Why is my cat pulling out fur and losing hair on his groin area?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

There are a number of reasons that a cat will overgroom themselves, but one of the most common reasons that we will see a cat overgroom the inside or back of the thighs is a flea allergy. If a cat has a flea allergy, it only takes 1 flea bite a week to keep them itchy and cats are such good groomers that you will often never see fleas. So, it is always recommended to have all animals in the house on a monthly flea preventative if any animal in the house has allergies or skin problems. I have attached a handout below on allergies and itching in cats. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2607 If Voltaire is already on a regular flea preventative, the next step would be to have your veterinarian examine him and determine if he has any evidence of secondary bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. If not, then you can discuss using anti-itching medications such as anti-histamines or steroids short term to resolve the itching and licking. And if those techniques are unsuccessful, then the final step might be a diet change. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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.

Hi. It is difficult to say from the photo. Hair loss can be caused by infection, allergies, irritants, yeast, ectopic parasites like mites/fleas/etc., and many more. I would recommend getting him seen by your veterinarian, and having them perform skin testing based on mist probable cause

If you’ve ruled or fleas, it could be some other allergy, though over grooming is not uncommon as a behavioral issue. Here is an article I think you may find very helpful. https://www.mspca.org/angell_services/overgrooming-cats/ Thanks for asking PetCoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You may be referring to a focal infection. However, it is not possible to know this just based on a description or a picture. This would require an actual examination of the area to see what may be wrong so that therapy can be recommended. If this continues, I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Moochie. This hair loss could be due to over-grooming. This could be caused by stress but in a cat her age it could be caused by a medical condition such as hyperthyroidism. I'd have her seen by a vet to get this checked out, and I recommend getting a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis done. I hope this helps!