My cat is losing fur on his tail. Is this normal for a 1-year-old?

Hello. There could be a couple of things going on with Harry. Cats can lose hair around the base of their tail when they are allergic to something, when they have suffered an injury to that area, or when their anal glands are impacted. It does sound like he's uncomfortable, and any of these conditions can cause discomfort. I would monitor and if this continues take him into your vet. They can check the area and find out the cause. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The most common cause of hair loss at the base of the tail would be fleas or flea allergies. It can be difficult to see adult fleas on cats since they tend to groom them off, but if you take a flea comb to the base of the tail you should be able to see flea dirt if fleas are a problem. Other possibilities include seborrhea (or 'stud tail'), or allergies. If Puck seems itchy or the underlying skin seems irritated and you have ruled out fleas I would recommend seeing your veterinarian to determine what might be causing the hair loss.

The most common cause of hair loss around the tail is from flea allergies so I would definitely check her thoroughly for fleas. Other possibly causes are anal gland problems, seasonal allergies, ringworm, mites, infections. She should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.

Yes, I would worry about that is this isn't normal. There are many things that could cause this such as fleas, skin infection, mites, ringworm, allergies, or an endocrine disorder. I would take Logan into the vet first thing Monday morning for a health check. Best of luck.

The most common sign of a thyroid problem in cats is weight loss. Hair loss around the tail could be secondary to a skin infection, fleas, allergies, etc. The best thing would be to schedule an appointment with your vet for a physical examination to determine the cause and treat. Your cat may need an antibiotic and/or an anti-inflammatory to treat.

Miles' hair loss could be related to primary skin issues, such as allergies, ringworm or mange, or related to endocrine/metabolic conditions, such as hyperthyroidism. This is certainly not a normal finding and I recommend taking Miles to his vet for evaluation and diagnostic testing so that treatment can be started for the issue at hand. I hope that all goes well!

Hello! It's hard to say for sure, but generally speaking, I wouldn't be too worried, if the tail isn't sore, or itchy. Shaving was a great idea, for 2 reasons. 1) Because now you can keep an eye on the area to be sure it isn't getting worse and 2) Air can now get at the skin to help it to heal. If the area looks sore, or is itchy, I would suggest having her checked out by your vet. If everything seems pretty comfortable, it would be likely okay for you to keep an eye on this at home. Best of luck with Munchkin!