Advice from cat owners needed

[celiaKitten]

My 2 year old cat is losing patches of fur. It's happened over the past 2-3 weeks, now his front legs have 5 quarter sized smooth patches. It's like he's turning bald. He's an indoor cat, has always lived where he does, and there's nothing new that would cause him stress. There's no scratches or wounds accompanying the bald patches. He's a white and orange cat. (I know light colored cats have more skin problems)

What in the world could this be?

 

[brokenbrainwave]

skin is dry, or at least that is what my vet said when my cat started this. It does grow back however. Precious looses small patches every so often, but it might not be a bad idea to make sure its not a disease.

 

[bluemuse]

This happened to my cat a few years ago. I took him to the vet and they gave me a medicated (expensive) shampoo that cleared it right up.

 

[Guest]

Is he scratching at the spots any?
Often ringworms cause hair loss.
I know cats can loss hair for skin irritations or hormone fluctuations, as well. I'd call the vet.

 

[celiaKitten]

Are there other symptoms that go along with the dry skin? He seems perfectly fine otherwise .. his same normal, doggish-cat self ...

I hadn't thought about ringworm. I haven't seen him scratching/biting/licking at the spots or anything, but that doesn't mean he isn't.

Currently, he's sitting on my lap, purring his little head off ..

 

[celiaKitten]

Me and my Linus

Sounds like we're in for a vet's trip tomorrow. Thanks for the advice, guys. I hate going into the vet's unprepared for the response.

 

[Guest]

Kitten and Linus! Awww, sweet lovelies!

 

[Starfish]

Maybe change his diet?

The only infectious thing that could be causing it is mange, but that is rare to get if he is indoor.

It is prolly dry, or he needs more fatty acids in his diet.

 

[snoozebutton]

Happened to a cat I had years ago the vet said it was allegies. She was allegic to fleas and he suggusted I feed her the same cat food all the time. I had to give her a pill once a day. It cleared up nicely.

 

[CarolineOh]

My 2 year old cat is losing patches of fur. It's happened over the past 2-3 weeks, now his front legs have 5 quarter sized smooth patches. It's like he's turning bald. He's an indoor cat, has always lived where he does, and there's nothing new that would cause him stress. There's no scratches or wounds accompanying the bald patches. He's a white and orange cat. (I know light colored cats have more skin problems)

What in the world could this be?

The first thing that came to my mind was stress, but you ruled that out. I'd guess some sort of skin infection.
I have a pair of Maine Coons. I could make an afghan every couple of weeks with the tufts of hair they lose.

 

[NoOtherName]

Yup....what they all said....could be a fungus, allergy or hormone problem...

That's why the vet visit is indicated...to specify the underlying cause and treat it accordingly...

 

[WhatsHerName]

No Advice about the kitty...

But I just had to tell you what a cute kitty you have!

 

[celiaKitten]

Thanks so much, everyone! At first I was freaking out .. you know OMG, my baby!! But now I feel much better knowing that there are non-life threatening things that could cause this. We'll go visit the vet in the morning, but I won't be worrying and holding back tears all night. (I my baby kitties)

Linus is a runt that was sold too early - he was 5 weeks old when I got him. (see adorable attached pic of baby Linus) He had some digestive and fur problems then .. I don't know if that could be tied or what .. but .. my vet knows all that stuff, too.

Anyway, what I mean is, thank you all. I really needed to just hear from others that I wasn't necessarily going to lose my kitten.

 

[NoOtherName]

Soooo....what did the vet say?

 

[sch00lteacher]

Yeah! What did the Vet say? Is everything going to be okay?

 

[celiaKitten]

I'm waiting to hear back about some tests they did at the moment. I have to take in his stool sample tomorrow (love that part about having a cat ..lol) But, they said it didn't appear to be a dry skin problem, or any kind of parasite they could detect externally. Otherwise, his health is perfect, as far as they could tell. Thus, the further tests.

 

[snoozebutton]

I wish you well celia and am glad it's nothing serious. And that is one cute kitty.

 

[Starfish]

Linus is so cute. I am glad that the vet is on the case. It is so scary when they get sick or signs like there is something wrong.

to you both.

 

[Graymouse]

Hmm . . . now I'm really curious.

You know, it could be hyperthyroidism, although he would probably show other symptoms (drinking a lot of water, etc.) Is that one of the things they are testing for? At the shelter I used to work at, this used to happen to some of the cats--when they couldn't blame it on anything else, they called it milliary dermatitis and gave them a shot of Depo Medrol (which I think is just cortisone.) Sometimes that helped. Good luck; hopefully it's nothing.

 

[kiwiwolf]

What in the world could this be?

FPB? Feline Pattern Baldness?

Try a bit of baby oil rubbed into its coat and add the oil from canned Tuna to its diet. One of my cats had the same thing a few years back. It worked a treat. Other than that... the Hair club maybe? Good luck Celia.

 

[celiaKitten]

Re: Re: Advice from cat owners needed

FPB? Feline Pattern Baldness?

Try a bit of baby oil rubbed into its coat and add the oil from canned Tuna to its diet. One of my cats had the same thing a few years back. It worked a treat. Other than that... the Hair club maybe? Good luck Celia.

Ooo, the oil from the canned tuna is a good idea. The vet did recommend for our other cat (who gets bad hairballs) to add that to her food. I'm on that one .. they'll love it anyhow

Gray - My first cat died of diabeties .. so we're always watching water intake anymore. Seriously nothing we can tell is abnormal. The only *maybe* is that he got into my mom's aloe plant... but he ate a whole friggin stalk last year without a mew .. I dunno. I'm not sure what they are testing for. Linus is a hearty (or lucky) little booger though .. when he was only 6 months he pushed the screen out of the third story window in my old apt. I ran down in my pj's .. thinking I would find a mashed kitten .. but he was just limping. Took him to the vet - he only had *bruised paws*

And, thanks for all the compliments on my baby Linus He really is my baby .. so it's like complimenting someone's child The first name I gave him was *Amadeas* .. but he was just too friggin silly for that to fit .. so I went with Linus.

 

[Artemesia]

Linus is a total cutie!

Nothing more I can offer. I think you've gotten some really good advice - just hang in there.

 

[deliciously_naughty]

He's precious!

I don't really have anything to contribute that hasn't been said before but I wanted to send you a (((hugs))) because I know how I would feel if it was my baby Lady (she's almost 10...but a terror...my roommates huge labrador lives in fear of my 9 pound cat). Let us know how it turns out and hang in there babe, Linus sounds like one tough kitty