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What causes hair loss between my cat's eye and ear? Is it ringworm?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Ragdoll | Male | neutered | 4.8 lbs

Does the pictures attached look like ringworm(slight baldness between upper eye and ear). I have also attached of picture of what I am using to treat it (Malaseb).

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 18th, 2019

This is a tricky question because a bacterial skin infection, ringworm, and skin mites can all appear very similar. The only way to tell them apart is by either treating for one of them or doing specific skin tests like a skin scrape, a skin cytology, and a fungal culture. I think it is ok that you are using the Malaseb shampoo for now. If the issue does not resolve over the course of a week or so then you may want to have your cat examined by your vet to determine the exact cause of hair loss.

I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.
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