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Why is my 10-month-old cat losing fur around her nose and upper lip?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | unspayed | 10 months and 1 day old | 6 lbs

10month old cat missing fur beneath her nose to her top lip. Doesn’t appear to be sore, she let me wipe it with a warm cloth with no complaints. Has no history of this or any other health issues.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 2nd, 2017

This could be due to a fungal infection. Yeast infections are common near the mouth, because of how much moisture there is. These infections can be controlled by keeping the area clean and dry.

The other possibility is that this is ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes hair loss and is often found on the face and the feet. Check her for any other bald patches. If you see any more of these lesions, then it's likely ringworm and will need to be treated by a vet.

It's best to take Mina in to have this diagnosed by a veterinarian, because ringworm can spread to different parts of the body and can spread to people. Also, the more involved the infection, the longer it will take to clear.

For now, I recommend washing your hands anytime you touch Hoss. You can keep the area clean by gently wiping with Pet Wipes (a medicated wipe that you can get at the pet store) 2-3 times a day.

I hope that helps and this clears-up soon.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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