Why is my cat losing hair on her belly and sides? Is it normal?

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.

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.

Hi there. A couple things could be going on with Lucky. Some cats lose hair due to stress and this is usually self resolving. More commonly cats lose hair due to an allergy. This could be to their food or something in the environment. I would start by having your vet check her and then do a hypoallergenic food trial for 8 weeks. This usually does the trick, but if not your vet can prescribe medications to help with environmental allergies. Best wishes to you and Lucky.

There are a number of different causes of this happening in Gracie. This could be a hypersensitive reaction to food, skin parasites (fleas), infections (bacterial, fungal, or stress). It could also be caused by hyperthyroidism. If Gracie isn't up to date on her flea treatments, I would recommend giving her a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash her bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. If she is up to date on her flea treatments, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can do a physical exam, routine blood tests, and a urinalysis to determine what is causing her to have symmetrical hair loss on her belly. Once the cause is found, the vet can institute the appropriate treatment.

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

Without a photo, its hard to say whats happening with Ruby. If the skin looks totally normal (no redness, flakey skin, scabs...etc) then its possible Ruby is simply over grooming. Some cats with lick their fur until it thins out as a habit (like people biting their nails). Hairloss in general can indicate many things: parasites, fungal infections, thyroid conditions, metabolic imbalances. When in doubt, I recommend a trip to the vet to have her thoroughly checked out. Hope you get it figured out soon!

I'm quite concerned that Siriano is having trouble peeing, and that she will squat with not much coming out. She could have a severe bladder infection or bladder stones causing her problems. This is a medical emergency when a cat has trouble peeing, and Siriano has to see a vet immediately. The vet can diagnose what is causing her trouble peeing, and can treat her for it. While there, the vet can check out the hair loss on her stomach. You are correct that it could be caused by mange, but it could also be caused by fleas, allergies, or ringworm. The vet can diagnose the cause, and can discuss treatment options with you.