Why is my 8-year-old cat losing hair on the back of his ears?

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.

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!

Hello, Ploppy could have multiple causes for this. It could be associated with a deficiency if vitamins. It could be associated with needing more fatty acids in the diet. Other causes could include allergies and finally, Ploppy could have a hair growth problem. The first steps would be to check her skin for other signs of allergies, then evaluate her diet. Ultimately, you may consider for aggressive interventions like a skin biopsy. Alternatively, if Ploppy is otherwise doing well, you could continue to monitor as her hair may eventually begin to regrow. If you note additional hair loss then she should be evaluated by her veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck.

What an amazing life span. Great job!! Sometimes they can have hair loss from endocrine or metabolic changes as they get older. Simple blood work would rule out a lot the major potential causes. If they are normal, and the hair tests are normal, I wouldn't be too concerned if the lesions don't look active.

He may be overgrooming since being stuck in the house due to the weather. This is a stress reaction. If his ears are clean and there are no fleas or skin irritation then it’s nothing to be overly concerned about. If he has sores or an ear infection then I recommended a veterinary exam and treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Smokey Bear.

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.

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.