Why is my cat losing hind leg hair and acting like she's in heat?

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!

I recommend to have Cike examined by her veterinarian. Hair loss and weight loss could indicate a hormonal imbalance, parasites or poor nutrition. The doctor may be able to figure out the cause was some basic testing and a physical exam. Once the cause is appropriately diagnosed, the correct treatment can begin. You may also consider having her spayed as this will help to stop shifting hormones which can result in poor hair coat. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello sorry to hear about Norman. The behavioral changes, the weight loss, and unkempt coat are all signs of hyperthyroidism. If you are also seeing a ravenous appetite (hence the hunting) and increased drinking and urination they may also fit with hyperthyroidism. The only way to know is to test his blood and measure the levels of thyroid hormone. In the mean time, ensure he has adequate access to water and food until you are able to take him to your veterinarian. Hope this helps and best of luck!

This can be a sign of a medical disease such as hyperthyroidism, which can be common in senior cats. I'd have Sweetie seen by a vet for this behavior. The vet can do a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. I'd take him into a vet today if possible. Best of luck.

Hair loss and overgrooming can be a sign of external parasites like fleas, a food allergy (although this is less likely at Greta's age), or an environmental allergy. Some cats can also overgroom as a reaction to pain or due to anxiety. I would recommend having Greta examined by your veterinarian to rule out fleas and discuss a potential allergy work up. I would not recommend changing her food until you talk to your vet - diet is the cornerstone of managing chronic kidney disease, and there are hypoallergenic kidney diets available if your veterinarian thinks Greta may have a food allergy.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The cause of the hair loss could be allergies or skin mites as well. I would make sure the veterinarian scrapes the skin to check for parasites of the skin. This may also need an oral antibiotic in addition to topical therapy to see if it will respond. You can also try a different shampoo such as Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly. If there is no improvement and your vet is unable to resolve this, I would recommend a second opinion with a veterinary dermatologist if possible. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

We very rarely see any thyroid problems or cancer in 2 year old cats. The most common reason for hair loss in that area is that the cat is rubbing that area when walking, jumping, etc, so it is more common to see in older cats. If Annie has lost weight, I think the best idea is to have her vet examine her and perform bloodwork to look for any internal organ abnormalities. If all that is normal, they may do some testing on the areas of hair loss to look for an underlying cause in the skin. I doubt it has anything to do with dryness in the winter. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that your vet can help you figure out what is going on with Annie. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.