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My cat has a bald line on its back, no redness or itching. What is it?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | 1 year and 9 months old

My male cat lost a line of hair on his back 2cm wide and about 15cm long .. no redness nor itching

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on December 28th, 2017

That is definitely an interesting pattern of hair loss. I suspect this has to do with some sort of trauma. A scrape if he was trying to get “through” something, a chemical or thermal burn down the back, even a reaction to a topical medication such as a flea and tick application. From the picture the skin appears pretty normal, but pictures can be deceiving. If the fur does not appear to be growing back soon, or if it looks to be spreading then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on February 25th, 2017
Hair loss can be caused by a number of issues including parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites, allergies to food or environment, skin infections, burns/wounds and even metabolic illnesses. Other signs and symptoms can include itching, redness, skin changes, weight changes and changes to appetite/drinking habits. if you can't find an apparent cause for the hair loss and it is spreading, worsening or you see other health symptoms, scheduling a vet exam is best. Your vet will likely recommend taking a sample from the affected area or bloodwork to determine the cause.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Mara Howard, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 24th, 2019
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear your cat is losing fur. Hair loss in cats can be due to a variety of reasons, including skin parasites (mites or fleas), an infection (bacterial or fungal), allergies, stress, or another underlying issue. I would recommend having him evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine what may be causing the hair loss, and any treatment that may be needed to improve or resolve it. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 26th, 2017
Yes, I would worry about this because it's not normal for a cat to suffering from alopecia. Given that she has no itching, scales, redness, or sores, I would suspect that her alopecia could be due to hormone imbalance such as an increased thyroid level. I would have Eva seen by a vet in the morning for a physical exam, blood tests, and urinalysis. The vet can diagnose the cause of her alopecia and can discuss treatment options with you.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why is my cat's fur missing in a patch and not growing back?

Hi there. It is hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the skin looks pretty normal. Has she recently had any injections in that are? Vaccines, or pain medication really any injection in a cat can cause inflammation and hair loss. If the area is red, has a scab, or continues to spread then she should probably have an examination by a veterinarian. Hopefully the hair grows back soon!

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Why is my senior cat suddenly getting a balding patch on his back?

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Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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