Why is my cat meowing in pain with hair loss at his tail base?

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 reason that we will see hair loss at the base of the tail is a flea allergy. Even if you do not see fleas on Benny, it is still possible. Cats are very good groomers, so they will often groom the fleas off themselves before we can find them. And if a cat has a flea allergy, they only need 1 flea bite per week to keep them itchy. So, my first recommendation for Benny is to make sure that all animals in the house are on regular flea prevention. I am attaching an article on flea control that also has a link to flea control products. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1575 If you are not seeing improvement with a flea prevention or notice any bumps or redness in that area, I would be certain to have your veterinarian examine Benny to see what else might be going on. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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.

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.

The most common reason I will see hair loss at the tail base is a flea allergy. If there are any other animals in the house that go outside, I would certainly make sure that Squeaky is on a flea prevenative (even if you have never seen fleas on her). I have also seen seborrhea at that location in overweight cats that don't groom themselves well, but normally they will have more skin flaking than it looks like Squeaky does. That can cause hair loss and itching and can be treated topically. However, since you think there is a lump there, I would recommend having your vet evaluate it. They can perform a fine needle aspirate and insert a small needle into the lump to get some cells out and see what the lump is then decide on the best treatment plan for her. Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If you notice several pets affected, things like fleas, skin mites and ringworm become more suspicious. I recommend to check them/treat them for fleas. If they do not respond with 2 weeks or if they start getting worse, figure out a way to have them examined. You may look into financing through Care Credit or Scratch Pay. Lastly, you may call the local humane society to ask if they offer/know of any low cost solutions. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would take a close look at the skin here because the base of the tail is a common place for flea bites. Check for fleas or flea dirt, which is small black specks on the skin/fur. If no evidence of fleas is present and the skin appears totally normal, your kitty could have an area of hyperesthesia, which is where the skin is very sensitive and can cause intense reaction. If it is just this small area, your cat may not need treatment, but if your cat is traumatizing himself or unable to live his life normally then a veterinary exam is recommended.