Why is my indoor cat missing fur on his arm after going outside?

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a variety of reasons that can explain alopecia or hair loss. The causes can easily be differentiated by the clinical signs associated with it and the physical exam findings. If Freckles is only showing some hair loss without scratching or overgrooming then it could conditions such as alopecia areata that can affect cats and usually resolves on its own. If there is evidence of scratching and you start noticing some redness or irritation associated with it, then other conditions such as allergies are possible. If you notice him overgrooming himself in that area then it could be something like psychogenic alopecia which is more of a behavioral issue. I think that since he is not having overt clinical signs and it is mostly hair loss, I think it is possibly transient and could resolve on its own. You can monitor this closely and if it does not resolve or it worsens then have him examined by your veterinarian. Good luck!

It could be Alfie hurt himself, or he may have been overgrooming because he was stressed due to you being gone. I would keep an eye on the area for now. If it gets worse or doesn't appear to be healing, have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

This definitely looks likes a trauma area, where the hair was ripped out. I would monitor it for now, especially if Reggie doesn't seem to be bothered by it. It should start to heal and fill in if this was an isolated incident. However, if you start to notice other bald patches pop up, then a vet visit is needed to have some skin testing done and find out the underlying cause (fleas, mites, etc). I hope that Reggie recovers well. Best wishes and take care.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Kitty and for providing a picture, it's very helpful. I'm wondering if he snagged some fur on the enclosure causing the fur loss. He may have gotten excited seeing the squirrels and moved suddenly, causing some fur to snag and pull out. I would just keep an eye on it for now. If it gets worse, appears infected, or starts to bother him, then I would have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.

There could be a few things that may have caused these spots on Beans. From the picture, it looks like it may be infected. You can apply a thin layer of Neosporin twice a day, but if it isn't better in a couple days, you should see a vet for additional medications. Possible initial causes for the irritation include mites, fleas, ringworm, a reaction to topically applied medications, or a wound caused by another cat. If you see Beans scratching this area with his back paws, it means it is very itchy - try to prevent him from further damaging the skin by covering the area with a small pet or baby shirt, or you can try to put socks on his feet.

This could be demodex or other mites, from rubbing/catching on something, a small skin infection, or something else. See your vet to get a better diagnosis and the right treatment. Best of luck to you and Benito!

Poor Zippers! He could have gotten into a fight on his travels, causing the fur loss from that area. Bites from another cat can cause small and hard to see wounds, and are often unnoticed until an abscess form. I would take Zippers into the vet for a health check just to make sure he is ok.