My cat's belly is bald. Is it normal, or a sign of a medical issue?

It may be excessive grooming, which can be caused by numerous things, including fleas (even if she is an indoor-only cat), stress or anxiety, skin infection, mites, pain, or even urinary discomfort. I would recommend having Izzy checked out by a vet to first rule out common medical issues. Then they can help you determine what could be the cause and start her on an appropriate treatment plan. https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help/ https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952646

The hairloss and pink belly could be a sign of over grooming due to fleas or allergies which could be causing your cat to be itchy. If your cat is not on flea prevention it's highly recommended to get him started on one. You should get flea prevention through your vet because those products work much better than the over the counter products. If the hairloss and pinkness of the belly don't get better or if they worsen you should have your cat seen by a veterinarian to determine the cause so it can properly be treated.

What you describe certainly is not normal after a minor surgery such as a neuter. However, I am suspicious that he may have a skin infection, ringworm, or even possibly mites. Sometimes if they have a minor infection or mites then the stress of surgery can cause it to get worse. I would highly encourage you to schedule him a follow up appointment with your veterinarian to determine what is causing the skin problem. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I can't 100% tell where that bald spot is located but it looks like it is just a nipple. It's normal to have thinner or no hair surrounding a nipple so if that is on the belly I wouldn't be concerned. As long as it remains a normal color and is not irritating Dylan or Jackson I would not be concerned. Certainly monitor for changes and bring them to see your veterinarian if you become concerned. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. There can be a couple of reasons for the hair loss. One could be from allergies, or this could be a type of psychogenic hair pulling, a behavioral problem. For the most part, this is not dangerous, but you do want your vet to evaluate Cleopatra. If it is an allergic reaction, it can be easily treated. If it is psychological, you do want to work through the reasons she has begun pulling out her hair. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If there is no medical reason such as fleas or food allergy and it is behavioral there is medication to help. She may notice another animal or cat outside that is new that is stressing her out and causing her to do this more, There may be a new neighbor with a dog that she smells passing by the door increasing her anxiety. You can start with feliway diffusers and sprays to help in side the apartment. You can also talk to your vet about anxiety medication to start her on to decrease this behavior.

The hair on the belly which is missing can be a normal finding in a small number of cats, but the hair loss on the side of the body seen in the picture is never normal. Typically the first thing a vet will want to know with any situation involving hair loss is if it is occurring with or without itchiness. If there has been itchiness, the cause of the ailment is most likely allergic, inflammatory, parasitic, infectious, or auto immune in nature. If there is not an itchy component, the cause may be hormonal, psychologist, or also potentially, inflammatory in nature. If Pipi appears to be uncomfortable or is mutilating herself in any way, I would encourage you to have her examined at the next available appointment time. Provided she is still comfortable and not hurting herself, simply continue to monitor for any changes or worsening condition, and make a regular appointment to be seen at the next convenient time. Hope this helps.