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Why is my 15-year-old cat losing hair on her legs, tail, and stomach?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat is 15 years old and for the past 6 months she has slowly begun to lose her coat from her legs, tail, and stomach. Whats left is a short, prickly layer of hair. what could this be? Thank you. craig d jones

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Ann Dion, DVM

Answered By Ann Dion, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 1st, 2017

Hello. Decreased hair quality in cats, especially of her age, could be due to hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, parasites, and overall poor health and grooming habits due to arthritis or obesity. I would suggest getting her checked by a vet, and having bloodwork done to test for these conditions as some have easy fixes. Good luck with her!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 29th, 2019

    Poor Luna! There could be a few different reasons for this abnormal hair growth. She may have problems with allergies and this could be to fleas, the environment or something in the food. A thyroid condition or an inappropriate diet can also cause abnormal hair growth. Your best option is to have Luna examined by the veterinarian and her thyroid levels tested. This will help to narrow down the potential causes quickly. A good diet for skin and coat health in general is Royal Canin or Nutro. You may try switching her to one of these diets. Best of luck.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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