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My 20-year-old cat is losing hair around her eyes and ears. Why?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Female | spayed | 20 years and 2 months old | 11 lbs

My cat is twenty this year and in very good health, but this week has lost the hair from the eyes back to her ears. She has long hair, not scratching, I The skin isn't red, inflamed or scabby, nor any marks. Because she's getting older I worry about her as she's now sleeping a lot and doesn't go out unless she's on the deck to sleep when I'm there. She seems to have a bit if arthritis from a long ago injury in the back hip years ago. But the hair loss has me worried.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Sarah Derksen, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 8th, 2017

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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