Why is my healthy cat losing hair on the back of her ears, what to do?

Sometimes cats will lose the hair on and around the ears as they age. Other causes would be those you mentioned, as well as some less common things. If you are concerned, I would recommend taking Moody to the vet for physical examination.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria but fungal infections are possible as well). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I would recommend that Patches get checked out by a vet. Common causes of hair loss in cats include fleas, mites, ringworm, allergies, or endocrine disease like hyperthyroidism. Since she is older, I would recommend testing her thyroid to prevent other issues related to this disease. Some cats will lose hair on the ears as they age, but they do not usually also lose it on other furred areas.

I think you should get a second opinion from another vet. There are many causes of hair loss from the ears. They include fungal infections, fur mite or flea infestation, allergies from food and/or the environment, hormonal imbalances, environmental conditions, autoimmune disease, dietary deficiencies, behavioral issues, etc.

Your cat may well have ear mites, which are contagious and extremely itchy, causing cats to scratch their ears raw inside and in front of the ears. I would have an exam done right away so your veterinarian can start the appropriate treatment. You'll have to figure out how to get him into a kennel to go for a vet visit!

I agree that is considerable alopecia. I would take her in to your vet and have her skin tested for a possible Demodexx mites issue. If she is scratching these areas a lot then a fle allergy or atopic dermatitis have to be considered and treated. I hope that you get to the bottom of Brownies hair loss soon. The treatment she needs is entirely dependent on the underlying cause. Best wishes moving forward with her care.

Hi and thanks for your post! It is hard to say exactly what the cause of Floyd hair loss may be due to without examining Floyd first, but some possibilities may include a fungal infection (such as ringworm), mites, or allergy related. Your veterinarian can diagnose these potential conditions with a fungal culture, skin scraping, and some blood work. I would recommend Floyd visit his vet soon to have the possibilities above explored so he can get the most appropriate treatment. I hope this helps!