which will help improve your cat's coat health. 

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2. Regular grooming

Daily brushing of your cat's coat can effectively remove dead skin and shedding hair and reduce hair loss problems. Choose a comb that suits your cat's hair type, such as a narrow-toothed comb or a fine-needle brush. 

3. Maintain proper indoor humidity

Using a humidifier or other humidity regulating equipment to keep the indoor humidity within the appropriate range of 40% to 60% will help improve your cat's skin health and reduce hair loss. 

4. Pay attention to your cat's physical health

Take your cat to the veterinarian regularly for medical checkups and vaccinations to check for potential health problems. Certain diseases and parasitic infections can also lead to hair loss, and making sure your cat is healthy will help reduce hair loss. 

5. Avoid excessive bathing

Bathing your cat once every 1~3 months is sufficient, use a mild cat shampoo and make sure it is rinsed thoroughly. Excessive bathing will cause the cat's skin to lose its natural oils, leading to dry skin and increased hair loss. 

6. Pay attention to environmental cleaning and prevention

Regularly clean bedding, carpets, sofas, etc. to remove accumulated hair. Pay attention to the prevention of fleas and other parasites, which can cause discomfort to the cat and thus increase hair loss. 

7. Ensure proper activity level for cats

Provide enough play time and space for the cat to get enough exercise. Proper exercise can promote blood circulation and help maintain healthy skin and fur. 

8. Proper sun exposure

Letting your cat bask in the sun every day will help promote the absorption of calcium, make your cat's coat shiny, promote hair growth and reduce hair loss problems. 

If the cat's hair loss problem continues to be serious, or symptoms such as red and itchy skin occur, it is recommended to bring the cat to the pet hospital for examination and treatment in a timely manner. 

When to See a Vet?

Consult a vet if your cat’s hair loss is accompanied by:

• Excessive scratching or licking.
• Red, inflamed, or infected skin.
• Behavioral changes or weight loss.

Early intervention ensures your cat receives proper care and avoids further complications.

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Conclusion

Hair loss in cats can stem from various causes, from allergies and parasites to stress and medical conditions. By identifying the root cause and seeking appropriate treatment, you can restore your cat’s coat to its full glory. Remember, your veterinarian is your best resource for keeping your feline friend healthy and happy.

Share this article with other cat lovers to help them address and prevent hair loss in their pets!