If your furry feline friend has started losing small tufts of fur all of a sudden, it can be alarming. Especially if the fur sheds in a big quantity, and leaves a trail when your cat walks around the house. There can be many reasons why your cat might lose its fur, and mind you, some of them can be an indication of disease, in which case you should visit the vet immediately.
In this article, you will find out why your cat may be losing small tufts of fur, and what you can do to treat and prevent this from happening.
Why is your cat losing small tufts of fur?
Just like humans can go through hair loss, cats can too. Hair loss in cats is called Alopecia. There can be many underlying problems in your cat which could ultimately lead to alopecia.
While some issues are more common than others, they can still harm your cat much more than simple hair loss, so you must get a vet’s help immediately after diagnosis.
Skin problems, nervous disorders, cancer and funfal infections are some examples of what your cat could be faced with. There are also other issues like hormonal disruption and even genes. These factors can be a bit tough to take notice of since they are within the body.
Let’s go into more detail about what the different reasons of alopecia can be for your cat.
Reasons for loss of fur
The cure for alopecia can usually be arranged, but first, you should examine your cat’s fur thouroughly for alopecia.
Cat fur is normally very soft and allows your hand to freely flow in the direction of the fur. Alopecia fur can be rough and will have missing patches on the cats body.
Look into these reasons so you can take appropriate measures to overcome fur loss in your cat.
Over-grooming
Cats are always grooming themselves. They keep licking their fur and limbs pretty often and this helps them stay clean. But sometimes, cats can have an excess grooming addiction.
Excessively grooming themselves will result in large quanitites of their fur entering theri body, which also often results in excessive hairballs, as mentioned above.
If we talk about the reasons why cats groom themselves too much, one reason is that the cat has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive disorder) and tries to lick every fur in place.
Another reason could be because of stress or not being entertained enough. If this seems to be the case, you should try to spend more quality time with your cat and do fun things together.
Cat Allergies
Cats with allergies tend to lose small tufts of hair more often. This can be different types of allergies, such as skin allergy or allergy from food or objects.
If you suspect it to be an allergy, then keep a check on your cat’s dietary ingredients and all the toys/materials it comes in contact with.
Allergies can be hard to catch, so if you cannot figure out what your cat is allergic to, then talk to your vet about it.
The vet may also prescribe some medications for your cat, so after completing those, your cat’s fur should have stopped shedding.
Flea infestation
Flea infestation in cats is quite common, but treatable. Fleas are small insects that can be transferred from another cat, or a muddy play area where your cat has been
They can cause severe itching on your cat’s skin through their saliva, which can be a reason why your cat can lose some patches of fur.
The good news is that there are many flea medications available at the local pet shops that you can buy and get rid of the fleas in a matter of a few days.
You should also keep a regular check on your cat before allowing it into your home because fleas can easily be spread around and infest your cat again if not killed.
Stress
A stressing cat is much more likely to lose large chunks of its hair at a time. To reduce this proportion, you should figure out the root of its stress: what exactly is bothering your cat and how can you fix it?
Often your cat is scared in a specific situation or feels threatened by something. It could be changing houses, having new people around for a longer period, feeling unsafe, or being spooked by an object or a room.
When you figure out what the reason is, plan out activities to help your cat overcome its stress and restore its healthy coat.
Cancer
Cancer in cats is very serious. Along with extensive fur loss, it also brings many other complications that will completely change your cats’ lifestyle.
Some types of cancer involve a certain type of cell to multiply in the cat’s body and spread. This can also contribute to fur loss- and rapidly too. It can also cause itching and skin irritation, and if your cat scratches, then further hair fall and bleeding is possible.
But in most cases, cancer isn’t the reason for fur loss; meaning cancer isn’t very common in cats.
But if you do suspect it, you’ll have to take your cat to the vet to arrange chemotherapy sessions immediately before your cat’s life is at risk.
Fungus infections
Fungal infections are pretty common in cats and cause the fur to fall off the cat’s body. Ringworm is one such fungus that makes the hair fragile, promoting breakage with just a little touch.
There are different signs which are evidence that your cat may be affected by the ringworm fungus:
- Redness on skin
- Dry skin
- Swelling on different parts of the body
- Hair loss in small or large quantities
Ringworm may look like it’s just an allergy, but it can cause a lot of damage to your cat. Look for the signs mentioned above and if affirmed, take your cat to the vet for treatment and medications. Also beware of wolf worms, if more information is required on wolf worms have a look at wolf worms in cats.
How to stop the loss of fur?
There are many ways you can reduce fur loss, or at least take precautions that your cat’s fur is healthy if not affected by the disease. Even if your cat isn’t losing small tufts of fur, you should still take care of its grooming well.
Bathe regularly
Cats hate taking a bath, and surely, you know that too. But someone’s gotta do it! Your cat must be well bathed at least once or twice a month, or as per your vet’s instructions.
Bathing will keep your can clean and keep external parasites away from its body. Use a good quality shampoo on its fur for a shiny coat.
Brush well
Brushing the fur regularly is so important! Use a good quality brush to firmly run through your cat’s fur at least once a day.
You will notice some hair fall after brushing, and this is completely normal as long as it is not big patches.
Proper diet
This might seem unrelated, but a healthy diet is vital for good fur.
A diet that has ample nutrition and fatty acids is more likely to give your cat a healthy and shiny coat- with less fur loss.
Usually, omega 3 and 6 fats are known to provide cats with healthy fur that doesn’t shed as much, so you should incorporate it into your cat’s diet.
Also, feed your cat a well-balanced meal. It makes a difference.
Stay hydrated
Did you know that close to 70% of a cat’s body is water? Water is necessary for many important functions in the cat’s body, including maintaining healthy fur.
This means your cat should have a proper water intake throughout the day.
Keep refilling the bowl of water and keep bowls in different locations in your home so your cat is encouraged to drink as much as possible. If your cat coughs while drinking just go through this article cat cough while drinking water for a better understanding of it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, many cat owners experience their cats losing small tufts of fur. There is no one definite answer as to why this happens, it depends on your cat and its situation.
Some of the most common reasons we’ve mentioned in this article are stress, illness, allergies, and flea infestation. It is important to go to a vet if you fear that your cat is a victim of a serious illness.
If your cat is ill, there may not be much you can do besides give regular medications as prescribed by the vet. However, you should still actively take care of its fur and hygiene through brushing, bathing, proper diet, and water intake.
Lastly, make sure to ask your vet about all the precautions you should take to keep your cat’s coat healthy so you can avoid this problem in the future.